HeartQuest 101

On Tuesday, April 20, 2010, there was an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that killed eleven workers, devastating eleven families from Day One. I’ve read this is the worst environmental disaster in US history, but just how big is the spill? Imagine if the spill was in Virginia Beach, how far would it reach? Click here to find out, (or to type in your city and state).

Today, this event in the Gulf is on Day 56, completing eight full weeks of disaster for the Gulf coast. I read an interesting detailed list of the President’s activity during this national crisis. But on a serious and spiritual note, I have a few questions to ask…

How is our sin like an oil spill? Let me suggest that as the oil comes from deep inside the earth and gushes out to destroy life and the environment, our personal sin comes from the deepest and darkest regions inside of us and also leads to a similar destruction of life and family.

How do we tend to deal with that sin? The experts at BP and the US government have tried numerous methods to cap the well and stop the flow of oil. One method after another has failed and we wonder if the oil leak will ever be stopped. What are some ways that we try to cap the sin spillage in our lives? We try one thing after another until we discover that there is only one way to cap the sin problem we have, the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (John 14:6, Romans 5:8). The bottom line is that we try to cap the well on our own, with little success. When a relationship is breached, the only way to mend the relationship is to follow the prescription of the offended one. We cannot come to him on our own terms.

How can we clean up the mess we have created? BP is utilizing thousands of employees and volunteers to help clean up this oil spill. When it comes to getting rid of sin, if we could clean up on our own, we would not really need Jesus or the Holy Spirit to work through us. The goal of the believer is to conform to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29) and the Spirit is called our Helper (John 15:26). Let’s work in partnership with the Holy Spirit to conform to the image of the Son. That’s what sanctification is all about, becoming more and more like Jesus in thought, word and deed. So, for those who have trusted Christ, the gospel has effectively capped our rampant sin spillage.

How does sin impact the lives of others? Just as this oil spill has affected hundreds of thousands of people and communities, sin also has a lasting effect on others. Think about how your sin has affected those around you; your relationships at work, with your wife, your business dealings, your peace. The dark oil of sin is lurking just off the coast ready to destroy whatever it can cover. We can set out a boom, but the source of the leak needs to be capped.

Why do we often feel so helpless? Romans 1:16 tells us about the power that is available to us, to save everyone from the looming oil spill of sin. Tony Hayward said in the BP public relations commercial that “we will make this right.” The “good news tells us how God makes us right in his sight.” (Romans 1:17) Praise God that he has been in charge from Day One and gets the job done for those who know they cannot survive without him.

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I have come to realize that we are the sum total of our decisions. Each of us can look back at the critical decisions we have made and see how they directed the course of our lives. Flash forward to the path we see before us. For better or for worse, our destiny is determined by decisions. Many times big decisions might seem like little decisions, but destiny can turn on a dime when we make a poor decision.

A great example in the Bible is found in 1 Kings 12:8. Solomon has died and is asleep with his fathers (1 Kings 11:43). His son, Rehoboam, was all set to be crowned the king over Israel (1 Kings 12:1). The people request an audience with the young king and they plead that they will serve the king if he will lighten the heavy load his father put on them (1 Kings 12:4). Rehoboam wisely delays his decision and seeks counsel from the elders (1 Kings 12:5).

The wise and experienced elders recommend that Rehoboam back off the hard labor on the people in order to gain their loyalty (1 Kings 12:7). Here is the decision that determined the destiny of the nation, Rehoboam abandoned the counsel of his parents’ generation and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him (1 Kings 12:8, 13). “If you thought my father was hard, you ain’t seen nothing yet” (1 Kings 12:14). These young men inherited something for which they did not work for or earn.

In politics today, how often do we read about our young national leaders forsaking the wise counsel of history in order to embrace failed socialistic policies of the past? Once the “new generation” is in power (Generation We) they will set the new course for America. As Solomon’s situation predicted, the Builders and Boomers who created a strong America will soon die off and leave it all to fools who did not earn it… all vanity and futility (Ecclesiastes 2:17, 18, 19, Psalm 39:6, 49:10). They will eventually learn that promoting and endorsing a utopian society will not make it so just because they claim to have the larger voting block.

