Weighing the "Empire"-ical Evidence

We can't believe everything we see and certainly should exercise discernment regarding the information we receive.  There is such a free flow through various forms of media; we have to take to heart Paul's words in Colossians 2:
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

We have to strive to not be deceived.  And, that is especially important in the spiritual realm.  The enemy will try to paint a picture for us that is contrary to the truth.  He will speak lies about God, ourselves, and others; we have to be determined to know and believe the truth.  We need trusted sources so that we can avoid deception.  We can't afford to believe everything we hear; even the devil will disguise himself as an "angel of light."

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The Bible teaches the principles of discernment, saying in 1st John 4 to "not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

1st Thessalonians 5 states:
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The names Olibingo and Amimbola Osundario may have little meaning to a lot of people, but consider that the evidence is now pointing to them, in cooperation with a high-profile actor with an intersectional ax to grind, and you have an explosive mix that has charged up and embarrassed many in the entertainment and political industry.

According to reports, the Osundario brothers, who are from Nigeria, may have helped to stage an elaborate hoax, in which actor Jussie Smollett, an actor on the TV show, Empire, who is African-American and gay, claims to have been assaulted at 2:00am on the streets of Chicago, to have had bleach poured on him and a rope tied around his neck by two white men who allegedly said, "This is MAGA country."  MAGA is the acronym for Make America Great Again.

Outpouring of support for Smollett came from various corners of American life.  Trouble is, as time and police work have marched on, the story is unraveling.   Al Perrotta has a creative piece on The Stream website.  He says:

Sources on the Empire set tell TMZ the brothers — Olibingo and Amimbola Osundario — are no supporters of Trump. The rope? Purchased by the brothers at a local hardware store. According to multiple outlets, the brothers told police Smollett paid them $3500 to help carry out the hoax. CBS Chicago reports the trio even rehearsed the assault.

The Osundario brothers are from Nigeria.

And, of course, there was the blaming of the resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  Perrotta calls out other instances where Trump and his supporters, once called a "basket of deplorables," have been villified, falsely accused, and worse:

How about the endless stream of fake stories blaming Trump and supporters for all sorts of bad business? From Trump supposedly removing the MLK bust from the Oval Office on Inauguration Day … to the Muslim student in Louisiana who “fabricated” being attacked by MAGA thugs … to the vandalism that turns out to be the work of liberal activists … to nooses on campuses that turn out to be hoaxes … to the MAGA hat-wearing Covington Boys being falsely accused of taunting a Native American elder.

But, Perrotta, in responding to a CNN host that took Trump supporters to task for being giddy over these latest developments, said that the "giddiness is short-lived. Underneath, and far deeper, is grief. Sadness. A Chicago blues."   He is grieved over the "utter corruption this episode has exposed," as well as an "indifference to the truth," adding, "The ends justifying the meanness."

Perrotta highlights this incident as an expression of the pursuit of an agenda.  So does Andy Ngo at National Review, who writes:

Jussie Smollett’s hoax is symptomatic of America’s illness. Because of the mainstreaming of academia’s victimhood culture, we are now in a place where we place more value on being a victim than on being heroic, charitable, or even kind. Victims or victim groups high on intersectionality points are supposed to be coveted, treated with child gloves, and believed unreservedly. Their “lived experience” gives them infinite wisdom. Those who urge caution are treated as bigots.

Truth can be sacrificed at the altar of a divisive agenda.  That is the lesson here, and this latest chapter has been a sobering reminder of the division that we are encountering as a culture, and how the dangerous labeling of victim and victimizer has torn the fabric of our society, and threatens to tear a schism in the Church, as well.  And, people will go to great lengths to perpetuate their power and politics.  Smollett may or may not have saved his spot on the Empire show; there were rumors that he was about to be written out - he may be convicted of fraud, but I would imagine he'll reach some sort of deal and get probation, not spend a day in jail, and perhaps have greater notoriety than he would have gained from being a supporting actor in the cast of a television program.

I think, like never before, we have to make sure that we are acting in the love of Christ.  Perrotta writes:

Whatever Jussie Smollett’s personal motive, brokenness is behind it. And we must pray for his healing. Pray that his false witness can be turned to true witness. Smollett is a gifted performer. I pray he will learn to use his God-given gifts for bringing harmony rather than furthering hate. I pray his next act is to seek forgiveness.

That is very charitable; and while we may never meet someone whose name is plastered in the media, still we can consider how we respond to the broken people around us.

