Christmas and The Pursuit of Truth

“Passion for truth.” That is what I wrote down in my Bible some years ago after reading Luke 1:1-4. This is the beginning section of a detailed account of the life of Jesus Christ starting with a historical record of the Christmas story.

Luke, a follower of Jesus, captured my attention when he wrote, “. . . just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you . . . that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:2-4). Do you see how Luke’s passion for truth has provided us an accurate accounting of Jesus’ birth?

Truths are facts. Truth is accuracy. Certainty. It is not wide spread conformity or uniformity, but has a measure of agreeability by some. Luke’s eye witnesses of the life of Christ and the early Apostles were all agreeable. But the enemies of Christ disputed Luke’s claims as mere lies or legend. The thing about truth though, is it stands the harsh winds of criticism, while lies and legends collapse at the gentle breeze of questioning.

2020 has been a year for the battle of truth in many major news events, and Luke has been a great example in how to seek it out.

Covid-19. One group of infectious disease experts, medical doctors and scientific studies advocate for mask wearing, social distancing, quarantines and shut-downs to stop or slow the spread of the virus. Yet, there is another group of respectable experts, doctors and studies that question those and have differing information and recommendations. Who is right?

Racism. One group of black intellectuals argue that America is not a racist nation, does not have a systemic racism problem and that white police officers killing young black men is not a widespread problem. Then a different group of black academics’ counter that, condemning such conclusions and present their own case for otherwise. Who is right?

Election fraud. One group of experienced political analysts and lawyers site signed affidavits of personal witnesses, mathematical improbabilities and pole watchers being severely restricted as evidence of voter fraud. Another group of elected officials and legal experts look at all the data and are fully convinced there was no wide spread voter fraud and dispute all findings to the contrary. Who is right?

Luke did not rely upon public opinion or the thoughts of one or two people about the life of Jesus. He rolled up his sleeves and worked hard at digging up the truth. And His ultimate source of truth was God Himself working through His Holy Spirit guiding Luke as he wrote divinely inspired Words.

On Covid-19, let us not look to Dr. Fauci or our personal physician as a source of truth alone. On racism, let us not look to Dr. Thomas Sowell or Rev. Jesse Jackson as a source of truth alone. On election fraud let us not look to the Democrats or Republicans as a source of truth alone.

Let us roll up our sleeves and go through the hard work of seeking out truth for ourselves. Begin with prayer asking God to show you what is true and what is not, no matter where it may lead. Read God’s Word (the source of all truth). Ask questions of others. Respectfully challenge what some state as facts. Listen objectively. Research. Reflect on what you are learning. Pray more. Then take a position with confidence and humility. Remember, without this pursuit of truth we would not be celebrating Christmas.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, thank you for raising up Luke and using him to provide us the Christmas story. Help us to pursue truth as he did, and not be led astray by the opinions or pressure from others. Be our guide O, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.”

 

How to be Thankful in America’s Chaos

The year 2020 will go down as probably one of the most cultural shaping years of the United States and world in recent times. It began in January with retired NBA legend, Kobe Bryant’s sudden death. News of his passing impacted the globe. In February, President Donald Trump became the third President to be impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. In March, shutdowns began sweeping across the nation in an attempt to slow the Covid-19 pandemic, which has contributed to over 200,000 deaths in the United States and financial devastation for many. In May, the killing of George Floyd set off a series of lawless riots in major cities for months. In June, the Supreme Court ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act can be extended to offer controversial protections to lesbian, gay, transgender and bi-sexual people, which will have massive implications for churches and Christian run non-profits, businesses and schools. And through all this upheaval there has been a tense and divisive political campaign season and presidential election. Plus, we still have December to go and none of this includes what has been happening in your own life and family.

Anyone, no matter where they stand politically or religiously, can agree that 2020 has been incredibly stressful due to so many significant and difficult events. Thanksgiving Day will be significant this year. Let me ask you this, “How can we be thankful while in the midst of all this craziness?”

Read this carefully . . . the evidence of true and genuine thankfulness comes not in a season of plenty, but in a time of loss and heartache. For that is when you look beyond the superficial and into the depths of what is truly important. Pain has a sobering effect on us, often waking us up to questions that help come to terms with life’s greatest priorities.

In the Bible it is written, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). The man who wrote those words penned them while imprisoned unjustly for doing good to others.

The people in our nation’s history that gave us the origins of Thanksgiving Day, understood this concept of true thanksgiving. November 11, 1620, European Pilgrims, America’s new settlers, arrived on the shores of what eventually became Massachusetts. According to an American history website, wallbuilders.com . . .

The harsh New England winter was already well underway. Having no homes or shelter of any kind when they landed, before spring arrived, half of the 100 settlers had died. But that first year also brought unexpected blessings as some of the Indians in the area who had learned English were willing to help the Pilgrims by showing them many things they needed to survive, including how to plant Indian crops such as corn, and how to hunt and fish in that area. 

Out of the great blessing the native Americans showed the Pilgrims, came America’s first Thanksgiving. While each of the Pilgrims had experienced awful tragedy, they were able to lift their eyes heavenward and truly give thanks and praise to the Lord God, who they worshiped, for the grace He showed them through friendship with the Indians. They were able to find good in the face of pain and sorrow.

