Born This Way? Why the Answer Doesn’t (and Shouldn’t) Matter to Christians

May 14, 2018

Abuse. Molestation. Genetics. Hormone imbalance. Brain chemistry. Abandonment. Divine predestination. Free will. Born this way.

These are some of the terms that have historically been used to describe the causation of same-gender attraction and gender dysphoria. More terms exist. Countless causes have been plastered throughout our culture to explain the existence of any sexual attraction that is not straight or any gender identity that is not cisgender.

Too Focused on the ‘Born This Way’ Question

Despite all of these supposed explanations, we are no closer to understanding why some people are same-gender attracted. We are still not sure why some people have incongruence between their gender identity and their biological sex.* And because of this, we have no idea how to move forward. It’s as if we are stalled on the highway, unable to get the car started.

Friends, it’s time to leave the car behind and start walking.

It’s About People

In the past, we have focused so much on causation that we forgot we were talking about people.

Like actual, living people. Our brothers and sisters. Our children and neighbors.

They are human beings with complex stories, in-depth personal histories, and unique brains that are far more complex than any computer ever created. What makes us think we can understand the origin of sexual and gender identities?

If we distract ourselves with this search, then we miss the chance to minister to people. We are so focused on what led someone to where they are right now that we are not looking at their current needs.

Instead of wondering what causes a teen to be gay, let’s ask what we can do to stop LGBT+ teen bullying. Instead of focusing on the endless list of possible causes of gender dysphoria, let’s ask what we can do to put an end to transgender suicide. And let’s definitely stop asking people if they’re repressing childhood memories, and instead find a way to prevent family rejection and homelessness of LGBT+ youth.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

Even if we could figure out what forms any individual’s sexual or gender identity, it wouldn’t guarantee us being any better at ministering to LGBT+ people. We need to let go of that futile search. Yes, we should care about a person’s story—what has happened in their lives. But we should never do so in an attempt to “fix” them. We should do so because we want to love and care for LGBT+ people in our lives.

1,000+ Chinese Bibles Confiscated in ‘Porn Crackdown’

Bob Ditmer

May 14, 2018

The 2018 crackdown on Christianity in China escalated this week as authorities confiscated more than a thousand Bibles when police raided five house churches in Shandong province in the east of the country. Prayer books and songbooks were also forcibly confiscated as well as digital copies of the texts.

Authorities claimed the raids were part of a campaign to target pornography but worshippers say only religious texts were seized. A Christian in Jining city said police were actively “hostile” toward Christian churches but did not target local Buddhist temples.

Those working in the region said “ethnic and religious affairs bureau” officials joined police to carry out the raids.

The intensified scrutiny of Christianity began earlier this year after 100 Christians were sent to so-called “re-education” camps. One local church leader told Open Doors, these “mind-transformation centres” instruct detainees to be loyal to China, not their religion, with worried family members reporting poor conditions.

Most of those detained are Muslim members of the Uyghur ethnic minority group, who are being targeted as part of the country’s anti-terror crackdown. However Christians are also often sent to the camps. “Some stay there for a month, others for half a year or even longer.”

According to ChinaAid, in February, communist officials in Henan hired local gangs to break into churches and gathering places. In the attacks, they broke doors and windows, as well as confiscated seats and religious books. Additionally, large numbers of church attendees and pastors were kidnapped and detained by unidentified men while preaching. There were also reports that churches were burned.

Continuing attacks on Chinese Bible

Last month, Chinese officials banned the sale of Bibles on the Internet. Searches on China’s largest book purchasing websites, Taobao, JingDong, Amazon China and DangDang brought no results when users search for the Bible. Other religious texts, such as the Quran, were still available on all those sites except JingDong.

Also in April, International Christian Concern reported that the local Ministry of Education and religious affairs bureau issued a notice requiring elementary school teachers to send out several existing government forms: Students’ Religious Beliefs Questionnaire, the Religious Backgrounds of Teachers and Students, and the Guard Against the Infiltration of Christian Missionaries in Schools. Teachers were told they would be held responsible if they did not return the forms by April 28.

And UCANews.com reported officials stormed several churches in Zhengzhou Diocese and drove children away during Easter Sunday Mass. Since then, police vehicles have been stationed outside churches every Sunday, and at least three officers have blocked minors, and even babies, from entering the churches in each of the diocese parishes.

On April 17, Xincun Church in Anyang Diocese was investigated by local officials—including public security—who took away sacred objects and forcibly demolished the cross. Gaoqiangying Church of Huaxian county in the same diocese was visited twice by officials who confiscated holy items and drove away the church guard. They also posted notices and placed officials outside churches to block minors on Sundays. Church-run kindergartens in the diocese were closed. School students were asked to report on their beliefs and parents had to go to school to register their children.

Open Doors says this type of persecution is why many Christians have stopped going to registered churches and instead meet in smaller secret groups.

Jerusalem Now Recognized as True Capital of the Jewish State

Bob Ditmer

May 14, 2018

The American embassy in Israel is now in Jerusalem. The move recognizes Jerusalem as the true capital of the Jewish state and the fulfillment of a long-standing promise from several U.S. presidents.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Donald Trump for “making history by recognizing history” at a ceremony dedicating the new U.S. Jerusalem embassy, while President Reuven Rivlin thanked the U.S. president for “keeping his promise.”

“What a glorious day,” Netanyahu told the crowd at the new embassy building in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Arnona. “Remember this moment, this is history.”

“Today, the embassy of the most powerful country on earth, our friend and ally, the United States of America, opens in Jerusalem,” he exclaimed.

The move comes five months after Trump announced that the U.S. embassy would shift from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The new diplomatic office, in what was an existing U.S. consular building, was opened in a ceremony led by U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and attended by Israeli and American officials.

“This is a good day for peace too. You can only build peace upon truth, and the truth is that Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for 3,000 years,” he said. “May the opening of this embassy spread the truth far and wide.”

Violence welcomes Jerusalem embassy

The day was also marked by violence, with dozens of Palestinians killed and more than 1,600 injured in protests at the Gaza border against the embassy move, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Several thousand people gathered in the center of Ramallah, while hundreds marched to the Qalandiya crossing on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where protesters threw stones at Israeli troops.

The protests were not limited to the border. More than 500 demonstrators rallied near the ceremony clashed with Israeli forces, and police made at least one arrest. Demonstrators chanted “Jerusalem is ours!”

Palestinians have long hoped to create a capital for themselves in the city’s eastern sector. But Israeli and U.S. officials were determined not to let the violence diminish the embassy celebration.

Presidential adviser Jared Kushner, whose grandparents survived the Holocaust, acknowledged the violence in his speech.

“As we have seen from the protests of the last month and even today, those provoking violence are part of the problem and not part of the solution,” Kushner said.

Pastor John Hagee prayed to “our most gracious heavenly Father, God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, God who calls the stars by name” to dedicate the new embassy.

“We thank you for the state of Israel, the lone torch of freedom in the Middle East, who lives and prospers because of your everlasting love for the Jewish people,” Hagee prayed.

“Jerusalem is the city of God, Jerusalem is the heartbeat of Israel, Jerusalem is where Abraham placed his son on the altar,” he continued. “Jerusalem is where Messiah will come and establish a kingdom that will never end.”

“Let the word go forth today that Israel lives,” Hagee said, “because he that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.”

Practically speaking, little will change with Monday’s formal move. The U.S. consular compound in the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Arnona will become the temporary embassy, with Friedman and a small staff moving to the Arnona site.

But most of the 850 embassy workers in Tel Aviv will not move until a new embassy is built, which could take a decade to complete.

8 Reasons I Should Have Been More Honest About My Income as a Pastor

Chuck Lawless

May 13, 2018

I pastored two great churches in Ohio, and I would gladly return to either one today to thank them for trusting a young pastor to lead them. At the same time, I look back now and wish I had been more honest with them about my salary needs. Here’s why:

I wrongly equated a lower salary with godliness. Every year, I was willing to sacrifice because I assumed that was what a pastor was to do. I still believe that we must lead sacrificially, but I no longer assume that godliness = an insufficient income.

