Men, Don’t Be Sidelined by Unforgiveness

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October 4, 2023

The bond between a father and son is unique and unrivaled. A father is his son’s first hero, and a boy often grows up wanting to be just like him. Tragically, this connection, ideally grounded in love and security, is often unraveled by circumstances beyond a precious son’s control.

In America today, more than 25 million kids under 18 years of age are growing up in homes without their fathers. Whether the result of divorce, neglect, death, addictions or other circumstances, fatherhood abandonment has become the number one societal issue plaguing our nation. We’re witnessing the very foundation of family—which includes men of honor, integrity, character, and courage leading in their homes—being undermined and utterly destroyed.

The pain of rejection and unfulfilled expectations can cast long shadows over a man’s life, leaving deep wounds of anger and resentment and ultimately limiting his ability to develop into the man God designed him to be. Yet, as Christians, we’re called to a higher standard as men, one that challenges us—NO, it commands us—to embrace the transformative power of biblical forgiveness.

The devil wants men to remain wounded and sitting on the sidelines, but God has called us to something far greater. And here’s a truth bomb—America’s very survival hinges on stepping up and into this calling.

Biblical Forgiveness

Forgiving a father who was absent is a profound act of biblical obedience and it requires real courage. It’s a declaration that we are committing to break the cycle of pain and bitterness and to walk in the freedom of forgiveness. It’s an acknowledgment that we’re not defined by the actions of others, but by our God-given capacity for love and grace. Most importantly, it’s a reflection of the forgiveness that God offers us, fully undeserved yet freely given.

Forgiveness is not a feeling nor is it the pursuit of justice or reconciliation—it is an unwavering command by God Almighty. We are to turn our violator over to Him for redemption or retribution and release our righteous claim to justice now, in our time and before our eyes. Our sin as believers breaks fellowship with the Heavenly Father.

Biblical forgiveness is unmerited, undeserved and unearned by our actions. It’s completely contingent on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The choice to forgive the sin of fatherhood abandonment is at its core faithful obedience to the biblical command first demonstrated by God Almighty. It’s not about condoning the father’s actions or pretending that the son’s pain doesn’t exist. Rather, it’s an act of releasing ourselves from the heavy burden of anger and resentment that fractures our fellowship with the Lord and limits our availability for Kingdom work.

Remember: unforgiveness is a sin. Like all sin, if unconfessed and unrepented for, the sin of unforgiveness will continue to slowly destroy us. When we confess it to the Lord, we find the peace of God purifies and heals us. Most importantly, our fellowship with the Lord is restored.

Restoration in Christ

Forgiveness is a core spiritual skill that unlocks many of the maturity and growth characteristics that are core to becoming who God called us to be. This doesn’t mean we won’t experience times in our lives where hurt comes to the surface and difficult emotions flood our minds and hearts. But these scars from old wounds can serve as great reminders of the triumphs and the victories we’ve had in Christ and the healing and restoration only he provides.

My personal, painful experience of growing up without my father present in the home was the genesis of many mistakes and misdirection, hurts and a brokenness in my soul. However, as I matured spiritually, I came to understand that my Heavenly Father always had a perfect plan to grow me into the man he intended. Discovering my identity in him and living it out has not only helped me find my greater purpose, but it has brought the Lord glory that only he deserves.

Christian men who experienced fatherhood abandonment must break the cycle of victimhood and instead rise to become victors. We need that personally to grow. Our families require it to thrive. Our country depends on it to survive. Our God demands it of his men.