Where is the good in America right now? Like the Pilgrims, lift your eyes heavenward to the Lord God. Look beyond what you see physically to the unseen presence of a very real and holy God. Long ago He sent His only Son, Jesus, who came to die and rise again for the sins of the world. For sin is the cause of all that troubles our lives and world. Our disobedience to God and the disobedience of others, has brought much evil and destruction upon us. Yet, we are not left to ourselves. In Jesus, God has given us hope. We can be set free from our shackles of sin. The weight can be lifted. The darkness can be turned to light. The chaos can be transformed into peace. It is because of Jesus we can give thanks while the world falls apart around us. Let not circumstances determine if there is something to be thankful for. Turn to Christ. Let Him change your heart, then see the world and your life like you have never seen it before.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray for the one who is troubled by all he or she is walking through. Open their eyes and heart to see you standing right there in the middle of the chaos. Let them see you as a Savior. Bring them to turn from their disobedience and seek you for forgiveness. In your holy name, Amen.”

Pastors and Voting

Pastor and church leader, do you anticipate encouraging your congregation to vote in the general election on November 3rd? I hope every pastor and church leader will help make the Christian vote, the highest turnout among any group.

I understand churches may feel uncomfortable or even resistant to utilizing their church to encourage voting. Perhaps they think it smells of politics and want to get as far away from the odor as possible, especially with political tensions running too high in America right now.

What I am talking about is simply encouraging the act of voting. I do not want the church promoting certain candidates or political parties, nor turning Sunday morning into a political rally. This is just about encouraging followers of Christ to vote, and vote prayerfully and intelligently.

I see voting as an act of loving Christian citizenship when I read the Apostle Peter’s letter in the New Testament. His words are not specifically about voting, but about the Christian’s relationship to government. 1. Voting is honorable. It is written, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable . . .” (1 Peter 2:12). 2. Voting is good. The Scriptures say, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people” (vs. 15). 3. Voting is an act of freedom. The Bible says, “Live as people who are free” (vs. 16). In the United States men and women and people of all races and religions, or no religion, are free to vote. 4. Voting is loving our neighbor. God’s Word states, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (vs. 17). The candidates up for election are our fellow citizens, and in a sense, are our neighbors. It is an act of sacrificial love to them when we take time and go vote.

But what if some candidates are lacking the character or will not support Christian principled policies or legislation? That is a valid concern, but please do not let that keep you or your church out of the voting booth. Participate, but do so with greater attention to prayer, seeking the Scripture for guidance and learning about the candidates.

If you lead or are involved in a church that sees voting as part of the messy political process, consider a different viewpoint. Look at it through the lens of God’s Word and Christian citizenship. It is our opportunity to be salt and light in the community when we show up at the polls on election day. And when our votes are joined with prayer and fasting for the candidates along with our city, state and nation – election day can truly be a spiritually impactful time.

When it comes time to cast our vote, believers in Christ do so with a theological understanding of sovereign Kingship. Jesus died, rose from the dead and is alive today sitting at the right hand of His Father in heaven, waiting to come again. Christ is King no matter who is on the ballot or in political power. It is in Him whom we ultimately place our trust with the realization that no earthly power can thwart the purposes of our Lord and Savior.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray you will give pastors and local church leaders wisdom and unity in discussions about encouraging their congregations to vote. Open the eyes of fellow believers to the biblical importance of voting. And I pray that our nation will turn toward you. We are in desperate need of a special touch of your glory and grace. Come Lord Jesus. In your holy name, Amen.”

Can Baptism Forgive Your Sins?

I walked into the hospital room and Terry was lying on her bed.  Her physical condition was deteriorating and she was not ready to face her Creator.  I got down on my knees and shared with her the good news of Christ,realizing her time was short.  Afterwards as I prayed, she cried out for God to save her.  It was an incredible moment.  Weeks later Terry was home in her bed surrounded by family.  She wanted to be baptized, so with a cup and towel I conducted her baptism.  What a blessing!  Then hours later Terry died, going to her heavenly home.  

What prepared her for an eternal dwelling with Christ?  Was it her conversion to Jesus at the hospital or her baptism at home? 

Like with Terry, I have been at the bedside of the dying many times and I am greatly concerned over the misunderstanding about baptism.  If someone is fatally sick, knows their time is short, and realizes they have never been baptized, they may request a clergyperson to come and administer it, giving them a false sense of confidence,that they will go to heaven (because of their baptism).

Baptism is a part of our American religious culture.  Millions of followers in Catholic and Protestant churches have experienced the sacrament.  From infants, to youth and adults, men and women have been baptized during memorable religious ceremonies filled with family and friends.  Sometimes it is a quiet, solemn, reverent event.  At other times it is filled with hoots and hollers.  The occasion is looked upon as an important religious milestone in a person’s spiritual life. 