My salary and benefits package was likely below the national average. Three decades ago, it wasn’t as easy to get information about pastor and staff compensation. My anecdotal evidence and personal discussions, however, suggested then that my compensation was low for a church our size. I don’t think my church would have wanted to be less than average.

I probably hurt my family. In my single years, I didn’t worry much if I struggled financially. I fretted more after I got married, but I was still unwilling to share that concern with my church leaders. My wife then had to sacrifice with me.

I would have had no shame in asking. That is, I wasn’t a lazy leader simply wanting more money. I worked very hard, and I think I would have honestly earned the increase.
My church likely would have increased my salary. They were always willing to discuss matters with me, and they seldom didn’t follow my lead. My hunch is that they would have heard my request and adjusted my income. If I had just asked…

I didn’t help the next pastor much. What is a sacrificial income for one pastor often becomes a low starting point for the next pastor. My sacrificial thinking could have easily become the expectation for future pastors.

I could have built the request around conversations about a pastor’s overall salary/benefit agreement. As a young pastor, I knew nothing about self-employment taxes, housing allowance, etc. My church didn’t know anything either, so our combined lack of knowledge cost me dollars and sleep.

I likely hurt other full-time staff members. All of us assumed that I as the senior pastor would earn more than others; thus, everyone’s salary was based off mine. My willing sacrifice became a forced sacrifice for others.

I’m not arguing that every pastor should seek a raise today. Every leader must make a personal decision, and all must work within the context in which they serve. I do know, though, that I would be more open with the church today if I had financial needs.

What are your thoughts, church leaders?

This article originally appeared here.

Characteristics of Prayer in the End Times

Mike Bickle

May 13, 2018

Jesus is not coming back to a prayerless church, but to one that is operating in close partnership with Him in intercession for the end-time harvest (Rev. 22:17). The Holy Spirit is on the move, raising up a worldwide prayer and worship movement throughout the whole Body of Christ. The outcome will include the gospel being preached to all nations in the power of the Holy Spirit (Mt. 24:14; Rev. 7:9, 14).

Prayer in the End Times

The end-time prayer and worship movement is rapidly growing in the nations as the Holy Spirit works to establish a prayer culture in the Body of Christ before Jesus returns. Throughout the world He is raising up people with what I refer to as the “Anna calling” (Lk. 2:37). The end-time Annas are radical believers who function as what I call “intercessory missionaries,” engaging in the work of intercession with worship as their full-time occupation.

The prophet Isaiah and King David, in the Psalms, gave us the most information about the end-time prayer and worship movement in terms of its earthly dimension, and the apostle John described it from a heavenly perspective in the book of Revelation. I will identify just seven of them, though there are many more.

The end-time prayer and worship movement will be God-centered, relational, continual, musical, global, missional and intergenerational. I believe that the end-time prayer movement will express worship “on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10) in a greater way than the worship-intercession model David established with the Levites in his generation did.

1. The end-time prayer movement will be God-centered.

The premier distinction of the end-time prayer and worship movement will be the understanding of the supremacy of Jesus, particularly His majestic beauty as Bridegroom, King and Judge. End-time worship songs will emphasize the majesty of the Lord. Prophesying about the end-time prayer and worship movement, Isaiah said:

“They shall sing; for the majesty of the Lord they shall cry aloud… From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: ‘Glory to the righteous!’” (Isa. 24:14–16).
The songs will focus on the Lord’s majesty and bring “glory to the Lord, as the Righteous One.” Some translations clarify Isaiah 24:16 by translating the phrase “the righteous” as “the Righteous One” (see the NIV and the NASB). Through these songs worshipers will magnify the majesty of God.

Around the globe, people of all ages are catching a glimpse of the beauty, worth and supremacy of Jesus and are responding in genuine love as they treasure and adore Him, giving a witness on the earth to His indescribable value.

The truth of Jesus’ worth and greatness must be declared in song and in prophetic proclamation, because it is the ultimate truth on which the whole created universe exists. The end-time prayer movement on earth will join the worship symphony in heaven, crying out, “Worthy is the Lamb!” (Rev. 5:12).

2. The end-time prayer movement will be relational.

The end-time prayer and worship movement will have a relational focus, which will be reflected in our singing of the wonders of God’s love for us and our response of love for Him. God is love, and He wants relationship with us—not because He is needy, but because He wants to share His love and to rule the earth in a deep partnership with His people. Love finds pleasure in relating to others and working closely with others.

Jesus desires to make us feel loved; He celebrates our dignity and value and wants us to do so too. He delights in us, in sharing His heart with us, and in relating to us. He wants to partner with us in the work that His Father has entrusted to Him. He is pleased when we love, honor and magnify Him.

As King David did, we will sing songs about God’s love for us. We will also sing new songs about our destiny as kings and priests ruling the earth with Jesus forever. We will sing of our love for Jesus, thanking Him for mercy and asking Him for help in times when our love is weak. We will sing of His kindness and of the marvel that He takes pleasure in weak people and imparts His very own beauty to us (Isa. 61:3; cf. Ps. 90:17; 149:4).

”…to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…to give them beauty for ashes” (Isaiah 61:2–3).

“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us” (Psalm 90:17).

In tandem with the revelation of the Father heart of God is the understanding of Jesus as our Bridegroom King and of the Body of Christ as His cherished Bride (Eph.5:29–32). Thus we will sing of the Father’s relating to us with tender mercy and of Jesus expressing His desire for His people as their Bridegroom God (Isa. 54:5; 62:5; Rev. 22:17).

Before the Lord returns, the church will see themselves as a Bride crying out to her Bridegroom King to come to her (Rev. 22:17, 20). Even now the Holy Spirit is emphasizing the church’s identity as His cherished Bride.

Isaiah connected the revelation of Jesus as the Bridegroom with the end-time prayer movement that will continue night and day until the Lord returns to make Jerusalem a praise in the earth:

“You shall be called Hephzibah…the Lord delights in you… For…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. I have set watchmen [intercessors] on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night…till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth,” (Isaiah 62:4–7).

He prophesied that in the end times God’s people would be called “Hephzibah,” which in Hebrew carries the meaning of the Lord’s delighting in His people.

6 Examples of How The Church Can Connect To Families All Summer Long

Christina Embree

May 13, 2018

As the summer months roll in, everything changes. Normal routines are jostled free from their rut and suddenly the calendar is filled with words like “vacation” and “beach” and “camping” and “reunion.” Weekends taste like burgers and watermelon and smell like grills and campfires. The days last longer and the nights invite star-gazing and drive-ins.

It’s a different rhythm.

And in that rhythm, some things that characterize the regular schedule of a family during the rest of the year, like bedtimes and limits on sweet treats, fall to the wayside. For those who attend church, it can also lead to what I call “Summer’s Dilemma” where sometimes there is a tension between choosing time with family or choosing to go to church (read more about that here).

Some churches have come to recognize that tension exists and have begun to seek ways to engage the families and keep them connected to the faith community even when they are not in the church building.

These activities are not intended to replace church or the gathering of a community of believers; rather these are ways to help families keep their identity in Christ and as a member of that community wherever their summer adventures take them.

If you are looking for a way to keep your kids and families plugged into community throughout the summer or if you are a parent looking for a way to disciple your kids all summer long, these ideas may be exactly what you are looking for!

Many thanks to the people who shared what their churches were doing for families this summer.

6 Examples of How The Church Can Connect To Families

FAMILY KINDNESS BAGS

“We are taking the ‘we’ seriously this summer by preparing a Family Kindness bag with items for families to offer random acts of kindness and generosity throughout the summer, then post/report back when and where and what’s happening. I’ll take my connection however I can get it!” – DeDe Rally, GA

Want some ideas on some ways to show kindness? Check out this post with a printable list of 100 Acts of Kindness for Kids.