We can also make sure that we slow down a bit; wait a little while before you draw conclusions!  We are skilled in our humanity in jumping to conclusions - God would want us to pray about the information that is shared with us and carefully weigh evidence.  And, He certainly calls us to be silent rather than spread gossip and slander.

You know, everything you see or read may not be true - that is why we should carefully consider or closely examine the evidence before we speak.  Discernment is so critical in these times; the Word and the Spirit are powerful to help us to process information and determine our response.

Hollywood's Ode to Faith

We can consider how the Lord would use us to influence the people around us and to display the
character of God. 1st Peter 2 says:
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Think about it - each of us has been chosen by the Lord Most High; and He has a unique and special purpose for each of us.  He wants to express Himself through us, and through our churches, so that in our communities, Christ may be exalted.  We can consider, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, how we can lift Him high and make Him known - we have been chosen and equipped for this purpose, as His ambassadors.

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We are called and empowered to have influence in the world around us; to the spheres in which God
has placed us. Matthew 5 offers this reminder - these are the words of Jesus:
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The year was 1883. Daeida and Harvey Wilcox had "made a fortune in real estate," and moved to Los Angeles from Topeka, KS, according to a recent Religion News Service article, which states:

The couple bought 120 acres centered at what would become the intersection of Hollywood and Vine, and after Harvey’s death and Daeida’s subsequent remarriage, Daeida began creating her vision of a Christian preserve.

The article says that:

The first laws passed by the town involved bans on liquor, pool halls, bowling alleys, riding bicycles on sidewalks, the use of firearms and speeding. In 1905, the Los Angeles Times described it as a place where “the saloon and its kindred evils are unknown.”

The new city, which was established in 1903, was "filled with churches that had taken up Daeida’s offer of free land, regardless of denomination."  The name of the city was...

Hollywood.

Now, there is a tour, a Walk of Faith in Hollywood, not to be confused with the Walk of Fame.  April Clemmer started it.  The article says:

Clemmer, a Los Angeles resident and a Baptist herself, came up with the Walk of Faith tour last winter, after spending a decade researching Hollywood history. To her surprise, the deeper she looked, the more she found that the place synonymous with the American movie industry — and now clogged with lingerie stores, tobacco shops and fast-food outlets — was founded as an alcohol-free Christian community.

The piece goes on to say:

While the typical Hollywood tour might include tourists, the majority of the Walk of Faith attendees are locals — and that’s how Clemmer wants it.

“It’s important for local Christians to know there is a foundation of faith in Hollywood and that it’s something that can be reclaimed,” she said.

As for that original foundation of faith, the article points out that the town had grown to some 5,000 residents, and a water shortage resulted in Hollywood being absorbed into Los Angeles - then the saloons came, and as Religion News puts it, "by the time Daeida died in 1914, her vision was doomed as well."

The article says that Clemmer "recently gave a tour to Karen Covell, who directs the Hollywood Prayer Network, an organization of and for entertainment industry Christians. Covell is encouraging her members to take the tour." Covell is quoted as saying, “She walks people through the decades, within a few blocks’ area, giving insight into the vision of Christians, the passion of filmmakers and the hand of God throughout the last 100 years in Hollywood,” adding, “It’s important to know what God has done in order to fully embrace what he’s doing and is going to continue to do in our community.”

It was certainly informative and gratifying to read about the history of a place that is now a center of the entertainment industry.  I was reminded about how the Church has been at the center of civic life in communities across America.  Think about cities where the various churches are located in a central hub.  The geography is still there; and you would hope that the influence is still there, as well. And if that influence has been lost or diminished, we can consider how can we recapture that in our local areas.

We can also personalize the story and ask ourselves: Is our relationship with Christ and His Church at the center of our lives?   When we consider our thoughts and activities, we can evaluate the level to which we allow Him to control us.

While so much out of Hollywood and the entertainment industry is inconsistent with Biblical principles and inappropriate for families, we can continue to support good entertainment that is consistent with our Biblical values.  This Friday, February 22, the film, Run the Race, will be in theaters.  In the Faith Radio broadcast area, it will be at the Festival Plaza 16 and Chantilly 13 in Montgomery, Tiger 13 in Opelika, and Dothan Pavillion 12.

Tim Tebow, executive producer of the film, along with his brother, Robby, was on Hannity on Fox News the other night.  A FoxNews.com story related:

It's said to center around two brothers with different points of view, and their high school football and track teams.

“People need to hear the story because it's a hard world, but people need to be encouraged,” he said about the film which first caught his attention six years ago.

He described it as a faith-based film but also a “real film” to which most people could relate.