Whydoes someone get baptized?  Simple.  It is a command given by God in the Bible, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins . . .” (Acts 2:38)

If you have ever attended a baptism ceremony here is the meaning of it.  As a person stands ready to be baptized, they are a picture of their old self, standing dead in their sin, just as Jesus hung dead upon His cross.  Then as Jesus was buried, so they are buried.  Their old self gets buried in the waters of baptism.  The water is an image of the Holy Spirit washing them of all their sin while being immersed into the life of Christ and His church.  Then as Jesus rose from His grave with a resurrected body, so the one being baptized rises up out of the water, a new creation.  The old is gone.  The new has come.It is a powerful thing to watch, an honor to administer, but most of all, it is life changing to personally experience, as I have.  The mighty grace of God is almost palpable in those moments.

What is the singular most important focus in baptism?  Jesus.  It is not the water.  It is not the Pastor or Priest.  It is not the one being baptized.  It is Jesus.  Baptism is foremost a picture of Christ’s work on the cross.  His suffering, death, burial and resurrection from the dead. 

Sometimes we can elevate the pomp and circumstance of a baptism ceremony above Christ.  We can elevate the water itself above Him, believing it becomes holy or takes on some type of mystical form.  We can also elevate the sacrament itself above Christ, thinking that through it we can secure the eternal salvation of our soul. 

Let me be as blunt and truthful as I can.  Unless you have turned from your sins and to Christ, and unless you have placed your full trust in Christ alone; your baptism is meaningless and of no spiritual value whatsoever.  Do not believe anyone who says otherwise.  Your baptism is not enough to forgive your sins.  It is just mere water.  Only the blood of Jesus, which was shed from His cross can save you.  Thankfully, Terry understood this when she cried out to Jesus in her hospital bed.  I pray you will do the same.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, if there is someone reading this that has been deceived, believing the waters of baptism are greater than the atoning blood of Jesus, open their eyes to see the truth.  Bring them to turn from trusting in a ceremony, and to repent of their sin and trust in Christ alone for their salvation. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

Does Obedience Matter to God?

Often I engage with people in conversations about God and the Bible.  Many times I do not know where they stand with God until we begin talking.  More often than not, I hear “I believe in God”, “I pray”, “I’ve asked for forgiveness”, “I’ve been baptized”, or even “Jesus is my Savior and Lord.”  Yet, in the midst of these religious professions I have noticed a glaring problem.   There is a wide chasm between their profession and daily lifestyle.  The two do not line up.  When I observe this and ask a question like, “It’s wonderful you state that Jesus is your Savior and Lord.  Do you obey Him?”  Then I hear the sound of crickets.  Somehow, someway, they have been exposed to a teaching that tells them obedience to God does not matter.  They have been taught that if they get all the right religious professions down and throw in a few important religious duties along with that, then God’s grace will cover them and their home in heaven is certain.  Is this true? 

Within days of Jesus’ death and resurrection, He was spending time with His disciples teaching them, preparing them for what was to come.  He stressed the importance of obedience to Him four times, saying, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments . . .”, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.”, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word . . .”, Whoever does not love me does not keep my words” (John 14:15,21,23-24).  Jesus, the Master Teacher, was emphasizing an absolutely essential truth in the Christian life – obedience to God matters.  Notice the kind of obedience Jesus talked about was not mere rule keeping.  It was an obedience that springs from a heart of love for Christ.  Not a romantic love that is just feeling, but a love that is rational, deliberate, sacrificial and willing to lay down its life in suffering and death for Him if necessary, just like Jesus modeled through the cross.  In addition to the obedience question, another one is, “You say Jesus is your Savior and Lord . . ., but do you love Him?”  

The lyrics in our modern worship music extols the love of God, but where are the lyrics that also sings about our obedience to Him?  Our evangelism proclaims the love of God in Christ inviting people to pray and make professions, rather than calling them to take up their cross and obey the gospel’s challenging call of repentance from sin.  Our churches teach the love of God through biblical principles, keys and steps to be followed in order to live a better life, rather than biblical commands to be obeyed in order to live a holy life.   

The church has created a whole generation of followers of Christ that elevate professions and feelings above the way of the cross.  For it is rooted in a sacrificial love that is demonstrated in daily obedience to the Word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

What I am writing about is so important.  Eternal souls are at stake.  Every one of us is heading toward an appointment with God our Creator on Judgment Day.  This should instill a healthy fear of God, and sense of accountability within each of us.  As the Lord Jesus will one day examine us, are we just going to offer profession after profession?  Jesus predicts this will actually happen.  He once said people will come to Him on that day and say, “Lord, Lord” and He will reply, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46) 

Obedience is non-negotiable.  It is a must!  It is an expression of saving faith and love toward Christ, who obeyed His own Father and gave all for Him.  Let us follow the example of Jesus.  And let us begin by obeying the call to repentance, to turn from what we know is wrong and to God with all our heart. 

A prayer for you - “Lord God, help us as pastors, evangelists, missionaries and all believers to take your call to obedience seriously.  Help us to go beyond teaching professions and principles to teaching obedience to the King of Kings.  And may all believers everywhere humble themselves before your Word no matter the cost.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

Racial Vandalism in My Town?