But I digress, what about your situation? Who are you listening to?

I think Rehoboam made the classic mistake many young leaders make. He surrounded himself with “yes men.” By surrounding himself with the good-old-boys from his youth he limited his counsel and experience. It’s so important to have some people who can speak into our lives from a different vantage point. It’s so important to have counselors who have been there, done that and can speak from experience. It’s so important to respect those who have made more trips around the block and around the sun.

I believe that we only make a few major decisions in our lives and we spend the rest of our lives managing those major decisions. In context, this little decision by Rehoboam (to listen to the wrong crowd) split the kingdom in two! It led to civil war between the Israel and Judah (1 Kings 12:16, 19, 20). All of this sprang from a young leader’s arrogance. He even foolishly sent Adoram (the leader over the forced labor) to share the news, and the people killed him (1 Kings 12:18).

I think it’s important that we listen to the voice of innovation but we also need to listen to the voice of wisdom and experience.

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I grew up learning that we aren’t supposed to hate. The word “hate” gets lumped in with other 4-letter words we aren’t supposed to say. There are prohibitions on hate speech, and there is legislation making the punishment for hate crimes more severe, and don’t forget that Jesus emphasizes how much we are supposed to love (they will know we are Christians by our live – John 13:35). The Bible give us plenty of things to hate, for instance…

1. Job hated his life (Job 3:11, 10:18-19)
2. Job believed that God hated him (Job 16:9)
3. Psalm 97:10 instructs us to hate evil.
4. Proverbs 13:5 tells us to hate lies.
5. According to Malachi 2:16, God hates divorce.
6. Psalm 5:5 tells us that God also hates those who do wrong.

Think about what Proverbs 6 outlines for us… “six things that God hates, seven are an abomination to Him:”

1. Haughty eyes
2. Lying tongue
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
4. A heart that devises wicked plans
5. Feet that run rapidly to evil
6. A false witness, and
7. One who spreads strife

Six things or seven? I’d have to explain Hebrew poetry; but that is for another time. These seven detestable sins provide a profound glimpse into the sinfulness of men, and act as a summary of the previous warnings in Proverbs 6:12-14.

It appears that God is passionate about our avoiding sinful activity. A common question that any pastor, counselor or motivational speaker loves to ask is, “What are you passionate about?” Many times that question is met with blank stares because we don’t know how to properly identify our passions.

Some people seem passionate about everything from American Idol to Jesus, while others find it safer to stay neutral and not express passion for anything. Can we accomplish anything great for the kingdom with such a casual attitude? It is important to find out how God has wired us, or what “spiritual gift” the Holy Spirit has given us.

A spiritual gift is something that allows us to do the ministry of God with a certain ease and effectiveness. The idea is to find out what we are good at, and seek ways to exercise that gift for the benefit of God’s kingdom. We are designed to serve others, not to simple sit and soak in the church.

Here’s a great site to explore the topic and discover your own spiritual gift.

Maybe a simpler way to discover our passions is from the perspective of hate. What do you hate? What kind of holy hatred has God given you for things that aren’t right in the world around you? Then we can look around and see what can be done to make positive change in our community and the world.

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During the week of January 27 – February 3, King’s Grant Baptist Church opened its doors to the Volunteers of America Winter Shelter. There were about 80 or so homeless men and women in need of shelter from the cold. Just so happens that our weekend brought the worst snowstorm in 20 years, about 8-9 inches, which shuts down a city that does not have the equipment to properly deal with this sort of situation.

I came up on Friday evening to spend the night, and the snow hit overnight. So on Saturday we made the decision to keep our guests all day (rather than the normal VOA bussing the homeless out and bringing them back at night). If the snow worsened, they might not get back on Saturday night.