So, that's Run the Race on Friday.  And, on March 29, the story of a former Planned Parenthood director who left the abortion industry, Unplanned, debuts.  There's also an animated version of Pilgrim's Progress ahead.  Plus, the film, Breakthrough is the survival story of a young man who fell through the ice on a frozen lake and what occurred in the aftermath.

Thread of Freedom

There is an incredible, panoramic view of God's people gathered around His throne in Revelation
chapter 7, which states:
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

Recognizing that there will be one "great multitude" in heaven, I say we should get started on that now!  God desires, I believe, to express Himself through His people, and show to the world through though we might have differences - and all of us are unique - we can collectively reflect His glory. He has worked throughout history through the lives of people who are open to His Spirit moving through us, and it is certainly apparently through the African-American Church today, which is something we can observe and celebrate during Black History Month.

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We have been given so many wonderful cultural traditions, which, infused with Biblical truth, can be a visible expression of God's love and unity. Acts 17 states:
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.'

It is President's Day, which is celebrated the third Monday of February, recognizing the accomplishments of Presidents through our nation's history.  One of those, of course, is Abraham Lincoln, whose action to free African-Americans from slavery is a turning point in our overall history.

We also celebrate the accomplishments of African-Americans during Black History Month, which is also in February.  As a piece on the Christian History Magazine website states:

When we honor Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968), we also honor black Baptist spaces and leaders that formed him. When we observe Black History Month, we pay homage to its founder, Carter G. Woodson (1875–1950), from the Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, DC. First-ever female bank president and legend of the black freedom struggle Maggie Lena Walker (1864–1934) was a long-time member of the First African Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia.

The article is devoted to Black Baptists, but incorporates elements of the struggle for freedom, as well as the hope of the gospel.  The history lesson continues:

The Great Awakening of the eighteenth century introduced the power of the evangelical message of salvation. That compelling message led many churches to grow—chiefly Methodist and Baptist churches. Many new members were enslaved people of the southern states. The traditional religions of their African ancestors provided a foundation consistent with Christianity. But it soon became apparent that in practice, Christian slaveholders behaved inconsistently with the spirit of a religion focused on freedom.

But, during the first half of the nineteenth century, as the article points out, "By the end of the eighteenth century, white Baptists licensed enslaved men across the South as preachers." Examples included:

In Georgia the Buckhead Creek Church licensed and ordained George Liele (1750–1820) “to perform missionary labors among slaves on other plantations in the surrounding area.” He also organized the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia, with Andrew Bryan, and later became a missionary to Jamaica.

In Mississippi Joseph Willis—a free African—was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1798. He became the first moderator of the Louisiana Baptist Association in 1818, after serving as a pastor and church organizer. Another preacher enslaved from birth, “Uncle Jack” (c. 1746–1843), earned his freedom and impressed white church members during his Baptist ministry in the 1790s, mostly in Virginia. He was so captivating that a white Presbyterian minister, William White, wrote a biography about him, The African Preacher (1849).

I would certainly contend that the yearning for freedom from slavery intensified with spiritual fervor. Indeed, the abolition of slavery, as well as the Civil Rights Movement, had a strong spiritual component.  While many white Christians were intent on preserving the error of the past, black Christians were embracing their freedom in Christ.  The article goes on to say:

As an oppressed people, African Americans sought to challenge longstanding institutions of white supremacy; as part of the larger Baptist family, their energy and influence led to conversations about Baptist commitment to real freedom. 

Fast forward now to the twentieth century and the desire to see freedom in Christ, freedom from slavery, and freedom from policies that continued to treat African-Americans as being lesser citizens. An article at the Fuller Studio website, an arm of Fuller Theological Seminary, which included a reference to Acts 17:26, said:

Almost since the beginning of the Black presence in this country, African Americans have responded to a biblically based gospel that they have tested and proved. They have shared spiritual experiences and passed on the evangelical heritage with concern, creativity, and gusto. The development of Black evangelical churches and denominations stands as historical proof.

It goes on to say:

Black evangelicals have been neither deficient in their theology nor delinquent in their witness. Firmly convinced that Scripture is the Word of God for all of life, and aware of implications of the scriptural statement that “from one ancestor [God] made all nations to inhabit the whole earth” (Acts 17:26 NRSV), they have long questioned and protested against the racist barriers that made separate Black congregations and denominations necessary.