As Synod on Catholic Church’s Future Begins, Abuse Survivors Demand Equal Time

By

Claire Giangrave

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October 4, 2023

Catholic Abuse Survivors — Psychoneurologist Denise Buchanan, from left, psychotherapist Peter Isely, Kazlaw Injury & Trauma Lawyers' support team specialist Leona Huggins, and President of Ending Clergy Abuse Timothy Law, holding a wooden cross, arrive at the Vatican Sept. 27, 2023. The group ended a zero-tolerance 75-mile pilgrimage initiative, along the Via Francigena, ahead of the synod of bishops starting on Oct. 4 at the Vatican, to protest clergy abuse. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As Catholic bishops and lay believers meet in Rome this month for a historic Vatican summit to discuss power structures in the church, sexual abuse survivors and their advocates say their topic will be on everyone’s minds but nobody’s agenda.

The Synod on Synodality, which runs Oct. 4-29, has been called to tackle questions of clergy leadership and accountability, but above all clericalism, which occurs when the ordained claim special privileges or are treated as if they are above reproach. These questions are central to the issue of sexual abuse, itself strongly tied to how power is used and where it is distributed in the church.

Sexual abuse appears 20 times in the 60-page “Instrumentum Laboris,” the working document that will guide discussions at the synod, a frequency survivors point to in voicing concerns that while sexual abuse may be mentioned at the synod, they should expect no significant movement on the issue.

“The concerns of clergy abuse victims, who have long borne the consequences of unconscionable decisions made at the highest levels, still have no place in the decision-making process,” read a statement Friday (Sept. 29) by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP. “Until this changes, the clergy sex abuse scandal will continue, and more young lives will be forever blighted.”

Survivors organizations are arriving in Rome this week still smarting from Pope Francis’ decision in July to appoint Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández to head the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, despite Fernández’s past support for an alleged abuser priest in his home diocese of La Plata, Argentina.

The newly minted cardinal later admitted in an interview that he doesn’t “feel qualified or trained” to address sexual abuse cases, which are among the main responsibilities of the Vatican’s doctrinal department.

“By appointing Archbishop Fernández to the DDF and naming him a Cardinal, Pope Francis clearly demonstrates that it is business as usual in the Catholic Church,” SNAP’s statement said.

Francis began his pontificate with what was described as a “zero tolerance” policy toward sexual abuse, but the results have been mixed. In 2019, Francis decreed that documentation about sexual abuse should no longer be designated as a “pontifical secret” — the Vatican’s version of classified material. But many victims claim that they are still not fully informed of the result of criminal trials against their abusers.

In February of that year Francis also convened a summit of prelates, experts and abuse survivors at the Vatican to address the subject of abuse, but the highly anticipated meeting did not enact any decisive regulation.

Francis followed with a document, “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (“You are the light of the world”), which attempted to enshrine accountability in the church for covering up or failing to address abuse cases and a mandatory reporting system in every diocese, but its application remains inconsistent and unreliable.

Survivors advocates say their biggest concern is that the pope is willing to waive his own laws on abuse when those accused are his friends or allies. As Chile was grappling with a crisis tied to the abuser priest Fernando Karadima in 2018, Francis rose to the defense of one of the priests’ proteges, Bishop Juan Barros, dismissing as “calumny” the reports accusing him of covering up the abuse. While Francis eventually retracted his statement, the episode left a scar in the Chilean Catholic community and beyond.

Faith-Based Health Organizations Defend At-Risk AIDS Initiative From Republicans

By

Yonat Shimron

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October 4, 2023

AIDS Relief — Rich Stearns visited Uganda in August 1998 to meet his sponsored child Richard Sseremba and his two brothers, orphans who lost their parents to AIDS. (© 1998 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren)

(RNS) — Like all organizations controlled by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services opposes abortion in any form.

As the website of this 80-year-old humanitarian organization clearly states, CRS is “dedicated to preserving the sacredness and dignity of human life from conception to natural death.”

But CRS and dozens of other faith-based aid organizations, many of whom oppose abortion, now find themselves defending a U.S. program that has dramatically reduced the worldwide spread of AIDS from attack by erstwhile allies, a smattering of Republicans who claim that under President Joe Biden the program is advancing abortion rights.