Due to the inclement weather, many churches called off services, and we were no exception. The safety of our members and guests is a greater priority than the congregation gathering for corporate worship. But the fact is that many of our members still made it up to the church because of their commitment to the Winter Shelter guests: cooking meals, maintaining rest rooms, leading a Bible study each evening, and visiting with our temporary guests.

On Sunday evening, before meal time, I was able to have devotional time with our guests. I read from Genesis 28:11-13, 15-18, 20-21.

Jacob was on a journey escaping the wrath of his brother Esau. He finds a place to set up camp and pulls a rock over to use as a pillow. In a dream that night, he sees a stairway to heaven (while Led Zeppelin made the phrase famous, the real story is found in Genesis 28). It seems that angels are going up and down this “ladder” (remember the children’s song, “we are climbing Jacob’s ladder”?).

God speaks and reminds Jacob that he is not alone, that God is with him and will guide him back to the place he needs to be, to his father’s house. These are the wonderful words of God, “I will not leave you.”

Jacob arises the next morning and declares that “God is surely in this place and he did not know it,” (Genesis 28:16) and makes a vow to the Lord, “If you protect me, provide me food and clothing, and a safe journey, then You will become my God.” (Genesis 28:20-21, as opposed to the Lord being only the God of his fathers). Jacob encounters God and eventually the Lord gives him a new name, Israel (Genesis 32:28).

The point is that even in the dark times of life, when we are on a journey toward a place we do not yet see, we are not alone for God is with us. God provides for us and makes His presence known. It is our deepest hope that each our guests found God in a place that perhaps they did not expect to find Him, in a Winter Shelter. We hope they encountered God through His people who gather in and serve Christ in this place. As God protected Jacob, we pray that He would protect our guests, and bring them to the place they need to be. No one places to be homeless, and we pray the Winter Shelter is only a temporary measure on their journey in life.

The facilities were warm in the midst of a cold world; we welcomed them and provided much more than a rock for a pillow. We know that God will not leave us or them. He will protect us and guarantee His presence, especially in times of trouble. Jacob named the place, Bethel, which means, the House of God. Let our facility be forever called, Bethel, (Genesis 28:19) where people find God, even when they might not be looking for Him.

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The event was WWII, the place was Poland, in 1942. The Nazis herded hundreds of thousands of Jews into a 16-block area that came to be known as the Warsaw Ghetto. The Ghetto was sealed and the Jewish families ended up behind its walls, only to await certain death.

Irena Sendler was so appalled by the conditions that she made it her life mission to rescue Jewish children.

To be able to enter the Ghetto legally, Irena managed to get a pass from Warsaws Epidemic Control Department and she visited the Ghetto daily, reestablished contacts and brought food, medicines and clothing. But 5,000 people were dying a month from starvation and disease in the Ghetto, and she decided to help the Jewish children to get out.

Irena Sendler began smuggling children out in an ambulance. She recruited at least one person from each of the ten centers of the Social Welfare Department. With their help, she issued hundreds of false documents with forged signatures. Irena Sendler successfully smuggled almost 2,500 Jewish children to safety and gave them temporary new identities.

Some children were taken out in gunnysacks or body bags. Some were buried inside loads of goods. A mechanic took a baby out in his toolbox. Some kids were carried out in potato sacks, others were placed in coffins, some entered a church in the Ghetto which had two entrances. One entrance opened into the Ghetto, the other opened into the Aryan side of Warsaw. They entered the church as Jews and exited as Christians. “Can you guarantee they will live?” Irena later recalled the distraught parents asking. But she could only guarantee they would die if they stayed. “In my dreams,” she said, “I still hear the cries when they left their parents.”

The children were given false identities and placed in homes, orphanages and convents. Irena Sendler carefully noted, in coded form, the children’s original names and their new identities. She kept the only record of their true identities in jars buried beneath an apple tree in a neighbor’s back yard, across the street from German barracks, hoping she could someday dig up the jars, locate the children and inform them of their past.