The article points out that, during the time of and shortly after the Civil Rights Movement, "The 'increasing awareness' among evangelicals about being more socially responsible as Christians was stimulated either directly or indirectly by the clear ethical demands that victimized Blacks had been calling attention to across the nation." The author writes of an instance at a major conference in the mid-60's:

While attending the World Congress on Evangelism held in Berlin, Germany, in November 1966, those of us who were delegates heard many position papers that treated aspects of the Congress theme: “One Race, One Gospel, One Task.” Interestingly, and problematically, as we listened across ten days, we African American delegates discovered that no attention had been devoted in any position paper to the first part of the Congress theme, “One Race,” nor had any official paper about race been distributed for private reading. The Congress delegates had been drawn together from across the world, literally, and the vast assemblage—representing the largest ecumenical and evangelical gathering of the church since Pentecost, A.D. 33—reflected great diversity of backgrounds, nationalities, geographical locations, and color distinctions, and yet no major statement about the oneness of the human race had been voiced or written.

African-American delegates asked the chair, Carl F.H. Henry, if they could draft a statement about race. Those named included: "Robert 'Bob' Harrison, Howard O. Jones, Ralph Bell, Jimmy McDonald, Louis Johnson, and James Earl Massey." (It appears that Massey wrote the Fuller piece.) They worked "late into the night." The article says:

We wrote forthrightly about human equality as a biblical principle based on the oneness of the human family under God as Creator. We stressed the importance of agape-love in our dealings with all humans and the need to reject racial and national barriers that forbid full fellowship and cooperative ministry. Our statement did not offer any distinct strategies for dealing with racism, but our concern at that point was not to prod decision about strategy. Our concern was rather to give a basic statement that declared our biblical understanding of human oneness, with racism understood as a social evil, an unjust pattern in society, and a barrier to cooperative evangelism. As it turned out, what we prepared was viewed as the strongest statement evangelicals had ever made on the subject of race until that time.

You may recognize Howard Jones and Ralph Bell as two men who ministered with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Bell conducted a crusade in Montgomery in the early 1990's.

It's interesting and informative to consider the impact of African-Americans in evangelical Christianity and to consider how we can boldly unite as one body to impact a divided world for Christ. And, we can rejoice that, regardless of race, culture, and background, God will express Himself, and He expresses Himself to people and through His people in many cases through cultural traditions. Consider the vast array of musical styles or preaching styles - if God's truth is being related, we can find Him.

We remember that our cultural traditions should not be used to divide us, but to help us appreciate how God fosters unity even in the midst of diversity. Now, diversity has become a popular word these days, and that concept has been misused to divide people of different races and to force people to accept lifestyles that are unbiblical. True diversity occurs when we can appreciate our differences and work toward a common goal; Biblical diversity takes place when we see how God will work through our differences to produce common ground and unity in Christ.

And, through it all, through the years, God uses His people to win others to Christ. I am grieved and fairly irritated when I see people mixing it up on social media and spend time attacking one another over racial issues in the body of Christ. We should be spending time sharing the love of Christ, even toward one another, and proclaiming the transformative message of salvation through Christ, who heals and unites.

Working Through It

In responding to leaders who had questions regarding divorce, Jesus shared His vision for marriage. We find His words in Matthew 19:
4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'
5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

God has great intent for marriage, and He desires to reflect His glory through couples who are fully surrendered to Him.  Even in the difficult times that marriage relationships might face, they can walk in His love and apply His principles, making sure that they continue to pray, to talk, to exhibit determination to work through conflict.  And, through the trying times, they can experience the strength of the Lord.

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In Ephesians 5, the apostle Paul is addressing the sanctity of marriage, underscoring that it is to
reflect Christ and the Church. We can read:
31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

They're married already?  That was a bit of a shock for me, but Hailey Baldwin, daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin and niece of Alec Baldwin, is now Hailey Bieber, wife of pop superstar Justin Bieber.  And, they're opening up about some the intricacies and challenges of their relationship and the role of faith in their journey.

A Christian Headlines story relates:

Pop sensation Justin Bieber and supermodel Hailey (née Baldwin) opened up about their young marriage and how church was always the one thing that brought them back together before they tied the knot.

According to the Christian Post, in a cover story interview with Vogue Magazine, the pop singer revealed that his Christian faith encouraged him to break the chains of drug and sex addiction right before he met his now wife.

The story says that Bieber, known for his bad behavior and high-profile relationships, was "determined" to "stay chaste until marriage," after making a commitment to follow God.  He is quoted as saying, “[God] doesn’t ask us not to have sex for Him because He wants rules and stuff. He’s like, I’m trying to protect you from hurt and pain.” Bieber added, "I think sex can cause a lot of pain. Sometimes people have sex because they don’t feel good enough. Because they lack self-worth.”