2. FAMILY ON MISSION

“At my church, we have adopted the phrase “Family on Mission.” Challenging families to see what it means to live out “church” every day (even at travel baseball tournaments! Ha) and not just on Sunday mornings.” – Hannah James, KY

Read more about the idea of Family on Mission by checking out the book written by Mike and Sally Breen available on Amazon here.

3. PRAY AWAY BAGS

These simple bags invite families to gather and pray together wherever they go by including items that help them engage a variety of ways to pray and things to pray for like balloons, smiley and sad faces, candles, and even play dough.

For an example of a great and easy to assemble Pray Away bag, check out this blog post that includes a list of items along with prayer suggestions.

4. TAKE OUT CHURCH

This fun idea shared here by Gail Jenkins, Family Formation Coordinator in Houston, Texas, actually uses a pizza box to encapsulate some familiar faith practices like prayer, worship and faith conversations. Inside the box, her church had the following message:
“In this box are ways you can build God’s Kingdom while on vacation. Just as we do on Sunday mornings at St. Cuthbert, you will have opportunities for laughter and fellowship, to praise God, pray, learn God’s word, give thanks, and serve. Through it all, we want you to remember to take Jesus with you. He is the most important thing in this box. Color Flat Jesus and then take him with you everywhere you go. Snap a picture and email it to church so we can see where Jesus vacations this summer!…Have fun, be safe and take church with you this summer!”

5. SUMMER FAMILY ACTIVITY BOOKS

The intention of this fun activity book for parents from The Village Church is to help families “to be intentional with your time together as a family.” It includes helping families set a rhythm, to capture God moments when they are out and about, activities to do as a family and other milestones. You can download a digital copy here and modify it to fit your context or family.

6. WHERE’S MR. ADAM?

My church this summer is having fun with our Kids Church worship leader (and 4th/5th grade small group leader). We made “Mr. Adam Heads” by taking pictures of his head, pasting them on styrofoam, and putting them on a stick. Each family got a Mr. Adam to take with them this summer and told to post pictures on Facebook of their family’s summer adventures, hashtagged #WheresMrAdam. In addition to creating a fun online community, all summer long, “Mr. Adam” will be offering the families brief video devotionals, fun ways to engage Scripture, and activities to do together. In the first week, we actually ran out of Mr. Adam Heads and had to make more. Why? Because many adults wanted their own even if they didn’t have kids in the children’s ministry.

Interested in seeing what it’s been like so far? Check out this video trailer from our first week of following Mr. Adam and connecting with families.

As stated earlier, I recognize that these things cannot replace the face-to-face time with the congregation and the time spent in corporate worship; loving, leading and learning with one another. But these strategies can give us ways to stay plugged in and connected to one another and our continuing faith conversation while enjoying family vacations, trips to the zoo, times at the pool and picnics with friends and family.

Do you have some fun ideas not mentioned here? Please share in the comments and Happy Summer to everyone!

This article originally appeared here.

Why the Future Is Disciple Making

Allen White

May 13, 2018

Small groups are no longer making disciples at the rate they once were. For many churches, the purpose of groups is to assimilate new people and keep them connected so they won’t leave. Everyone needs to go where everybody knows their name, and they’re always glad you came… But, if the purpose of small groups ends with assimilation, host homes and the church-wide campaign, then how are disciples being made? Host homes and campaigns are great to get groups going, but not so great for on-going disciple making.

Disciple Making Is Not Complex

Programs are complex. Disciple making is not. Jesus told us what we need to know to make disciples.

First, Jesus gave us the Great Commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’” (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV). Jesus boiled 613 commands down to two: Love God and love your neighbor. God is easy to love. But, neighbors, which neighbors? Look out the window.

Second, Jesus gave us the Great Compassion in Matthew 25. “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Matthew 25:45). Feed hungry people. Clothe those in need. Show hospitality to strangers. Visit the prisoner. Care for the sick. Essentially, love your neighbor as yourself. See #1.

Third, Jesus gave us the Great Commission. Read this and try not to “yada, yada, yada” it. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus told us to “Go.” How well are we scattering? We’re pretty good at gathering. Jesus didn’t say the lost should come to our seeker services. That’s not working as well as it once did.

Does this seem too simple? If our lives were focused on these things, we would grow. Our people would grow. As Jim Collins says in Good to Great, “If you have more than three priorities, you don’t have any.”

Disciple Making Is Customized

Disciple Making relies on a system to produce disciples. When we hear the word system, we often resort to a manufacturing process, a catechism or a training program. While some of these methods might add to disciple making, there is a considerable flaw in the thinking. People don’t come to us as raw materials. They aren’t blank slates. They have a past. They are different—genders, races, backgrounds, educations, experiences, personalities, gifting, callings, opportunities, abuses, and so many other things contribute to who people are. I’m not like you. You’re not like me. Yet, we are called to be like Jesus.

While we must all know basic things about the Bible and what it teaches, how we reflect more of Jesus is a different journey for all of us. I grew up in church. That’s a funny statement, but we were there so often that at times it felt like we lived there. I learned all of the Bible stories in Sunday school. Our church was more of the Arminian persuasion, so I’ve gone to the altar more than 100 times to make sure I was saved. I called this eternal insecurity.

I learned to live by a code of conduct which included no smoking, no alcohol, no dancing, no movies, no playing cards, and the list went on. In my church we couldn’t belly up to the bar, but we could belly up to the buffet. That’s how we got the bellies!

In a holiness tradition, there is a fine line between setting yourself apart for God and becoming legalistic. Legalism defined the don’ts for me, but not all of the don’ts. The don’ts seemed more significant than the do’s. But, if I lived better than other people, then God would bless me. The others got what they deserved. I didn’t need to understand people from other backgrounds. They were sinners. They were going to hell. There wasn’t a lot of love going around.

Now, put me in your church. How could you help me become more like Jesus? How can I learn to love my neighbor as myself? How can I see people who are different from me as people who God loves? I don’t need to know more of the Bible. I know it. Bring on the Bible Jeopardy!

How would you affect my attitudes and my behavior? How could I think more like Christ? How could I act more like Christ? By the definition set in the church I grew up in, I’m a model citizen. I fit with the tribe. They’re proud of me. Yet, I lack so much.

A Simple but Incredible Way to Reach Your Community and Grow

Thom Rainer

May 13, 2018

We tried something seemingly non-spectacular at our church.

We gave each of our members attending a loaf of bread and asked them to give the bread to someone in their neighborhood or community.

I was blown away with the responses, both from the members and the recipients of the bread. Those who received the bread were incredibly grateful; many came to our church the next Sunday. And our members were very encouraged by the responses. It helped them to see the fields are truly ready for a harvest.

So, I began to think. Could I leverage my position at LifeWay to help thousands of churches do the same? The answer came back as a resounding “yes”! Allow me to share with you my thoughts.

I have authorized LifeWay to give away thousands, even tens of thousands, of Bibles to members of churches. We will be giving away the Bread of Life instead of the bread in loaves.
Those churches need to be within about 15 miles of a LifeWay store, so the members can go pick up a free Bible. Without the investment of the members taking the time to go to a store, their commitment level for this endeavor will be low.
Each church will have a designated week at a local LifeWay store for its members to get their free Bibles.
The members will then give the Bible away in their neighborhoods or community and invite the recipient to church.
We will provide specific instructions and promotional materials for this Bible outreach ministry for every church that participates. It will be undergirded by the power of prayer and activated by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Many churches have already signed on for this endeavor. One of the pastors asked me how LifeWay could afford to give away so many Bibles. I simply told him I was trusting God to provide. I have little doubt God will honor a ministry that gets His Word into the community and provides opportunities for powerful gospel conversations.

I have to say, this ministry is one of the most exciting endeavors I have led in the 13 years I’ve been at LifeWay. Even more, I am incredibly excited about how God will use this ministry to impact both churches and their communities.

Let’s get the Word into our communities. Let’s invite people to our churches. Let’s have gospel conversations. Let’s see what God Himself will do as we are truly Great Commission obedient.

Click here for the information we need to move forward with your church. If your church is not close enough to a LifeWay store, please hang in there as we try to figure out how to connect with you as well in the future.