But the Nazis became aware of Irena’s activities, and on October 20, 1943 she was arrested, imprisoned and tortured by the Gestapo, who broke her feet and legs. She ended up in the Pawiak Prison, but no one could break her spirit. Though she was the only one who knew the names and addresses of the families sheltering the Jewish children, she withstood the torture, refusing to betray either her associates or any of the Jewish children in hiding.

Sentenced to death, Irena was saved at the last minute when a bribed halted the execution. She escaped from prison but for the rest of the war she was pursued by the Gestapo.

After the war she dug up the jars and used the notes to track down the 2,500 children she placed with adoptive families and to reunite them with relatives scattered across Europe. But most lost their families during the Holocaust in Nazi death camps.

The children had known her only by her code name Jolanta. But years later, after she was honored for her wartime work, her picture appeared in a newspaper. “A man, a painter, telephoned me,” said Sendler, “`I remember your face,’ he said. `It was you who took me out of the ghetto.’ I had many calls like that!”

Irena Sendler did not think of herself as a hero. She claimed no credit for her actions. “I could have done more,” she said. “This regret will follow me to my death.”

In 2007, Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, but was not selected. She died May 12, 2008, at age 98. [ Read More About Her ]

Btw, the Peace Prize in 2007 went to Al Gore.

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I was reading about the new Barna research that indicated Americans are exploring new ways of experiencing God, and the results are interesting. Since I am passionate about men’s ministry, I wondered how this information might be applied to our situation at King’s Grant, and the Men of Steel in particular.

88% of American adults say that “my religious faith is very important in my life.”

Faith is not going away despite the prolific media attention devoted to the demise of traditional faith practices and beliefs. Nine out of ten adults admit that their faith plays a meaningful role in their life. There is nothing on the horizon to suggest that this is likely to change in the foreseeable future.

If this is so, and that KGBC might be considered average, we would also have a high percentage of people understanding that faith is an important aspect of life (at least ideologically). For those who have responded to the call of Christ, I would hope that belief would manifest itself in an active pursuit of godliness, turning from vices that enslave, and understanding the need for authentic community in the development of one’s faith.

75% say they sense that “God is motivating people to stay connected with Him, but in different ways and through different types of experiences than in the past.”

There is a growing sense of release from traditional religious practices in this country. People are suggesting that they want more of God and less of the stuff that gets between them and their relationship with God.

There is talk and evidence that the church might not be the place to find God, so people are seeking out alternative experiences and expressions of spirituality, (I’ve also read that while people may love Jesus many hate the church). The church might be one of those issues that get between God and them. My concern is that without the community of faith (the church), just what do people get involved with, and what do they believe? The Bible warns about false doctrine (2 Peter 2:1). It is not just an archaic notion of controlling the masses, but if we really believe that God has “given us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (through the true knowledge of God – 2 Peter 1:3), then we have a solid standard for belief, faith and practice. The Bible was written for a purpose (1 John 5:13), that we might know that we have life. If God was going to reveal new information at a later time, the New Testament writers would have made a mistake… primarily that they were not given everything pertaining to life.

45% say they are “willing to try a new church.”

A staggering number of Americans – almost half of the nation’s 230 million adults – are open to changing their church home, demonstrating their lack of connection with their present community of faith and their desire to have a more significant connection. It may also be a reflection of people’s increasing lack of loyalty to both organizations and personal relationships, and the growing sense that there is always something better available if you can simply find it.

I read this statistic as people seeking faith yet lacking connection to the community of faith. They don’t trust the organized church. Christian leaders have moral failures. Role models have let us down. People are skeptical about this whole church thing so they stay at a distance.

I understand the lack of loyalty in this generation: if it gets hard, quit; if you no longer love her or she doesn’t meet your needs, divorce; if I deserve a pay raise but don’t get it, steal; if my church does not go in this direction, leave and look for another one. Some people change churches for completely legitimate reasons, but often the main reason is less than noble. If the church is “all about me and what I want” rather than “all about God and what He deserves,” we’ve lost focus.