Bieber said, "I wanted to rededicate myself to God in that way because I really felt it was better for the condition of my soul. And I believe that God blessed me with Hailey as a result."

The article says that the now-Biebers met through their parents, didn't really hit it off at first; they later saw each other at church, became "best friends," and had a dating relationship which ended with "betrayal and heartbreak."  Three years later they reconnected at a conference, and the rest is history, you might say.

The Christian Headlines article says:

Hailey told Vogue that church always brought them back together. She said, “The common denominator, I promise you, is always church. By then we were past the drama. I just gave him a hug. By the end of the conference, he was like, ‘We’re not going to be friends.’” A month after the conference the two were engaged.

They are apparently determined to make it work and are seeing a counselor regularly. Hailey also says, "We’re two young people who are learning as we go. I’m not going to sit here and lie and say it’s all a magical fantasy. It’s always going to be hard. It’s a choice. You don’t feel it every single day. You don’t wake up every day saying, ‘I’m absolutely so in love and you are perfect.’ That’s not what being married is."

The couple was married in a civil ceremony last September, and a more public ceremony could occur within the next few months, according to a People magazine story.  The singer is apparently taking part in counseling, perhaps on his own, to deal with some issues.  The story states, citing an unnamed source;

“They will have a wedding ceremony with family and friends eventually,” says the source. “However, right now, Justin’s focus is getting well mentally.”

The source adds: “Justin is doing okay. He is very focused and committed to getting help. Hailey is very supportive — Justin is very open about that Hailey does nothing but help him. He would feel even more lost without Hailey — he is very grateful. They are both focused on having a happy marriage.”

Well, I certainly will not hold Bieber and Baldwin up as the perfect Christian couple, but their story does provide us with some material to consider.

One is this: Following God's principles regarding purity can positively affect a marriage.  God has specific standards for purity outside of marriage and faithfulness to one's spouse once married.  Adhering to these principles make for strong, Christ-centered marriages that reflect the relationship between Christ and His Church.

We also must recognize that marriage is intended to be a lifelong commitment, and it takes work.  It doesn't just organically happen; while two people may be incredibly well-suited for one another, still, there will be pressures and unanticipated circumstances that can place great pressure on a marriage.

And, in order to follow through, we have to get the help we need.  It's reported that the Biebers are already walking through counseling together - in light of their fishbowl lives, I would think that is a good idea.  Hundreds of couples will be gathering at the Renaissance in downtown Montgomery for the FamilyLife Weekend to Remember, which has as its purpose to make good marriages better, and to provide direction for couples who are struggling.  Living out God's principles is a key to seeing a marriage thrive in Him.

Gifts and the Greatest Gift

Earlier this week on The Meeting House, I talked about responding to Christ's invitation to follow Him.  God, our Heavenly Father, has made it possible to be saved and to be in relationship with Him
through His Son, whom He sent as an expression of His love, a free gift. Romans 6 says:
22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We did not deserve to have a relationship with God - it is nothing to be earned, rather, it is received through faith, believing on Jesus and accepting Him into our hearts.  Our God loved us so much that He saw us in our sinful state, apart from Him and destined to stay that way, and sent His son to die so that in Him we might live.  It's been characterized as an exchange, or as a song from quite a few years ago put it, a "great" exchange:  God giving His life for ours, so that we, by laying down our lives, can experience his eternal and abundant life.

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There is certainly an emphasis on gifts this special day, and for believers, we can concentrate on the
great giver, our God, who has given us His Son to be our Savior. James 1 states:
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

It's Valentine's Day, and it has become a popular holiday when people show acts of love and devotion to one another and celebrate in many cases by sharing gifts - lots of them!  According to a survey by WalletHub, this year, just over one-third of those surveyed, 36%, expected their "Valentine" to spend between 50 and 100 dollars on gifts.  However, almost half, 44% said they only planned to spend 49 dollars or under, with 32% saying they planned to spend in that 50-100 range.

Number 1 gifts: candy, with 52% saying they planned to buy that; 44% said they planned to buy greeting cards.  The "most wanted" Valentine's Day gift - gift cards, with 3-in-10 characterizing it as best; the "least wanted:" gift cards; 2 out of 10 said a gift card was the worst.

The survey took a turn toward the area of "Money & Relationships," and revealed some important considerations.  80% of those surveyed said a partner's bad credit should be a concern, with 38% of people overall saying they would not date someone with bad credit: 45% of women said this, 31% of men did.