I was out of town working when I was informed that our community had been vandalized with racial slurs in multiple locations. My first thought was, “What?” I had written two recent columns on George Floyd's death and racial issues. I had been following the news in what was happening in cities across America. Clay Center is not Minneapolis or Atlanta. We are a small rural town. When I saw the pictures of swastikas and various derogatory versions of the phrase “Black Lives Matter” spray painted on public and private properties, it was shocking to see. Our town?

We do not need to investigate or analyze the evidence to determine if there is anything racist about it – it was. Some vandal or group of vandals were clearly mocking and condemning, not just blacks in our community, but any black person who would see those awful slurs in photos. It was immoral, unethical and criminal. It was an arrogant violation of the laws of man and of God, and they will have to answer to both for their inexcusable actions.

When I read about the vandalism, I also learned about a quick response of the community to return evil with good. Volunteers responded in great numbers to clean up the mess with people of all ages getting involved in various ways. The community also demonstrated great support for law enforcement to find and prosecute whoever did this. Across the nation there are cries to defund the police. Not in our town. We have the utmost confidence in our Police Chief and his officers. Our police department, court system, mayor and city council will not tolerate criminal activity like this.

Justice though must not be drive by emotion or anger, but by the diligent pursuit of the rule of law by our law enforcement officials and helping them where we can. And in that pursuit, we must use restraint in making assumptions and judgments while the facts are still being gathered. Some may think it was local teenage boys out for a destructive night on the town. It just as well could have been vandals from another town. As I write, there is some we do know, but much more we do not.

Does this incident mean Clay Center is a racist town? Emphatic no. The people may not have been from Clay Center, even if they were, it was clearly an isolated incident. Whoever did this, does not represent all 4,000 people.

Why would someone do this? I spoke with a black pastor recently about the unrest in our cities. He summed it up when he said racism is not about the color of our skin but a problem of the heart. He is right. For out of it comes racial slurs and abuse toward someone because of their ethnicity. And there is only one answer for it. Jesus. He died and rose again to conquer the evils in our hearts. Sometimes we try, but we cannot change our own hearts. Striving to enact laws and reforms has their place, but cannot change a heart. We can write songs, have discussions, protest and have gatherings of different sorts, but none of them can change a heart. We need the power of Jesus.

How does someone experience that change? It begins with admitting the wrong doing in our own lives. Ask God to reveal it to you. In the book of Psalms it says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me . . .” (Ps. 139:23-24). Then we must be willing to turn from it. We must release it, no matter how hard it is, then receive the cleansing power of Jesus’ forgiveness. And through that forgiveness, you will receive a new heart and mind. The old will be gone. The new will come!

Did you know this forgiveness is available for former police officer Derek Chauvin, who killed George Floyd? Did you know this forgiveness is also available to those who vandalized all those properties? Anyone who wants to, can come and be forgiven . . . on two conditions. One, they believe in the Lord Jesus with all their heart. Two, they stop sinning against Jesus and live for Him.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, search all our hearts for any bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness we have toward another person, especially against those who might be a different race than us. Point it out and help us to turn from it. Help us to go and make peace with those whom we are divided. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Black Lives Matter Doesn't Speak for All Black Lives

Many generations ago the Jewish King Hezekiah was in the midst of a successful reign when he was threatened with invasion by King Sennacherib of Assyria. Sennacherib used lies, deceit and fearful threats to try and get the people to surrender. Hezekiah countered every attempt. He told his people, “With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.  And the people took confidence . . .” (2 Chronicles 32:8)

This makes me think of the deception that is happening in our country over racial tensions, causing entire cities, businesses and even churches to fall on their knees in surrender. For this is not a political, racial or justice issue; this is a battle between good and evil, and we must look to the Lord God to be our help and save our nation.

As I followed the news and watched the George Floyd protests turn to riots in city after city, I was seeing the same story lines, the same narratives across most media outlets, including Christian ones. I thought to myself, “Do all African Americans agree with what they are saying?” As I began seeking out differing points of view within the black community, I found articulate African American public figures that stated their cases with indisputable facts and great persuasion. They built cases against the story lines that America has a racism problem, that white police officers killing unarmed young black men is the greatest threat to their community, that white privilege is real and that institutional and systemic racism exist. Before listening, there were many premises I accepted, along with millions of others in our country, and they logically dismantled them, one after another. I learned how many were influenced by respected black historical figures like Fredrick Douglas and Booker T. Washington. I also came across regular black grandmas, grandpas, moms and dads and even young people, that wept instead of protesting over the destruction of their communities. Some even shouted, “You did this! Not the police, but you!” And they were looking through their tears at fellow African Americans. After I had listened to enough, I shouted aloud to myself, “Where are their voices?” I was absolutely incensed that only one side of the black community seems to be heard in national conversations on race.

It is easy to receive the impression that all African Americans stand together on issues surrounding race. It is also easy to receive the impression that one black voice speaks for all the others. Not so! The Black Lives Matter organization does not speak, nor stand for the values of the entire black community.  Nor does Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, along with leading professional black athletes, musicians, actors and politicians.  These have bigger platforms, budgets and organizations. They make more noise and get more attention. But even so, there are people within the black community that think differently and should be listened to. I encourage my fellow white evangelical preachers and leaders to listen and learn from them in helping to shape their thinking and preaching on race.