This ministry is exciting. Incredibly exciting.

This article originally appeared here.

The Greatest False Idol of Modern Christianity

John Pavlovitz

May 13, 2018

Idolatry is a horrible, dangerous thing.

Sadly, far too many Christians are so very guilty of it.

You can see it in the way they complain on social media, in the way they comment on the news of the day; in the defeatist, alarmist language that they use as to describe the world.

You see it in the way they furrow their brows, and throw up their hands, and slam their pulpits.

It shows-up in the lazy stereotypes and the religious rhetoric that flows so easily in church lobby coffee chats and extremist blog rants.

It’s as if everything has now become an imminent threat: Muslims, Atheists, Gays, The President, inner city criminals, Hollywood, illegal immigrants, The Government, school hallways.

The world outside the church building is broadly painted as a vile, immoral war zone, with “God’s people” hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned.

Parroting the politicized talk show hosts and reposting the latest terrible news stories, they perpetuate the now comfortable, largely White Evangelical Christian narrative of impending destruction, and they make it clear at every opportunity: The whole damn sky is falling.

Though they loudly, repeatedly and confidently proclaim Christ as Lord, in reality they no longer practice faith in a God that has any real power, any true control and inherent God-ness. They seem to have little more than a neutered figurehead Deity, who doesn’t seem to be able to handle much at all anymore.

He’s lost his Old Testament swagger.

Dig just beneath the sunny “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Bible covers, and the shouted “God’s judgment is coming” bullhorn warnings, and you can see that the Emperor is buck naked.

For far too many Christians, all that flowery, blustery spiritual talk is a loud paper tiger dressed-up as religion.

The truth is, Fear has become their false God, one they worship with complete and undying devotion.

The symptoms of Fear Idolatry are pretty easy to spot.

When you’re not sure that God is there or that He’ll really come through, you start to spend most of your time defending Him in absentia. You become a self-appointed Crusader of Truth, whose mission is to do the holy work of policing the world (just in case God can’t or won’t).

You spend a lot of time calling out evil, forecasting disaster and predicting damnation.

When Fear is your God, you start majoring in Exterior Sin Management. You slowly yet ultimately turn all of your attention to the things in other people that you’re certain really tick God off, and you make it your sacred business to modify their behavior in the name of Jesus.

When your God isn’t big enough, you’ll try to do in others what you’ve decided He wants, instead of actually trusting Him to do it Himself.

I really feel for Christians whose Jesus seems so integral to personal salvation in the afterlife, and so useless for the life we live now.

He may be able to save souls, but He’s apparently freaked-out by a Muslim prayer breakfast or gay marriage vote or school prayer policy.

Is that really God? Is that Divinity?

Is that the One about Whom the psalmist wrote: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1)?

Is that the God who spoke the world into being, and calmed the seas, and healed the blind, and raised the dead?

I’m praying for so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ, to stop worshipping the false idol of Fear.

I’m praying that they recapture a God Who is worthy; not just of defending and quoting, but trusting.

I’m praying for the rest, joy and humility that comes from putting faith in something greater than themselves and in the things they fear.

Every day, even with the mystery that grows on my journey, my security grows too.

I know how big my God is.

Do you?

5 Steps To Create A Sound-Mix Blueprint

Chris Huff

May 13, 2018

Have you looked at the set list for next weekend? Do you have any idea what songs you’ll be mixing? The standards, right? A worship team worth their weight in salt (that’s a lot of salt) will be rotating in new songs now and then. The musicians will practice their respective parts, the worship leader will have an arrangement selected, and as a team, they will practice the song until it’s good enough for playing for the congregation. You are the final musician on that team, mixing all of their sounds together into a song lifted up in worship. What have you done to learn that song?

Today’s article lists out the steps I take whenever I see a new song on the set list. I’ve mentioned before about the importance of getting a copy of the song which the band will be using as their blueprint. This list goes way beyond that. It’s a way of creating your own mix blueprint. It’s a way of ensuring you are just as prepared as the musicians when you mix the song for the first time.

1. Listen to the song

Get a copy of the song which band is modeling the style and arrangement. The worship leader will likely tell you something like “we are doing the 10,000 Reasons song By Matt Redman in the same way he has it on the 10k Reasons album.” You can jump onto Spotify or YouTube and look up the same version…if you don’t already happen to have it in your personal music collection.

Listen a few times to get the general OVERALL song feel. Is it slow or fast? Simple or complex? Does it have a big sound or a ‘small set’ feel? Get the big picture.

2. Create a song breakout order

From the musical side of things, a song is arranged into several common areas. You might think of this as the verses and the chorus. For your blueprint, start with the following six areas. This list can be expanded as I’ll soon discuss but for now, this is the best place to start.

Intro: Song intros can start in many different ways. It can be full on instruments, a slow drum beat, a rhythm guitar, or even a scripture reading over the instruments.
Verse: The verses of a song tend to have the same arrangement but can have a different number of instruments as a means of providing song movement.
Chorus: Choruses, like verses, can have slightly altered arrangements. A common arrangement change is the last chorus being sung without any instruments.
Bridge: Not all songs have a bridge. The bridge is often used to contrast with the verse/chorus and prepare for the return of the verse/chorus. It can have a time change and even a key change.
Instrumental: Instrumental sections of a song can be a few measures or it can be a long passage, depending on the arrangement.
Outro: The outro can have the same variety as the intro or you might have a lack of an outro. For example, the song immediately ends after the last chorus.

3. Listen and fill out the breakout basics

You know the general feel and flow of the song, now you need to sketch out the basic outline. You will need to adjust your breakout order if you have verse and chorus differences. For example, the second verse might have a different arrangement than the first verse. If this is the case, modify your notes such as:

Verse 1: Drums come in with only the snare and hi-hat
Verse 2: Full on instruments

Consider this example of breakout notes:

Intro: solo piano with singer reading a passage of scripture.
Verse 1: Drums and bass added
Verse 2+: All instruments with only lead singer
Chorus: Backing vocalists used only in the chorus
Bridge: N/A
Instrumental: Piano over other instruments
Outro: Ends with acoustic guitar and piano

4. Listen for the mix details

It’s time to focus in on the mix details. Consider this sample of a breakout:

Intro: Piano leads/sits on top of rhythm acoustic guitar w/ very heavy overall acoustic feel.
Verse: Drums and bass used in a gentle supportive way. Both instruments sitting far back in the mix. No backing singers. Snare distant in mix.
Chorus: Backing vocalists singing at same volume with lead singer (singing in harmony)
Bridge: N/A
Instrumental: Piano dominates the instrumental, push volume. Piano sounds bright.
Outro: Piano and acoustic guitar with piano ending first and then acoustic guitar finishes the last few bars of the song.

In this step, you are noting where the instruments and vocals sit in the mix. You should have also noted any mix points, like “piano sounds bright.” You don’t need to write down,“expect a 560 Hz cut on the electric guitar” but you should write enough that describes what you’d expect to mix if it’s a bit out of the ordinary or worth noting. For example, in the song 10,000 Reasons, there is a distinct tom hit 3 times in a row. I heard the tom sound described as having a “tribal drum” sound. That tells me I need it upfront in the mix and how to mix it.

5. Pick out the effects

This is the last step in creating your mix blueprint. Listen to the song and look for the ways in which effects are used. Then make a list of the instruments/vocals which have those effects used and describe how they sounded. For many worship bands, the effects will stay the same throughout the song but if you want to copy an arrangement with effects changes, then go for it.

The Take-Away

The musicians put in a lot of time preparing for the church service…and if they don’t, they should. You need to put in time preparing your mixing plans when a new song comes along. Listen to a copy of the song for the general feel. Create your breakout list with your song basics. Then go back and add in your mix notes. It’s really nice to stand behind the mixer during practice and look down at my mix notes for a new song. Your mixes will come together a lot faster and ultimately sound better because of your extra planning.