4 in 10 people said "irresponsible spending is a bigger turnoff than bad breath."

The worst type of money problems in a relationship?  35% said financial secrets, 27% said irresponsible spending.  This somewhat contradicts, though, the answers to a question about the best way to avoid money problems.  40% said that separate accounts would do the trick, only 21% said joint accounts would.  But, just under a third said that discussing purchases is the best way for couples to avoid money problems.

On this Valentine's Day, it is inspiring to reflect on the One who loves us greatly, who loved us enough to die on a cross so that we can be brought into a relationship with Himself.  And, with all this talk of gifts, we recognize that our Heavenly Father is a giver of all good gifts, and gave us the greatest gift of all when He sent His Son for us.

And, He enables us to have healthy relationships, and has provided sound principles in order to guide our relationships, predicated on His love.  Jesus said He did not come to be served, but to serve, and that attitude of putting others first, especially our spouse, can contribute to strong, God-honoring relationships.

Regarding marriage, one component to a strong marriage is communication, one of the areas mentioned in the survey.  And, communicating about money is key.  It's been said that one of the main contributing factors to marriages breaking apart is money.  "No secrets" is an excellent motto with regard to properly managing finances within a home.  And, a couple can get away from the concepts of "yours" and "mine" and adopt the mindset of "ours."  That's good in the area of money, and in other areas, as well - marriage is intended by God to be a "one flesh" relationship.

Abuse in the Church

The Bible is very clear about God's expectations in matters of sexuality.  1st Thessalonians 4 relates
His heart:
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

When you think of the Lord as an "avenger" in matters of sexual immorality, that underscores just how serious He is about these matters.  We have been given the principles, tools, and resources in order to resist temptation and to combat uncleanness in our lives.  He has set before us a holy standard that we cannot meet by depending on ourselves; we have to appropriate His holiness and develop a determination to root out the areas in our lives that are not pleasing to Him - certainly a lifelong pursuit, but the prescription for a life of freedom.

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The Bible offers a "zero-tolerance" policy on matters of sexual immorality, and calls us to be holy
people, not out of our own strength, but through Christ. Ephesians 5 states:
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Another translation says there should "not be even a hint" of sexual immorality.  That is the standard for the Church.

The numbers are breathtaking...the Houston Chronicle has published the findings of a study, done in cooperation with the San Antonio Express-News, which found that, according to the first story in the series:

In all, since 1998, roughly 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have faced allegations of sexual misconduct, the newspapers found. That includes those who were convicted, credibly accused and successfully sued, and those who confessed or resigned. More of them worked in Texas than in any other state.

They left behind more than 700 victims, many of them shunned by their churches, left to themselves to rebuild their lives. Some were urged to forgive their abusers or to get abortions.

About 220 offenders have been convicted or took plea deals, and dozens of cases are pending. They were pastors. Ministers. Youth pastors. Sunday school teachers. Deacons. Church volunteers.

One person being abused in a church setting is too many.  And, multiply that by hundreds and you have the makings of a despicable trend.  380 people in authority misused that authority to take advantage of one or more human beings.  Fortunately, over half of those have either been convicted or accepted plea deals and there are more cases pending.

These instances involved abuse of women by men, as well as men by men.  Who knows how many of these abusers were exposed to or addicted to porn, allowing a abhorrent view of sexuality, rather than the fresh truth of God's Word to shape their view?  In an age in which we see the culture, and even the Church, softening its stance on homosexuality, some of these instances of abuse involved a male being abused by another male.

One of the stunning aspects of the report is that, "At least 35 church pastors, employees and volunteers who exhibited predatory behavior were still able to find jobs at churches during the past two decades. In some cases, church leaders apparently failed to alert law enforcement about complaints or to warn other congregations about allegations of misconduct."

Plus, the article stated that, "Several past presidents and prominent leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention are among those criticized by victims for concealing or mishandling abuse complaints within their own churches or seminaries."

But, the big question circulated in Southern Baptist churches is: what do we do about this?  The Chronicle talked to the interim head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, Augie Boto, who "helped draft the rejection of reform proposals in 2008. In an interview, he expressed 'sorrow' about some of the newspapers' findings but said the convention's leadership can do only so much to stop sexual abuses."  Local church autonomy has been said to prevent the Convention from having centralized control over the issue. The article goes on to say, "Because of that, Boto said, the committee 'realized that lifting up a model that could not be enforced was an exercise in futility,' and so instead drafted a report that 'accepted the existence of the problem rather than attempting to define its magnitude.'"