Lack of loyalty to a church also manifests itself by lacking personal relationships within the organization. The churchy word for this is fellowship. We are so busy in the business world that we think we don’t have time for developing spiritual connections that will help us grow in Christ, be a better husband, a better father, neighbor, boss, employee, you name it. Spending time with the Men of Steel may not get you connected to the people who can give you that promotion, but it will help develop your character by connecting to other men who also desire spiritual and relational connection and growth. We don’t have to go through our spiritual lives alone. Life transformation takes place in community, not in a cocoon.

50% say “a growing number of people I know are tired of the usual type of church experience.”

It is not just the survey respondents who indicated their willingness to change churches or to consider different forms of church experience. Half of all adults said they are aware of such a willingness to experiment on the part of people they know because those individuals are tired of the common church experience.

If the church is not what we are looking for (socially, relationally, professionally, spiritually) we tend to bail out or simply not participate. Why participate in something you don’t feel is a benefit to your life goals and personal vision? But as a believer, what better life goal and vision than to prepare yourself and your family for eternity? How are you the spiritual leader of your home? What behaviors are you modeling for your children? How does your wife know that you love her as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25)? How does all that you do at home, at work or in the community reflect your love for God (Colossians 3:17)?

How many men do you know who are totally “satisfied” with the status quo? I put satisfied in quotes because I believe that men are never satisfied with being mediocre. Men are conquerors and hunters and are never satisfied with a measly existence. Men want their lives to count for something. Men want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. How can a man do that and be satisfied with the status quo? How many men come to church only because the wife brings him? Maybe if more women got on board with men’s ministry, they would see the benefit of the Men of Steel and push their husbands out of the house on Saturday mornings! (See Barna’s quote below). Get a man tired of the common church experience and he’s the one who is going to make a difference in life, the family and the workplace.

71% say they are “more likely to develop my religious beliefs on my own, rather than to accept an entire set of beliefs that a particular church teaches.”

Levels of distrust toward churches, church leaders and organized Christianity have been growing over the past two decades. That concern – along with the heightened independence of Americans and the profound access to information that has characterized the past decade – may have led to the emergence of a large majority of adults feeling responsible for their own theological and spiritual development. Other studies have shown an inclination for people to view a local church as a supplier of useful guidance and support, but not necessarily a reliable source of a comprehensive slate of beliefs that they must adopt.

Across the board, the research showed that women are driving these changes. This is particularly significant given prior research from Barna showing that women are more spiritually inclined, are the primary shapers of family faith experiences, and are the backbone of activity in the typical conventional church. Specifically, Barna discovered that women were more likely than men to pursue their faith in a different type of structure or environment (68% of women, 59% of men); to sense that God is motivating people to experience faith in different ways (79% vs. 60%, respectively); and to be willing try a new church (50% vs. 40%).

It’s great that people want to take control of their own spiritual development, but how often does this lead to spiritual syncretism, a blending of beliefs, (sometimes contradictory beliefs) to form one’s own theology. This is a product of our post-modern society that emphasizes truth is relative. What is true for one person may not be true for another. So we develop an Oprah-styled theology mixing in what we like and eliminating that which we don’t. The positive side is that people are taking responsibility for their spiritual growth, which is a sign of spiritual maturity. It’s not necessarily the responsibility of the church, the pastor or the Sunday school teacher, but it’s up to the believer to work out their salvation (Philippians 2:13). But remember that we don’t do this alone, God is the one who will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6), and He uses the church to help people grow in godliness (Hebrews 10:24-25).

This post is certainly long enough (and I’m concluding) but I see men’s ministry in the context of the local church. I am not seeking a group to replace the Sunday school hour. It’s not about adding another Bible study during the week. It’s not about numbers or starting new groups. I ask myself, “How many men have simply told God that all He gets is one or two hours a week on Sunday mornings, and it’s unreasonable to think about being involved any more?” It’s about growth, development, and sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). I value the Men of Steel… manly fellowship, commons struggles, open dialogue, becoming what God intended from the beginning and passing it on to the next generation.