It is written, “. . . evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). Deception is taking place across America on the issue of race and it is causing division and lawlessness which is turning our cities into war zones. What is the answer? Truth. Deception can be exposed through inviting truth to the table. What is truth? Jesus and His Word. He is the Truth. Jesus exposed the sin of deception in religious leaders of His day and paid the ultimate price for it. They conspired to kill Him, and when He died and was buried, they cheered thinking His voice was gone for good . . . but three days later He was back! He defeated the violence they plotted against Him, and rose from the dead making fools of them all! His voice then became multiplied thousands of times all over the world through His followers.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray against the sin of deception that is blanketing our nation. Open the eyes of people to see the truth. Come against those planning disruptions and organizing chaos. Expose them. Give courage, open doors and platforms for voices of truth to speak no matter the cost. And let the church be a place of bold truth, wrapped in good works and sacrificial love in the midst of this upheaval. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Observations about Chauvin, Floyd and Racism

Like millions of others, I watched the video of George Floyd’s death, which was a murder recorded live as it happened. After seeing it, I have prayed to the Lord God for George’s family in the loss of a son and brother. I have also watched the ongoing aftermath while pondering things, asking questions and trying my best to understand.

I read the Bible each day to learn more about who God is and how to live as a follower of Jesus. One passage struck home while viewing the events of Floyd’s death. It was found in a letter written from an older man, Paul, to his young protégé, Timothy. He was explaining what Timothy was to expect in the days prior to Jesus’ return. Paul wrote to him saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God . . . (2 Timothy 3:1-4)” I thought to myself, “This describes what is happening in the cities of our nation right now.” Let me share some personal observations of the events surrounding Floyd’s death as related to Paul’s words.

1. Officer Derek Chauvin. When I see him on top of Floyd, pinning his neck down in broad daylight I see out of Paul’s list a sense of pride, arrogance, abusiveness, heartlessness, without self control, brutality, not loving good, treacherousness, recklessness and someone who is swollen with conceit. I am not a trained police officer, but it clearly appeared Floyd was subdued, wiling to cooperate and posing no threat to the four officers. Chauvin’s knee to the neck was excessive and unnecessary. His behavior was immoral and a sin against God and against Floyd.

2. The accusation of racism. The image of a white male police officer in a position of force over an unarmed, helpless black male has the perception of racism. But is it? Immediately upon Floyd’s death statements about racism rang from my fellow evangelical leaders, politicians, the media, black activist groups and more. When I look at Paul’s list, the sin of slander jumps out to me. As of my writing, no evidence has come out of racial slurs toward Floyd from any of the officers or store clerk who called 9-1-1.Did the now-fired-clerk who called the police do it because Floyd was black or because Floyd paid for cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill and refused to return them when confronted? Was the 9-1-1 dispatcher racist for sending out officers in response to the call? Were the officers racist for responding to the dispatcher and showing up on the scene? Where is the actual evidence of racism versus the perception of it? False accusations are slander and is a sin against God and the person whom they are aimed.

3. George Floyd. Upon Floyd’s death family, friends and the public-at-large spoke of the good man he was. Christianity Today published an article of Floyd as a Christian with a vibrant ministry in the Houston area before moving to Minneapolis in 2014. What is missing in the article is balance. Floyd had a criminal history spanning many years with multiple stints in prison, much of it related to drugs. And the events surrounding Floyd’s encounter with Minneapolis police involved him being arrested for using counterfeit money, and his autopsy revealed he had illegal drugs in his system. When I read about Floyd’s life it appears Paul’s word “reckless” applies to the choices Floyd has made at times. As best I can observe, it seems Floyd was trying to leave behind a long life of drugs and crime, but sometimes fell back. When he did, he looked to God, his church, pastor and other believers to help him get back up. Perhaps he saw this in himself, which drove him to call out younger men to avoid walking the path he did. The cycle of defeat and victory with Floyd did not seem to be related to racism or police, but an up and down struggle with his personal sins. No doubt, there are many who can identify with Floyd, especially those who have battled with drugs or alcohol and tried to walk away from them.

The times we are living in are difficult, but the gospel of Jesus is our hope. The darkness and evil that surrounds us is not final. Because Jesus has risen from the dead, He is Lord and King over all that swirls around us.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, give us courage to call out evil when we see it regardless of a person’s race or position. Guard us from judging our neighbor’s heart. And let us be transparent about our victories and struggles with sin, that our truthfulness and our story might help others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

There’s No Law Against Doing Good During Covid

In January this year the world watched as China became the epicenter for Covid-19. It began spreading country to country eventually reaching the United States impacting tens of thousands of lives. In an effort to love our neighbor and help fellow citizens fight against this unseen disease, we prayed and followed Presidential guidelines along with various Governor, County and Mayoral orders. As time has passed God has heard our prayers and a difference has been made with the stabilizing of the virus and in some areas a decreasing affect.