Most recently, certainly, the Convention has been aware of the scourge of abuse in its midst.  Messengers to the annual Convention in Dallas last year passed resolutions on abuse, as well as affirming women.  And, a Baptist Press article reported on the announcement of a Sexual Abuse Study Group, in partnership with the Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.  A release from Convention President J.D. Greear's office stated, "The group's purpose...will be to consider how Southern Baptists at every level can take discernable action to respond swiftly and compassionately to incidents of abuse, as well as to foster safe environments within churches and institutions. This group will study both how Southern Baptists are currently engaging these issues and develop recommendations in consultation with relevant SBC entities on strategies and resources for ministering to victims and protecting people and churches from predators."

The article said that the names of members of the group would be released "at a later date," but I have not been able to locate any names.  Apparently, the ERLC is running the study.  Another Baptist Press article reported that the study was "underway." You can only hope that credible and experienced people in this area are being consulted with in order to bring solutions that match the gravity of the situation, without politicization.

There are a number of principles that we can consider in light of this report.

First of all, we can acknowledge that abuse is real, and it is taking place in church settings.  We have to open our eyes, and be prepared to confront evil where it exists.  There are authorities, inside and outside the church, who need to know that instances of abuse are occurring.

We should develop an awareness of what is taking place.  And, we should take all the necessary precautions in our churches to reduce the conditions under which abuse could occur, including proper supervision of church activities, protection in ministry to children, and the teaching of a healthy sexual ethic.  People should be loved enough in the Lord to tell them the truth.  One of the major threads of the Chronicle story is that people who had been involved in abuse in one church were allowed to work at another.  Proper vetting of potential pastoral staff members, as well as volunteers, is critical.

We have to refine our attitude toward sexual abuse.  It has come to our doorstep.  Now, there is certainly debate about how the organizational structure of the Southern Baptist Convention could have contributed to widespread abuse.  And, while Baptist leadership debates organizational controls, one of the key elements has not received a lot of play, as I see it - the preaching of holiness from the pulpit and its practice in the pews.  In a culture steeped in moral relativism, where so-called "progressive" ideas are taking root and tolerance is the buzzword of the day, we have to align ourselves with the Bible's "zero tolerance" policy for sin.  While some denigrate the proclamation of the gospel in dealing with injustice; truth is, many of our issues concerning justice would be eliminated or reduced with the injection of Biblical truth.  When you consider that, according to Faithwire, 60% of Christian men view porn at least once a month, you can see how men are taking their cues about sexuality and interpersonal relationships from sources that are anathema to the Bible.

There is a better way, and that is to appropriate truth.  Truth about freedom in Christ rather than coddling or covering up sin.  Truth about properly resisting temptation.  And, seeking the truth about those who are chosen to lead God's people.  God has set up leadership roles for men and women, and while there are some who would blame the frequency of abuse on the so-called "patriarchy" in the Church, truth is, it is not a problem with the structure; rather those who would take advantage of it for power and worldly pleasure.

Finally, we should seek accountability  Corporately speaking, regarding the Southern Baptist Convention, that can be tricky.  Terry Mattingly has a great analysis at GetReligion.org.  He writes:

This has nothing to do with good intentions or bad intentions. Many Southern Baptist leaders are horrified by the facts exposed by the Chronicle and News-Express investigation.

But what can they afford to do legally and financially, given the realities of SBC church life — where the ultimate power is at the local level?

Yes, I know that some associations have tossed congregations out for veering left on sexuality, the ordination of women and similar issues. I could see Southern Baptists, in the future, tossing some churches out of fellowship because they refused to discipline predators or declined to take part in VOLUNTARY efforts to prevent abuse and shelter victims. But that is not the same thing as creating a new institution that would be legally responsible for tracking and investigating abusers, while reporting their status to all Southern Baptists at the local, regional and state levels.

He cites an "update" from this study of sexual abuse, which says, "Once resources and strategies have been developed, the implementation phase will launch a wide-scale, comprehensive effort to educate, saturate, and motivate Southern Baptist churches, entities, and leaders to embrace and incorporate the recommendations and findings of the study."  [his emphasis added]

He asks the questions, "But what does it mean to say that SBC “entities” will “embrace and incorporate” these changes? Will that involve SBC associations and conventions taking on legal responsibilities and financial liabilities that they never have in the past? How about the creation of a national SBC agency to legally handle all of this?"  I would point out that local church autonomy is certainly not something to hide behind, or use as an excuse for past inaction, but it is also a distinctive of Southern Baptist life; and it seems as if information-sharing and corroboration of best practices can be helpful, but centralization of power for the denomination's churches may be an unnecessary bridge too far.  As Mattingly says, "Stay tuned."