8 Prayers I Need to Pray More as a Church Leader

Chuck Lawless

May 13, 2018

I write a lot about prayer, but I don’t claim to be the best prayer warrior. This far into my ministry, I’m still learning about prayer in general and prayer for church leadership specifically. As a pastor and church leader, I’m publicly making this commitment to pray these prayers more—prayers that I should have been praying persistently anyway.

“Lord, give us more laborers.” Jesus told us to pray this way (Luke 10:1-2). We have no right to complain about too few workers if we aren’t first praying like Jesus said. And, if we are praying like Jesus said, we won’t need to complain.
“God, give me more patience.” I hesitate to pray that prayer because I know that patience often comes through hardship and God-ordained waiting. As a leader of church folks, though, I need more patience if I want to model Christlike love.
“Father, give me compassionate eyes.” I spend a lot of time on the road, and I’m around a lot of crowds—but I don’t always see them as sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36). I can’t expect my church to see people any differently than I do.
“God, help our church to be grateful and glad givers.” I’ve been guilty of challenging people to give more without covering that request in prayer. It’s God, though, who makes us cheerful givers.
“Lord, burden me more about the reality of hell.” If I truly believe that hell is real, I would evangelize more consistently and passionately. I fear I’ve forgotten the fires of judgment.
“Father, break my heart over non-believers.” This burden is connected to #5 above, but it also involves my church. I never want to be satisfied with church growth that comes only from other believers joining our church.
“God, let _________ walk in a manner worthy of the Lord”(Col. 1:10). I want to fill in the blank with the name of a different church member each week. If any of our church leaders fall, I don’t want to be guilty of never having prayed against that happening.
“Lord, I do not cease giving thanks for my church”(Eph. 1:16). In my case, that’s Restoration Church in Wake Forest, N.C. I am thankful for them, but I don’t say that to God enough.

Church leaders, what other prayers do you need to pray?

This article originally appeared here.

My Young Friend Wants to Be a Missionary: Here’s the Advice I Gave When He Asked

Jen Oshman

May 13, 2018

“I want to tell you something. The other night when I was doing homework in my room, I felt like God was calling me into missions. I think he wants me to be a missionary when I’m an adult.”

A young man in our youth group shared those words with me a couple weeks ago. He’s only in middle school, but his heart has already been prompted by the Spirit to at least consider what a life in missions might look like.

“Do you have any advice for me?” he asked.

What a thrill! What a privilege to plant seeds for missions into this boy’s heart. I prayed for him and about his question for a couple weeks. I wrote his mom an email last night with some ideas. I thought I’d share them here with you, that the Lord may use them in the life of another who may be feeling prompted toward a future on the mission field.

1. Immerse Yourself in the Bible

The best way to prepare for a life in ministry is to know and love the Word of God. Being young does not preclude you from being able to study the Bible! You can dive in at any age or stage of life. I would strongly encourage all Christians—but especially those who feel called to teach or lead in some way—to be fiercely committed to a local church and possibly a youth group, or a small group, or a discipleship relationship, or all of the above. You can’t overdo it on studying scripture, and no matter how old or how smart you are, the Word of God will never be fully known to you. I encouraged my young friend to get a good study Bible so that he can overcome hurdles when he comes to them. One thought is checking out the CSB Apologetics Study Bible for Students.

2. Familiarize Yourself With the World

Displaying a world map in your home does wonders for simply reminding you that life is bigger than your own hometown. Maps are somehow inherently attractive—wherever one is displayed people linger over them and examine far away places. Our family had one on our dining room table, under a plastic mat, for years. It kept us at the table well beyond meal time.

In addition to the map, I encourage teens to get a subscription to World Teen Magazine. It is age-appropriate and will broaden your horizons in geography, history, sociology and current events. Also, making a daily habit to check on the Joshua Project website will increase both your knowledge of and burden for people around the world. The site features a different unreached people group each day.

3. Read Missionary Biographies

Reading missionary biographies will enlighten and motivate any Christian to consider going to the mission field. There’s just something about reading what another person was willing to do for the name of Jesus that spurs us on to good works ourselves. They’re an invaluable resource for anyone considering missions! There are many great series written for kids. We own many of the Christian Heroes: Then and Now and they were perfect for my kids when they were in elementary school.

Other missionary biographies that I have enjoyed are Reckless Abandon, The Story of John G. Paton: Or Thirty Years Among South Sea Cannibals, A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael and Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God, among many others.

4. Be in Ministry Now

As my husband and I were preparing for the mission field, our missions pastor gave us good advice: Dive headfirst into as much ministry as we could while missions was still a ways off. He knew we needed to excel at serving and that would require practice. He also knew that it would benefit us to get to know many people in the church, to experience a variety of relationships and needs and learn how to elevate others above ourselves. We washed dishes after church dinners, served coffee, taught classes, you name it. I’ve heard many wise men and women in full-time missions say, “If you’re not willing to be a missionary right where you are, don’t fly around the world to give it a try.”

Family of IS Supporters Kill 13 in Indonesia Church Attacks

Megan Briggs

May 13, 2018

Indonesia Church Attacks — Officers carry a body bag at one of the sites of an attack. in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, Sunday, May 13, 2018. Suicide bombers carried out deadly attacks on three churches in Indonesia's second-largest city on Sunday, killing at least 13 people and wounded dozens. (AP Photo)

A family of Islamic State-affiliated suicide bombers attacked three churches in Surabaya, Indonesia, this morning. Thirteen people were killed and 41 injured as they were making their way to Sunday services.

“This act is barbaric and beyond the limits of humanity, causing victims among members of society, the police and even innocent children,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo said.

The churches bombed were Surabaya Centre Pentecostal Church, Diponegoro Indonesian Christian Church and Santa Maria Catholic Church.

A family of six carried out the attacks. The mother with two daughters, aged 9 and 12, detonated bombs strapped to themselves at Diponegoro Indonesian Christian Church; while 16- and 18-year-old sons drove motorcycles into Santa Maria Catholic Church and detonated bombs strapped to themselves; and the father drove a bomb-ladened car into Surabaya Centre Pentecostal Church.

The first attack occurred at 7:30 a.m. local time at the Catholic Church, and five minutes later the attacks at the two other churches were completed, according to the Jakarta Post. Officials believe the attacks were coordinated to inflict the greatest amount of damage as people were entering the churches for services.

The Unprecedented Nature of These Attacks

According to the BBC, “in recent years women have become increasingly active in terrorist cells in Indonesia, but this would be the first time children have been used.” The unique nature of a family coordinating a series of simultaneous attacks is unprecedented.

Commenting on the nature of the wife and two daughters used to carry out one of the attacks, Solahudin of the University of Indonesia’s Center for Terrorism Studies and Social Conflict told the Jakarta Post that women are used more in terrorist attacks because they draw less suspicion from security guards. They also attract more media attention, which is exactly what the Islamic State wants. “Terror without media will not successfully spread the fear. The news value of [using] women and children as bombers is higher than using male bombers,” Solahudin said. Additionally, he believes the attacks were meant to encourage other IS-sympathizers to be bolder in their aggression.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis prayed for the “dear people of Indonesia” and asked praying people to join him in praying for the besieged communities. “Together,” he said as quoted by vaticannews.va, “let us call upon the God of peace, that He might bring these violent actions to an end; and that in the hearts of all, space might be found for feelings, not of hatred and violence, but of reconciliation and fraternity.”

These are the deadliest terrorist attacks Indonesia has experienced since 2005. All three churches are located in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city situated on the island of Java. It is a port city and second only to the nation’s capital, Jakarta, in economic significance. Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim nation by population. In recent years, the government has tried to stem the rise of support for the Islamic State. The first IS-affiliated terrorist attack occurred in 2016 in Jakarta.

The Indonesian church is not unfamiliar with terrorism. In 2000, simultaneous attacks killed 20 people attending Christmas services. Please pray for these churches as they begin the process of healing.

5 Keys to Having Meaningful, Life-Giving Conversations With Non-Christians

Rose Meeder

May 11, 2018

At some point, if you are sincere about your Christian faith, you are going to have a conversation with someone about it. Or are you?