At the sametime, as these orders have gone from days, to weeks, to months, to unknown periods it has created growing unrest. Consequently, many officials across America have responded to the improved Covid-19 numbers along with the voices of people and began opening back up. Even so, restrictions remain which are still causing hardship in various forms.

How shall we live in the midst of this? Does God have anything to say?

The New Testament was written to followers of Christ under attack because their beliefs and practices which violated different Jewish, Roman or local laws.

Yet, in the face of this, Peter, a leader in the early church, wrote to his fellow believers, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him . . . For this is the will of God” (1 Peter 2:13-15). Peter went on to say, “But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God” (vs. 20).

Peter is saying that followers of Christ are to be model citizens and comply with varying government laws, ordinances, orders and so forth. He also speaks of fellow believers and encourages continuous efforts at doing good to others, which is in accordance with the Great Commandment. He recognizes that sometimes the two conflict, where doing good for God and others may violate government laws.

What is “doing good”? It can be preaching the gospel to others like I do. It can also be providing needed goods or services to others. And perhaps this can be done within the framework of Covid-19 restrictions, but perhaps you are in a situation where it cannot be done, and doing so would mean violating local orders.

What does Peter tell us to do? In either case, he tells us to do good.1) Do good by faith, while fully entrusting the outcome to the Lord God. 2)Let no sin of anger, bitterness, threatening, evil speaking or deceit be found on your lips. 3) Be willing to fully accept any and all consequences that may come your way. In these ways, we will follow Jesus’ example as He suffered unjustly on His way to the cross.

The situation with Covid-19 is different depending on where you live. You need to consider your customers or people you minister to, your employees or volunteers, the order from officials and the facts as best you can determine about the virus in your location. Then after all that you have a decision to make.

Be prayerful. Walk wisely. Study the Scriptures for yourself. Remember, in the eyes of God there is no law against love and no law against doing good.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray for churches, small businesses and non-profits as they grapple with how to proceed in this new reality. Give them wisdom and discernment in making decisions for the future or their organization. Let them not be governed by fear of consequences, but by doing good for those whom they serve. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

God. Our Only Answer to the Coronavirus

Sunday, March 14, is when the corona virus pandemic flipped the religious world upside down. Tens of thousands of churches suddenly closed their doors to worship services and moved to online platforms. Many pastors began addressing their congregations on subjects like fear and worry. I was a guest speaker at a small rural church that Sunday. In my sermon I echoed the same theme. However, as my wife and I prayed day by day for our community and world, another word has come to mind – repentance.

Repentance is a Bible word that can be associated with someone standing on a street corner and holding a sign with large letters declaring “REPENT! THE END OF THE WORLD IS AT HAND!” With images like this, repentance can be viewed as condemning and not get used much. It is unfortunate, because it is actually a loving and beautiful word that is vital for times like these.

What we are facing is not just day to day worries about family, jobs or finances. This is bigger. This has the feel of something apocalyptic. World leaders and the brightest scientific minds on the planet are trying to slow and eventually stop the spread of this “unseen enemy”, as President Trump has called it. Even so, it continues to cause infections, take lives, and literally shut down entire cities and states, nation by nation. What is happening? Where is this headed? How much longer?

Jesus of Nazareth once looked into the future of the world and predicted what things like this would take place before He came again. He told His followers, “. . . there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world” (Luke 21:25-26). Jesus clearly spoke of global events that would instill fear and anxiety on the world before His return.

What is His message to all of us in a time like this? Repent. Because repentance moves the hand of God in a way that overcoming fear does not.

For God is the only one who has the power to stop the spread of this disease. He can unlock the minds of scientists and give them the information they need or simply command it to stop. Only God has the power to heal all those who have the virus. He can heal the sick and raise the dead. God has the answers the world seeks and He stands ready to respond.

What must we do to receive His help? Humble ourselves before Him and repent.

God is both just and merciful. He is just in allowing us to reject Him and suffer from the effects of going our own way. Our global pride and immorality have taken us down the wide road of destruction. Yet, God is also merciful. Because He loved the world, He sent His only Son to suffer, to die and rise again that we might be forgiven.

But to receive His mercy, we must acknowledge the evil in our hearts and repent. For it is through repentance toward God and belief in His only Son, that God will unlock His mercy and healing power on the world. God predicted that some will mock such a message, while others will humble themselves and receive it. Time is of the essence. We need His intervention quickly. Will you repent? Will you believe in the Lord Jesus and be forgiven? Will you receive His cleansing power? Will you meet His conditions to bring healing on our land?

A prayer for you - “Lord God, you are our answer! You are the world’s hope! You alone have the power to stop this virus! Humble us. Examine our hearts and point out any and all of our sin. Show us what wrongs we have committed so we can repent. We call upon you to save us and heal the nations of the world. We repent and believe! By faith we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Where You Can Find Hope During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The title of a USA Today story read, “Holding on to hope in the coronavirus pandemic . . .” The Wall Street Journal wrote in one article, the “world’s best hope is private innovation” in fighting the virus. The Mercury News in California published an article, “Amid the corona virus shutdown, Bay Area neighbors find help and hope in each other.”