Call to the Altar

We should be reminded that the Church is full of sinners, like you and me, who desperately need to
know and experience the saving grace of God. Romans 3 says:
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..

Recognizing that we all sin, we can also see how the Word of God will set us free, as we know and apply its principles.  And, when we do sin, our response is not to ignore it or try to cover it up, but to confess it.  At times that may be counterintuitive; we don't want people to know what we have done, so we hide that transgression away.  But evil thrives in the darkness, and we have to bring forth our sinful behavior into the light, place ourselves in agreement with God, who already knows about it, and allow Him to forgive us and provide the strength to overcome the power of indwelling sin.

+++++

Jesus desires for all people to be saved, to come into a relationship with Him through a saving
knowledge of Christ. Romans 10 outlines the process by which a person becomes a Christian:
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

When I was at an elementary school camp, I responded to the youth pastor's invitation to give my life to Jesus.  Perhaps that is your story; in a church service or special assembly, you responded to the Spirit and accepted Christ as your Savior.  Or, in a small group or just by yourself, you surrendered your life to Him.  Romans 10 relates how we are to accept Christ and be saved.

An altar call is simply a method.  However, there has been a mini-debate recently about the validity of altar calls.  It stems, apparently, from a video featuring a Dallas pastor, Todd Wagner.  The Christian Post reported on it:

Todd Wagner, senior pastor of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, believes altar calls are not “unbiblical” but “they’re also not a required biblical act.” Thus, he does not issue an altar call very often at his megachurch.

One major problem with altar calls that many pastors and theologians have identified is that they have led to false conversions. Those who responded spontaneously by going forward and saying a prayer to receive Jesus Christ might have done so out of emotion rather than out of conviction.

Wagner had written, "The altar call relies on the powers of emotion, rhetorical persuasion, and social pressure to induce people to make a hasty and premature decision. And producing professions is not the same thing as making disciples...”

The Post article said, "Famous evangelists who have employed altar calls include Dwight Moody, Billy Sunday and Billy Graham. Generally, they invited people to come forward after a sermon to make a public confession of faith." But, the article related that Wagner thought that Charles Finney was too "manipulative."

Evangelist Greg Laurie, who incorporates altar calls in his Harvest Crusades ministry, posted the Christian Post article on Twitter along with these comments:

Public invitations are Biblical and very important.

Peter invited people to believe on the day of Pentecost.

3000 responded.

@BillyGraham responded to a “Alter call”.

So did I.

We call these ‘professions of faith”.

Time will tell if they are conversions.

The Christian Post article linked to a previous Post column by a pastor named Shane Idleman, who wrote:

...anytime we give an honest appeal for a person to turn to God, it's a good thing. But in our zeal to "get people into the kingdom," we sometimes run the risk of offering false assurance. This is a very real danger in the church today. Many come forward after a sermon, but do they change? Often, it's the "I'll give Jesus a try" attitude, rather than a broken heart desperately seeking a Savior — the American gospel versus the true gospel.

The success rate of genuine conversions at crusades hovers between 5% to 15%. Some may argue, "But seeds are planted." Yes, seed are planted, but are they seeds of salvation or seeds of false assurance?

I have great respect for men such as Billy Graham and Greg Laurie, and for the mass crusades that draw thousands to hear the gospel. I wish that there were more. I'm not challenging this type of ministry...I'm challenging the "overall" approach to altar calls.

He stresses that "genuine faith produces genuine fruit."

I think the bottom line is that the altar call is an invitation for a person to respond to Jesus and the work He desires to do in a person's life.  He is the One who invites, He is the One who calls, and the spoken word, the word of truth, without manipulation, can be powerful in opening up the human heart to Jesus.  But, the call to the altar offers a moment that a person can point back to and say - this is the time; this is when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Now, it's also important that we remember and relate what it means to be saved and to encourage people to pursue holiness.  While salvation is a one-time occurrence, the process of discipleship and sanctification is life-long.  Our acceptance of Christ is not the end, it is the beginning of an adventure in which we know Him and reflect His glory.

In light of discussions about moral failures in the Church and widespread sinful behavior, it's important that we pursue holiness and we allow the power of Christ to change us.  We have to keep a clean slate before Him, confessing our sins, having an attitude of repentance and experiencing His restoration when we miss the mark.  In a culture in which the power and effect of sin are minimized, we must uphold God's standards for righteous living.