Let me back up a minute, if “being a Christian” is something you take seriously, you are probably going to THINK about having a conversation with someone about it. AND—you may wonder HOW to have that conversation.

Listen, I have been a Christian my whole life and have also been a thoughtful student of the human art of conversation for years and I find this thing—“sharing my faith”—incredibly hard to do.

But I WANT to—I really want to. I actually believe that meeting Jesus on this side of heaven will make life richer and more joyful and more peaceful than anything else available to us. There is a tenacity and fierceness to God’s love through Jesus that holds people firmer in the face of life’s struggles than anyone can imagine.

I want everyone to know this.

Everyone.

Well, the key is figuring out how to start, how to continue the conversation, and eventually, how to let it go.

Join me here:

Relationships are complicated. Communication between two individuals is often fraught with misunderstanding. The timing isn’t always right and sometimes you are just not in the mood.

But despite all that, I want to let you in on a few key principles that you absolutely need to know before you take this type of conversation on.

Here they are:

1. Move Past Your Own Assumptions.

Often, we have already pre-decided what someone thinks about God.

You may know that a person doesn’t attend church regularly so you assume that they think spiritual things are irrelevant. Really? Why continue to assume that, if there is no evidence to support it? You haven’t asked the person yet. Yes, there is a risk in asking, but make sure your preconceived hunch is not cheating you out of a conversation you are both interested in having.

Statistically, we know that more people are interested in faith conversations than not. If you play the odds, the person you are sitting across from is more likely wishing you would bring it up.

2. Express a Genuine Interest.

Don’t begin with your baptism story.

First, ask him how he is doing, ask how she is really doing. And then, listen. Your first several conversations may never include a single idea of your own. Ask about life and ideas and plans and achievements and concerns and anxieties. Be intentionally respectful.

You should hear yourself saying, “What do you think about that?” “How did you come to feel this way?” “What’s it like for you when that happens?” Validate. Empathize. Be motivated by a genuine desire to engage. When their story breaks your heart, because real life has a way of doing that, tell them you don’t know what to say, but politely offer that when you have been similarly at the very end of yourself, you have prayed about it. Because that is being honest—the last time you had no idea how to fix your broken heart, you prayed—and by offering to do for someone else what you would do for yourself, you are caring for them.

If you don’t care about this person, you don’t get to nudge the conversation into the faith-arena. You don’t get to invite them to church. You don’t get to share your spiritual opinions.

So if you find yourself engaged in a conversation with someone, and get distracted or caught up with some selfish thoughts, stop thinking you will share your faith with them. You shouldn’t. First comes the caring and then comes the sharing. Your first conversation earns you the right to the next conversation. Keep this top of mind.

3. Know Your Truth.

I think about Billy Graham. He stands out in the crowd of humanity as one of the most influential leaders of all time. He knew his truth. His passion for teaching millions came from a deeply personal conviction centered around the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the spiritual reconciliation this offered to the world.

Billy Graham had studied the scriptures to the point that he could not keep this life-saving message of unconditional and super-natural love and acceptance to himself. Out of this conviction, Billy Graham shared his faith.

Reach daily into scripture and apply the words of Jesus and words of the Apostle Paul to your life. You will nurture and ground your soul. God will use you.

4. Share Your Stuff.

Everybody has stuff. Your life is not all together. Life is sometimes hard for everybody. Be appropriately but profoundly honest.

Talk about how your job leaves you dissatisfied, how you struggle to get a good night’s sleep, how you are seeing a marriage counselor, how you worry about your kids and your weight and your money.

If you share your thoughts on God in the absolutely false context that your life is perfect, your shared words will fly-fly-away on the next winsome breeze of nothingness because what you have to say about God doesn’t really matter anyway. You obviously don’t need Him. You have got life figured out on your own. That will be a shame, when all the while you want to communicate that God’s redeeming love bolsters you and grounds you.

The truth is that you believe that Jesus died for all the bad, unexplainable anguish and garbage going on in the world and going on in your life. Tell your friend that. They will listen.

5. Let Go.

You are going to invest in people by sharing your spiritual worldview, and undeniably, the truth of what you share has the power to transform.

When people lean into God-conversations, the possibilities for life-change is incredible. You will be offering a peek inside of a heart and mind sold out for God and that is wonderful. This extension of yourself will be a gift that could truly transform your friend’s experience of living. Or maybe it won’t. Maybe someone will grow to like you but at the same time, will turn you down every time you invite them to church. Maybe it will feel odd when you offer to pray for someone’s loss and you will only receive a grateful smile but a guarded expression. This person who now trusts you and cares about you too will possibly always let you talk about your Christianity but never be influenced to take on those views for themselves. And you know what? That’s OK. The potential conviction of knowing their need for a Savior might happen in their heart but it just as likely, might not. That’s not your responsibility. That’s not your job. It is a noble and even righteous goal to bring people to Christ, but don’t make a single person your conversion-project.

Let. that. go. And while you do, continue to vulnerably invest and also deepen your own faith. Never stop being “for” your friend and focus on moving past the judgments and assumptions that will threaten your friendship. God has got this.

Relax and enjoy knowing that. Proclaim well.

This article originally appeared here.

When Laundry Is Your Biggest Sin Problem

Melissa Edgington

May 11, 2018

Sometimes I’m struck by the absurdity of modern moral codes. We live in an age when it’s permissible to get on the Internet and say anything you want in the cruelest and most harsh ways. In a time when moms everywhere are decorating their homes with throw pillows and supposedly esoteric art pieces that feature the f-word, simply because they find it amusing. When abortions are wiping out huge numbers of the next generation of human beings. We live in a world where men and women alike can’t make it through the day without watching videos of violent sexual acts in which women and children are victimized in the most horrific ways. Yet, over and over again I see posts on social media about what a worthless human you are if you don’t return a shopping cart when you go to the grocery store.

A recent Barna survey asked Christian women what their biggest sin struggle is, and the top two answers were disorganization and inefficiency. First of all, is a messy laundry room really classified as a sin? And are these really the worst things that women believe they are struggling with?

The less connected we are to God’s word, the less we will be able to recognize and understand sin and biblical answers to moral and ethical questions. As a whole, our culture is moving further away from the Bible every day. Even professing Christians are distancing themselves from the scripture or are so unfamiliar with it that they have no real understanding of their sin as it relates to a holy and perfect God. I suppose it only makes sense from there that people begin creating their own brand of morality, one where leaving a shopping cart or having dirty dishes in your sink is more grievous than jealousy or hatred or lust or even murder.

These are times for self-examination. Times for letting God’s word form our worldview and not the confused, godless culture that we are now living in. These are times for mining the depths of our own hearts and considering whether we truly know Christ or we are just going through half-hearted motions. Any woman who would claim that her biggest sin issue is disorganization has an extremely stunted understanding of who she really is or how depraved and wicked, how desperately in need of a Savior. A woman who believes that inefficiency is her most urgent sin struggle has little comprehension of her position before the God of the Universe. In these survey answers there is no hint of Isaiah’s confession as he fell at the feet of the Lord: “Woe to me! I am ruined!”

It’s likely that many of the women Barna surveyed who claim to be Christians are, in fact, not. But, even among those who are truly converted there is a real lack of comprehension when it comes to the holiness of God. As long as large chunks of Christianity believe that their habitual sins are not that bad, as long as churches are fooled into thinking that shopping carts and messy desks are bigger problems than pornography and racism, jealousy and pride, the church will grow more and more ineffective in showing the world what it really means to follow Christ and to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. And as long as Christians fail to identify and kill sin in the Body of Christ, we are proving to the world that we don’t read or live by the book that we claim changes everything.

We can’t be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, identifying and eradicating sin in our lives, unless we read scripture and do what it says. We can’t see ourselves accurately until we see God for all that He is. We can’t even begin to reach for sanctification and holiness until we begin to see the utter holiness of our great God as He is revealed in the Bible. Until we turn to His word, until we study it and live with it and treat it like food and air, then we will never be able to untangle the mystery of the human experience, and we will be fooled into believing that things like shopping carts separate the decent people from the awful ones. It’s all just posturing until we get real about the awful in our own hearts.