As the days continue to mount in lock downs, travel advisories and quarantines, the need for hope is increasing.

Hope is a word that can be used by elected officials, preachers and inspirational speakers and writers to motivate, encourage and elevate the spirits of people in times of crisis. Sometimes it can be tied in with optimism and positive mental attitudes.

The word is typically used in two ways. One, as a wish or desire. Two, as a fact or something with certainty. It is also important to note that hope needs to be rooted in something. It cannot be just hope in hope. Where does our hope come from? What is it tied to?

As I observe our world walking through this pandemic, I see people putting hope in scientists, each other and their inner selves to persevere through it all. At best though, this kind of a hope is simply a wish or desire.

I want to offer you a better kind of hope, one that is certain. This is a hope that is rooted in God and made available to us through Jesus, His only Son.

In the Bible it is written, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

God’s hope is rooted in Himself. The hope He has is certain because He is certain. His hope is sure, because He is sure. His hope is trustworthy, because He is trustworthy.

God’s hope is beyond time. The hope we seek wants to find answers and solve problems quickly. We live in a 24-hour news cycle. Business is built on speed and convenience. God does not operate this way though, which can cause us to be frustrated. We want solutions right now, whereas God wants us to trust Him right now.

God’s hope is beyond space. The hope we seek, peers into the physical frantically looking for help. Yet God’s hope is beyond the physical and what we can see and touch.

Recently I watched a movie on the history of African slavery. In one scene a slave was chained to a whipping post and beaten to death as other slaves were forced to watch. At one point, the beaten slave began to sing, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Singing these spirituals were commonplace among the slaves. They sprang from a hope in God that stood beyond what they could only see with their eyes.

Let us learn from them. God offers us a hope that is beyond climbing coronavirus cases and deaths. It is a hope beyond closed businesses, empty church sanctuaries and depleted retirement accounts.

God is able to offer us this hope because of the work of His only Son, Jesus. He died and rose again for all the wrongs we have ever done. The blood He shed provided a way for us to be forgiven. And through the cleansing of our sins and obedience to Christ, we can have hope in this world. In Jesus, God holds out hope to you. Receive it, then fix your new hope on all the certainty that comes through the risen Christ.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, help every reader to receive the hope you offer them in Jesus. May they lift their eyes off any despair around them. May they turn from trusting in themselves and the things of this world, to calling upon you with all their heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

When Your Boy Wants to Identify as a Girl

I have been writing this column since 2006 and there is a topic I have never written on – transgenderism. A recent story about retired basketball player Dwayne Wade and his wife Gabrielle, helped push me to write. One of their four children is 12 years old. He was given the name Zion at birth, but struggled with his gender early on, feeling more like a girl. As the years went by, they eventually met as a family to talk about Zion’s struggle and his desire to become a girl and take the new name, Zaya. Dwayne and his wife are being intentional about taking a private family matter and bringing it into the public arena. They want to support their son’s transition and other families in similar places.

I am choosing to identify Zion according to his birth gender, which I realize is a point of difference with the Wade family.

Prior to Zion’s transition, Dwayne Wade talked in an interview, about how he struggled anticipating the whole scenario happening within his family. He recounted a conversation with himself, “What are you going to do if your child comes home and says, ‘Dad, I’m not a boy. . . .I’m a trans girl.’ What are you going to do?”

When I read that, I thought how honest that was. What would a parent do? That is not something you plan for when raising a family.

A second thing I read that prompted me to write, was information about transgenderism in rural America. According to the Movement Advanced Project, three to four million people in rural areas say they are gay, lesbian, transgender or bi-sexual. Most likely there are hundreds of thousands of families in small towns grappling with children who do not feel comfortable with their birth gender, like Zion. Let me offer two points of advice.

1. Listen. A parent should provide an environment where their child can come and share anything and not feel condemned. If your child struggles with their gender, give him or her a place to talk.

2. Give wise counsel. A parent’s role is to teach and provide guidance, which is based on the source of their personal belief and value system. The Wade’s have their own way of walking through it, which will likely be different than yours.

Where would you go for help in a situation like this? Your own parents, a friend, counselor, a quick internet search? I recommend God’s Word, the Bible. God’s Word is a time-tested, proven source for absolute moral truth. It is the only standard for right and wrong and addresses gender issues. It is the logical place for any family to go.

“God created man in his own image,” the Bible says “. . . male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). This teaches that God is the Creator of human beings and He made us into two genders. This is a theological, historical, scientific, biological and moral statement of truth. There cannot be more than two genders and the genders cannot cross over. A male will always be a male and a female will always be a female.

And after God created man and woman, what did He say? He blessed them and saw “everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). He saw the genders He made, male and female, as beautiful, marvelous creations.

But after God made everything perfect, evil entered the world and corrupted all that was good. God still saw men and women as wonderfully made, but they did not see themselves that way because of their corrupt heart. When men want to live as women and women as men it is a symptom of that evil from long ago.