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A popular Purpose-Driven church has a Bible study series of the same title; but I just finished reading an article in Christian Single magazine (May 2009) on the New Monasticism. People are not running off to secluded places to escape society, but rather are getting in touch with one another within community, living communally, but also making a practical impact on the world around them. One quote from the article captivated me, “A lot of people are saying that they have bought in to the American Dream, and are lonely.” People are perhaps disenfranchised with consumerism, CEO salaries 400 times the rate of the average worker in the same company, and the injustices of the America way of life.

It seems these groups seek radical rebirth, grounded in God’s love and desire to build on the rich tradition of Christian practices that have long formed disciples in the simple Way of Christ. This New Monasticism is producing a grassroots ecumenism and a prophetic witness within the North American church. It is characterized by the following marks:

1. Relocation to the abandoned places of Empire (the margins of society).
2. Sharing economic resources with fellow community members and the needy among us.
3. Hospitality to the stranger.
4. Lament for racial divisions within the church and our communities combined with the active pursuit of a just reconciliation.
5. Humble submission to Christ’s body, the church.
6. Intentional formation in the way of Christ and the rule of the community.
7. Nurturing common life among members of intentional community.
8. Support for celibate singles alongside monogamous married couples and their children.
9. Geographical proximity to community members who share a common rule of life.
10. Care for the plot of God’s earth given to us along with support of our local economies.
11. Peacemaking in the midst of violence and conflict resolution within communities along the lines of Matthew 18.
12. Commitment to a disciplined, contemplative life.

I was a part of a group in Virginia Beach called Partners which embodied much of this spirit. The ministry was conceived and run by a couple ahead of their time! We lived together in a lodge at the oceanfront; ate together, ministered together, studied together… accountability, purpose, mission, mentoring, encouragement, personal and spiritual growth, seeking and rejoicing with the movement of God, with outreach to the poor, the homeless and the tourist. It was probably life as it was in the early church, much more than we see in the structures we have erected for a gathering on Sunday mornings.

How can we at King’s Grant get involved in real community? I’m not talking about selling property and living in a commune, but how can we embrace these principles and make an impact on our society in the name of Christ?

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, just feed one.” –Mother Teresa

“A church that lives within it’s four walls is no church at all.” –Pastor Morgan Chilulu

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The President was in South Bend Indiana this past weekend, speaking at Notre Dame’s graduation, and he basically talked about talking about abortion. He evaded the issue and diminished the importance of the debate.  Al Mohler, President of Southern Seminary, brings out a good point, “if the President had actually addressed the issue of abortion (like actually offering a defense or rationale for his position) he would have dignified the issue.  Instead, Mr. Obama issued what amounted to a call for civility.”

One part of the speech really jumped out at me. When the President called for Americans to agree that, while differing on abortion, “we can still agree that this heart-wrenching decision for any woman is not made casually,” he failed to make clear why this is true.  If the unborn baby is not a person who possesses a basic right to life, why is the decision to abort so “heart-wrenching?”  If the fetus is just a collection of cells, why is abortion so difficult for the mother?

As I taught my discipleship class this past semester, Developing a Christian Worldview, and to put this topic in context, we discussed seven other major worldviews. One was naturalism. Regarding life, naturalism embraces the Darwinian teachings of evolution and rejects divine creation of the universe in general and the unique creation of mankind in particular. In essence humans are a product of time plus chance with no intelligence behind the process.

While not going into all the details, think about how this works itself out practically. Evolution teaches that humans are nothing special, no more than apes that made it to a higher form and intelligence. All animals have basic instincts that drive them, to eat, find shelter and reproduce. So, when our children are taught evolution as a fact (ignoring a lot of logical debate to the contrary) it is little wonder why teens and young adults participate in immoral behavior… they are nothing more than animals acting on instinct. There is no higher moral standard that would curb their instincts. They have neither reason nor capacity to say no to sexual urges, which in a lot of situations produces offspring.