It’s time to take a closer look at ourselves.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139: 23-24

This article originally appeared here.

Dallas Church Celebrates Mother’s Day With a New Ultrasound Truck

Bob Ditmer

May 11, 2018

While families across America are celebrating life thanks to their mother this Sunday, Prestonwood Baptist Church will be going to great lengths to help women about to become mothers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

This Sunday, the church will unveil a new mobile ultrasound unit that will bring hope and life to women facing a crisis pregnancy.

The Prestonwood Pregnancy Center Mobile Sonogram is a clinic fully-equipped to provide ultrasounds, pregnancy tests and counseling, among other medical services. The unit’s mobility and same-day-service functionality allow women to drop in for prompt and confidential visits, especially as it will travel into the heart of neighborhoods and communities across Dallas-Fort Worth where abortion is most prevalent. All services are free and administered by medical staff and trained volunteers.

“If you think about it, Mother’s Day is actually a day when we celebrate life—whether we are aware of it or not,” said Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church. “It only seemed fitting for us as a church family to celebrate this day by affirming life and our commitment to helping expecting mothers who are in need.”

Mobile ultrasound will be great benefit to refugees

The mobile sonogram will be an extension of the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center that opened in in 1991. But in the past three months the center has seen a 83 percent increase in the number of women walking through its doors. The reason—Dallas has one of the fastest growing refugee populations in the U.S.

“We’re seeing an increase in the number of refugees stepping through our doors—and they come from all over the world,” said Leanne Jamieson, director of Prestonwood Pregnancy Center.

“These clients come with a whole host of problems. Many are in a very fragile state, and they’re already in crisis even before they become pregnant. They’re at risk medically because a lot of them are uninsured. Most have little or no support system and are ill-equipped to navigate an unplanned pregnancy. There are also many contextual issues surrounding life issues—with some cultures being particularly pro-abortion or anti-adoption.”

But even with a diverse population coming in growing numbers over the past three months, Jamieson reports 9 out of 10 chose life for their babies.

Prestonwood Pregnancy Center serves women from all faiths and backgrounds, and has started recruiting bilingual volunteers to help break language barriers. In some instances, the center has helped Muslim women who are facing cultural difficulties.

“Right now, we’re looking for ways to meet these women where they are; to love and serve them the best way we can,” Jamieson said. “That’s what God calls us to do.”

Protestants Have Gone From 50% to 36% of the Population

Bob Ditmer

May 11, 2018

A sobering new study from ABC News/Washington Post shows a drastic decrease over the past 15 years in the number of Americans who identify as Protestant and a sharp increase in those who say they have no religious affiliation.

The analysis, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, shows last year, 36 percent said they are Protestant, down from 50 percent in 2003.

In the same time span, the number of Americans who say they have no religion has nearly doubled, to 21 percent.

Of the five groups identified in the study—Protestant, Catholic, other Christians, other religions and no religion—only Protestants suffered a decline.

Among all Protestants, 56 percent currently say they’re evangelical or born-again; that has held essentially steady since 2003, with virtually equal declines in the number who say they’re either evangelical or non-evangelical Protestants, down 7 and 6 points, respectively.

The largest shifts during this 15-year period is among young adults (age 18 to 29) with 35 percent now saying they have no religious affiliation.

Reasons for the decrease of American Protestants

Greg Stier, Founder of Dare 2 Share, says there are a lot of reasons for the decline, but one that stands out is youth ministry is stuck in the ’80s.

“Teenagers today are not necessarily looking for a place to hang out like they were back then. But we are stuck with the same old ‘Games, pizza, short lesson, more games’ concept that we have done for decades. The typical teen, between academics, athletics and electronics, is far too busy to just go hang out and play a few games and hear a little challenge.”

He thinks one solution would be more mission trips, similar to what Mormon youth participate in.

“If Christian young people are given a vision for a mission now (not just when they graduate) to reach their peers with the life-changing message of Jesus, their faith too will be sealed and steeled.”

Numerous studies have documented the exodus and looked for reasons why young adults are losing their faith.

A 2007 LifeWay Research Study found 70 percent will leave the faith in college. Only 35 percent eventually return. Seven in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30—both evangelical and mainline—who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23. Thirty-four percent of those said they had not returned, even sporadically, by age 30.

“The most frequent reason for leaving church is, in fact, a self-imposed change, ‘I simply wanted a break from church’ (27 percent).” “The path toward college and the workforce are also strong reasons for young people to leave church: ‘I moved to college and stopped attending church’ (25 percent) and ‘work responsibilities prevented me from attending’ (23 percent).”

Josh McDowell and David H. Bellis suggested in their book The Last Christian Generation, that young people simply no longer believe what the Bible says.

“Sixty-three percent of teenaged Christians don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of the one true God. Fifty-one percent don’t believe that Jesus rose from the dead. Sixty-eight percent don’t believe that the Holy Spirit is a real entity. Only 33 percent of churched youth have said that the church will play a part in their lives when they leave home.”

Sociologists Christian Smith and Patricia Snell investigated the growing departure of young people from the church in their 2009 book Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults.

“Among American adults, emerging adults are significantly less religious. Generally speaking, the importance and practice of religion declines among young adults. No more than 15 percent of the total emerging adult population, embrace a strong religious faith. Thirty percent tend to customize their faith to fit the rest of their lives. They often have strong religious upbringing but tend to be more discriminating about what they will adopt. A smaller group, about 15 percent, believe in some higher power but are not sure what that is or means. About 25 percent of the emerging adult population may claim to be religious or even appreciate religion—but it simply does not matter. Five percent of all emerging adults have had little to no exposure to religious people, ideas or organizations. Ten percent of emerging adults are skeptical of religion and reject the idea of personal faith. They tend to hold critical, derogatory and antagonistic attitudes towards religion.”

Atheism and tolerance also shrinking ranks of American Protestants

And Dr. Alex McFarland, Director for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at North Greenville University, includes two other factors—“the rise of a fad called atheism” and “Our new god: tolerance be thy name.”

There are several opinions regarding how to bring the emerging generations back to the church. Sociologist Mary Eberstadt believes the burden falls on families staying intact: “It has long been recognized that experience with an earthly father deeply informs the perspective about the heavenly father.”

Sociologist Robert Wuthnow blames the church, “Unless religious leaders take younger adults more seriously, the future of American religion is in doubt.”

Meanwhile, others say the younger generation won’t return to Christianity until professing Christians start acting out their faith.

If there is any good news in the study, it’s this—the mission field is no longer a distant country. It’s right next door.

Christine Caine: Motherhood Is About Carrying Jesus to Your Generation

Megan Briggs

May 11, 2018

Christine Caine gave the Mother’s Day sermon at Willow Creek Church two years ago. Her message was a bold one: All of us are called, similar to Mary the mother of Jesus, to carry God to our generation.

Caine refers to Luke chapter 1 in her sermon, asking the audience to consider the woman who was chosen to carry Jesus (God made flesh) for nine months. “How do you choose who gets to carry God?” Caine asks.

Through our own unique lives and the callings God has placed on those lives, Caine argues, we are all asked to do something similar. While Mary did this in a very literal sense, as Christ-followers, “all of us are responsible to bring God to our generation,” Caine says.

She then goes on to pull three key lessons we can learn from Mary and the incredible calm with which she embraces God’s instructions and seemingly unwaveringly walks out God’s plan for her life.

Lessons from Christine Caine on answering our calling and how we can learn from Mary

1. You don’t have to be extra-ordinary for God to use you

Mary was not a person of notoriety or influence and yet God chose her. Caine indicates there may be one thing that set her apart from others because we can assume she was used to hearing God’s voice and obeying it. How else would she have been able to say “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” when the angel Gabriel told her she would conceive and bear Jesus? The point Caine is driving at is that God uses anyone, anywhere who is willing. Our circumstances don’t dictate our futures or the things that God can do with us.