We must teach our children that God made them a boy or a girl and it is a beautiful thing. He did not make a mistake. He made them just as they are and it is to be celebrated. And though there may be legitimate feelings of gender confusion, let us pray, asking God to help them see the wonder in how He made them.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, help any parents or grandparents who might be struggling in how to talk with their child or grandchild, who struggles with their gender. Give them an ability to listen. Give them insight in providing wise counsel. May they help their child or grandchild see themselves as you see them and celebrate how you made them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

When We Make Men Into Gods

When I was a teenager, I loved playing basketball.  Dr. J and Michael Jordan were my favorite NBA players.  While living in Colorado, I was fortunate to have my dad take me to see each of them play at McNichols Arena in Denver.  Those are incredible memories. 

Like one of many sports fans, we often stand in awe of the talent these athletes have. The NFL Superbowl just took place and next month is the NCAA’s March Madness.  Let me ask this question.  Do you think we ever exalt these amazing athletes beyond what is reasonable?  Let me as another.  Do we do this in other areas too?  Where a person has a special talent or is in a great position of influence and power, do we at times hold them up too high? 

When the burdens of life weigh on us, by instinct we look around for a type of savior to give us the help, relief or answers we seek. 

We look to the athlete, musician or movie actor to give us hope and moments of joy. 

We look to the doctor to cure our sickness or disease. 

We look to a political leader to give us national peace and prosperity.

We look to the business person to give us a job and income.

We look to the preacher to give our life comfort, meaning and direction.   

What are we doing?  We are exalting mankind above God.  We trust in the person and their abilities to help us, rather than God.  We thank and celebrate the person for what they have done, rather than God.  Do we somehow think God does not see this and will not take it to account?    

People in these roles have worked hard, been blessed by God with special talents, but in the end, are just people.  They are not infallible machines or products, but human beings like the rest of us.  When we place our trust in them, we will eventually find our team will lose, the movie will end, the doctor will not find a cure, the politician will fail us, the business will lay us off and the preacher will disappoint us.  No human, no matter how gifted they are can give us what we ultimately seek.      

It is good to learn from others, to enjoy and celebrate their abilities, but when we begin looking to people for the things we ought to look toward God for, we cross a dangerous line.  It is written in the Scriptures, “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19).  Furthermore, “. . . let no one boast in men” (3:21). 

The Scriptures teach us that God is the only source of true hope.  He is our ultimate Healer.  He is our Defender.  He is our Provider.  He is the giver of life.  No man, woman, team, program, weapon, set of ideals, principles, systems can be an adequate savior for the burdens we bear and the wrongs we have done.  It is foolish to think otherwise. 

There is only one Savior.  He created each of us with our unique talents, and one day all humanity will kneel side by side before the Great Savior and Judge, who is the King of Kings.

Who are you trusting in for the things in this life and the next?  Are you trusting in yourself or in others?  I urge you to trust in the one above all – Jesus.    

A prayer for you - “Lord God, examine our hearts to see if we have lifted anyone in our lives above you.  Show us if we are trusting in another, for what we ought to be trusting in You for.  Jesus, come and be my one and only Savior and Lord.  Help me to turn from my ways and to You with all my heart.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

The Offer of a New Life to Begin a New Year

The new year is an opportunity for a new start.  I once heard about a leader that regularly took a block of time in December to engage in planning and goal setting for the next year for his organization.  The way our annual calendar is set up, it provides a vision for that.  It is the end of the old and the beginning of the new.  Not only do we see this concept in view of time, but in nature too.  In our part of the globe, we are blessed to have four seasons.  When fall and winter come, it is the end of the old.  But when spring and summer come, it is the beginning of the new.  We see this concept in life itself.  In a family, when great grandpa has passed away there is sorrow in saying goodbye, but then later there is joy in welcoming a new little infant to the family.  And we also see this in spiritual terms.  For people outside of Jesus there is spiritual death and darkness, but once they are in Jesus, there is spiritual life and light.  One writer from the Bible put it this way, “. . . if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God . . .” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) 

You may not realize it, but if you are outside of Jesus, you are living in the old.  All that is in you is death and darkness.  Though that sounds grim, it is true.  And that may explain some things happening in your life and family right now.  They are the consequences or by-products of it.  We may try to “Instagram” our life to others, but we cannot escape the reality of our condition.  No amount of busyness, noise, praise by others or positive self-talk can hide the truth.  This is the old. 

Jesus declared He is life and light.  He is the one who can make all things new.  He conquered death and darkness through His own death and rising again.  For all who come to Him, He is willing to make new.  But to receive the promise of being made new, there is a great cost.  To receive what Jesus died to give you will cost your very life.  What does that mean?  It means you are no longer willing to put your desires, wants and needs above, beside or to the exclusion of God.  It means that you deliberately choose to follow Jesus as your own Lord, King, Master and Ruler.

A new year, a new life is waiting.  The empty blood-stained cross of Jesus is what it took to bring you new life.  Commit all to Jesus and receive it today.                     

A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray you will make the reader a new creation.  May they live the promise of newness you rose again to give them.  I pray they would turn from their ways and give all they are to you.  There is no cost too great for us, compared to what you did on the cross.  May they see that and humble themselves before you. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”