So, back to the issue of abortion, I see this as the classic example of “survival of the fittest.” Our society can eliminate the most vulnerable of our community based solely on the reason of convenience, or subconsciously believing that the mother is more powerful over the unborn infant. Before you go ballistic, “what about cases of rape, incest or the life of the mother,” I’m not an extremist. That is a debate for another day.

The President of Southern Seminary put it this way: If President Obama had actually spoken of abortion itself, rather than addressing abortion only as an issue of controversy, he would have found himself defending the indefensible, which explains why he avoids this discussion at all costs.  Yet, now that he is President, he cannot get by with claiming that this question is “above my pay grade.”

We don’t allow people to kill birthed infants, why is killing a child a few months younger acceptable in our society? I believe it all comes down to worldview. Someone with a differing worldview simply cannot understand how the other side can justify their position, and vise versa. In our day of relativism, where truth and morality are determined by the individual, there is no definitive objective moral standard or absolute truth that does not change.

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While we celebrated Thanksgiving in the United States, on the other side of the world evil was running rampant. To me, this reinforces the need to take the gospel to the whole world. If people really understood the call of Christ to come and follow Him, they would realize that we are called to life transformation, regeneration, becoming a new creation, and are to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. This is the gospel according to Jesus. To love and serve God, to love and serve others … what greater task can the church have?

Many people I know serve God faithfully on the international mission field. My heart is for world missions and reaching other cultures with the life changing message of Christ… not only does He bring salvation but also forgiveness, meaning, purpose, hope, peace, security, strength, joy…  

Where was God last week? God does not necessarily protect us from evil that is around us, but He does give us His presence while we are in the midst of it. I like how the three Hebrew young men responded in the face of capital punishment: 

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” – Daniel 3:17-18

Read what my friend Debbie Warnock has written… beautifully put.

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Cal Thomas wrote a provocative piece last week about redirecting the religious right away from failed political solutions toward Christians putting their efforts into the greater power of God’s kingdom, basically living out their faith.  

Too many conservative Evangelicals have put too much faith in the power of government to transform culture. The futility inherent in such misplaced faith can be demonstrated by asking these activists a simple question: Does the secular left, when it holds power, persuade conservatives to live by their standards? Of course they do not. Why, then, would conservative Evangelicals expect people who do not share their worldview and view of God to accept their beliefs when they control government?

He Continues:

Suppose they (Christians) followed the admonition of Jesus to “love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison and care for widows and orphans,” not as ends, as so many liberals do by using government, but as a means of demonstrating God’s love for the whole person in order that people might seek Him?

While I see Christians on both sides of the “isle,” I have emphasized the notion of voting according to worldview much more than being partisan or jumping on a certain band wagon of celebrity endorsements. Each party’s platforms say a lot about worldview.

Case in point: voting by values is not a left or right decision. Which values have higher priority? Both parties can be labeled pro life, because one party holds a value of life in protecting unborn children in the womb, while another party values life through the ending of war. Some hold the value of “peace not war” higher than the value of “life over choice.” Its worldview, no one is going to change their views, so why argue about it? Just agree to disagree. Cal Thomas says we have failed to persuade anyone, so let’s do something else!

I have often wondered if a committed Christian can even be an effective president. Why? How can you live out “love your enemies” or “turn the other cheek” and still be able to lead as Commander in Chief of the military? We might talk about “just war,” but Bonheoffer said it best, “when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Perhaps out of context, but the point is valid, we should give up our rights, look out for the interests of others more than ourselves… our model is Jesus who went to the cross, and Christians through the ages who have died for their faith (after all, the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church).

Trusting in a political solution is to settle for a lesser power, which is really no power at all. Mr. Obama is not the savior and the democratic platform is not divine Scripture. The power of God transforms lives, and the only way we can transform our society is to live out what we say we believe before a watching world. 

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