Christine Caine emphasizes that God’s favor “is for purpose—it’s not for status.” Like Mary, we are to humbly accept the assignment given to us and use whatever favor we receive to fulfill the purposes of God. The question we are grapple with is: Are we willing to grow with what God has put inside of us?

2. Do not fear

When Gabriel came to Mary, he greeted her heartily, calling her “favored one.” But Mary was frightened and tried to figure out “what kind of greeting this might be.” Gabriel had to convince her his presence was nothing to be afraid of and told her “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” How many of us cower in fear when faced with something we don’t understand?

Caine says, more than anything else, “the greatest enemy to our potential is fear.” The enemy likes to attack us at the transition junctures of our lives. She gave the example of Moses arguing with God about answering his call to go back to Egypt to bring the Israelites out of slavery. Our fear will stop us from answering the very thing God ordained for us to do with our lives.

3. We have to be willing to take risks and pay the price

In conclusion, Christine Caine asks the congregation if they are willing to pay the price to carry Jesus to your generation? Going back to Mary, Caine says she had to give up her reputation and potentially her relationship with Joseph to answer God’s call. She couldn’t have known when Gabriel came to her how her circumstances would play out.

We have to be willing to risk in order to do what God designed for us to do. We also have to be willing to pay a high price. This is difficult for us, Christine Caine reasons, because we’re trained not to take risks. But by Caine’s reasoning, there is no need to fear things like death, since everyone is going to die. What should be more fear-inducing to us is not living the life God has called us to live.

Caine’s message is a good reminder to all of us, whether we are mothers or not, to embrace the risky calling God has given us and to carry Jesus to our generation.

11 Reasons I Struggle to Say No

Chuck Lawless

May 10, 2018

OK, this blog is a confession. I’m not good at saying “no.” Consequently, I sometimes struggle with a heavily-booked calendar and an overwhelmed spirit. Most recently, I’ve been doing some self-analysis to see why I still struggle here after more than 35 years in ministry.

11 Reasons I Struggle to Say No

I love what I do. When you love what you do, it’s easy to say “yes” to any opportunities. You just don’t want to miss anything.

I’ve never asked anyone to teach me how to balance my life. I’m not blaming anyone here; in fact, I’m taking responsibility. I haven’t asked anyone to help me.

I don’t always listen to others. I’d be lying if I said no one has ever challenged me to work on balance. Sometimes I’m just too busy to listen…

I live with the urgency of the gospel. I really do think regularly about the reality of lostness, unreached people and the coming of Christ. The older I get, the more I live with that urgency.

I like the accolades. Those words are painful to write, frankly. I do, though, enjoy when someone praises me for my work—so I sometimes work more than I must.

I don’t want to let anybody down. If someone I respect and love wants me to do something, I want to do it. Those same people would understand if I said, “I’m just too busy,” but I usually don’t give them that chance.

I don’t want to seem arrogant. I wrestle, for example, with not accepting invitations just because the crowds are likely to be smaller and the travel will be tougher. I’m always worried about making decisions that seem to be arrogant.

I don’t think enough about stewardship of my time and body. Financial stewardship is a big deal for me, but I don’t give enough consideration to other aspects of stewardship.

I am an idolater. I know better than to live this way, but I live at times like I can accomplish everything. That’s idolatry.

I don’t seek enough input from others. That’s probably the case in general. When I make a decision by myself, I’ll likely spend too little time thinking about the decision.

I’m still growing. I’m 57, and I’ve been a Christian for almost 43 years—but I have a long way to go.

I’m sure I’m not the only one with this issue. Readers, why do you struggle with saying “no”?

This article originally appeared here.

Should Church Members Expect the Gospel in Every Sermon?

Shane Pruitt

May 10, 2018

If you’ve been in ministry for any length of time, then you know there are some times that we just get it wrong. We exegete a text wrongly, use a joke that is not helpful or even distracts, or we jump on a “soap-box” and go in a direction that has nothing to do with the Scriptures we’re preaching. However, there is one faithful act that preachers should be doing that I believe they’ll never have to apologize for. That is preaching the Gospel in every sermon. On the day you stand before your King to give an account for how you shepherded His sheep, you most likely won’t have to say, “Jesus, I am truly sorry. I know that I preached the Gospel too many times. I shouldn’t have done that.” As ministers of the Gospel, if there is something that we should strive to overdue, let it be preaching the Gospel.

The longer I follow Jesus, the more I realize I’ll never mature past the Gospel. You see, you never grow past the Gospel, but hopefully you’re constantly maturing in the Gospel. Our preaching should reflect this as well. As we grow and mature in faithfully delivering God’s word to God’s people, week in and week out, we should mature in how we weave the Gospel into every message.

In context, every Scripture expects to be preached in light of the Gospel. Every preacher should have expectations upon themselves to deliver the Gospel every week to church members that should expect to receive it, understand it and live it out in their daily lives.

Here are at least four reasons why church members should expect the Gospel in every sermon:

Hopefully, there are non-Christians in the crowd.
Sadly, through the years of ministry I’ve heard church members from all different kinds of churches say, “Our pastor is always asking us to invite lost people to come to church with us. However, when we do, he never shares the Gospel.” As preachers, if we’re expecting church members to bring lost people, they should expect us to clearly communicate how their lost guests can be found. If we take sharing the Gospel seriously every weekend, then our congregants will take seriously the task of inviting the lost to hear it.

You’re training church members how to share the Gospel.
As a pastor, I often did what any other pastor would do: I encouraged church members to regularly share their faith with their lost friends, neighbors and co-workers. That is the mission of the church—to be making disciples that make disciples. The doorway into discipleship is believing the Gospel message and surrendering to Jesus. We expect our congregation to share their faith, but we never teach them how to do it. Obviously, this isn’t the only evangelism training we should be doing, but one of the ways people can learn how to clearly explain the Gospel is by hearing their pastor do it every week at some point in the sermon. Each one of us can tend to be parrots at times. Meaning, we repeat what we hear over and over. If you want your members to repeat the Gospel, then let them hear it from you over and over and over again.

What we celebrate is what we’re communicating as most important.
This is one of the simplest principles in any church, ministry or even business. Whatever you celebrate is what you’re telling people is most important to you. If your church mainly celebrates the budget and offering, then people will evaluate your success and failures based on the bottom dollar. As a leader, if you’re mainly celebrating the worship attendance, then the congregation will be discipled into believing that is the measure of success—numbers up means God is blessing, numbers down must mean that God is not pleased and it may be time for a new pastor. However, communicating the Gospel and celebrating the lives that are being transformed by it every week is telling your congregation that this is the most important thing we could be doing. Not the results of the Gospel. That is up to the Lord. Celebrate faithfulness and obedience in proclaiming the Gospel. As the church, this is why we exist.

Every command is now in response to the Gospel.
As New Testament Christians, everything we’re commanded to do in Scripture is in response to what Christ first did for us. For example, we forgive because He first forgave us, we love because He first loved us, and we lay down our anger because He absorbed the Father’s wrath for us. It’s the same with any sermon. Whatever the subject matter of the text is, it must be preached in the light of the Gospel. The text may call for a sermon on stewardship. Yet, we cannot truly understand biblical generosity unless we personally know the generous Savior. Proper exegesis may call for missions, however, biblical missions calls for us to know and point the world to the Son of God who first took a mission trip from heaven to earth to be a suffering Savior. Every sermon should point to the Savior! Simply put, preach every text with integrity and preach every text in the light of the Gospel.

In the town where I live, there are many different churches and most are known for something. There’s the inward-focused church, the “deep” church, the political church, the entertaining church, the hipster church and so on. If by God’s grace your church was known as the Gospel-proclaiming church, that wouldn’t be so bad would it?

“Many pastors criticize me for taking the Gospel so seriously. But do they really think that on Judgment Day, Christ will chastise me, saying, ‘Leonard, you took Me too seriously’?”
– Leonard Revenhill

This article originally appeared here.

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Here are at least four reasons why church members should expect the Gospel in every sermon:

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