Led by Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, these Republicans have thwarted the five-year reauthorization of PEPFAR, or the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. (The 45-day spending deal Congress agree to late last week extended existing funding levels for PEPFAR but reauthorization is still in question.) Since the program was created by President George W. Bush in 2003, Congress has always reauthorized PEPFAR with solid bipartisan support.

“Regrettably, PEPFAR has been reimagined — hijacked — by the Biden Administration to empower pro-abortion international non-governmental organizations, deviating from its life-affirming work,” Smith said in a release.

The claim that PEPFAR empowers abortion came as a shock to many faith-based groups that partner with health care nonprofits overseas to combat AIDS.

“That is not something that we’ve seen or experienced in our work with PEPFAR,” said Meghan Topp Goodwin, a senior policy and legislative specialist for Catholic Relief Services, which receives PEPFAR dollars.

PEPFAR has been considered the gold standard among U.S. global health initiatives and is credited with saving the lives of 25 million people by providing antiretroviral drugs to AIDS patients in more than 50 countries. The program has funded clinics, provided testing centers and encouraged preventive measures — all of which have measurably reduced the spread of AIDS.

Faith-based organizations, critical to PEPFAR’s functioning, are confounded that a program with such a proven track record of success could now be at risk.

“It literally makes no sense,” said Doug Fountain, executive director of Christian Connections for International Health, a global network of more than 100 faith-based organizations that provide or advocate for health and humanitarian aid abroad. ”There’s no way that abortion is going to play a part in foreign, domestic or foreign assistance. It’s just not even feasible.”

A number of laws prohibit the use of U.S. taxpayer dollars to promote or procure abortions overseas. There’s the Helms Amendment, signed into law almost 50 years ago, that prohibits foreign assistance from paying for the performance of abortion. There’s also the 1981 Siljander Amendment that prohibits the use of funds to lobby for or against abortion in foreign operations.

The assault on PEPFAR began in May with a report by the conservative Heritage Foundation warning that the Biden administration was using the program to promote a “radical social agenda” — including abortion.

4 Things People Want From Church

By

Shawn Vandergrift

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October 4, 2023

People are coming and not coming to your church for a reason! Every day I talk to pastors who have their church services full of visitors. I also hear countless stories of how some visitors stay and later become members. On the same note I also hear how some visitors only come once and never come again. This leads me to understand people are searching for something that draws them beyond a one-time visit. It also leads me to understand what people want from church and creates in them the passion to seek Christ daily, but what is it?

I believe the main motivation should be and is to have a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. After all, that is why the Church exists, but what are people looking for that makes them want to attach their selves to a certain body of believers? What draws them back time and time again?

Recently I had a conversation with someone who outlined four things he desperately wanted and needed in a church he called home. I want to share those with you today. I believe they hold great value and are the four things people want from the Church in which they decide to become a member.

4 Things People Want From Church

1. Acceptance

Without a doubt this one makes perfect sense. People want to feel not only welcomed and loved but also wanted. Even after they have made their first visit. So many times, as churches, we tend to be excited when a visitor comes the first few times, only to write them off once they come regularly. If we want to retain the people who visit us, we must truly be gracious and humbled by the fact God has given us another friend to whom we can minister. Is your Church a place that welcomes people beyond the first visit?

2. Accountability

This one may not seem like a likely choice, but after people have accepted Christ as savior, they genuinely want to follow through on that commitment. They desire to have those who will help them achieve this daily walk with Christ—just like a person who is trying to lose weight likes to have those who will go to the gym with him and help keep him on track to the goal. Is your Church a place that motivates and provides partnership to the goal of serving Christ?

3. Discipleship

As stated above, you find that once people commit their life to Christ they genuinely want to follow through on it. They desire to know more about their faith whether it’s newfound or not. One thing people want from church is to understand what they are doing, why they are doing it and how to improve what they are doing. Is your Church a place of learning that equips the believer with the tools necessary to survive in the Christian walk?

4. Opportunity

This last one is just as important as the others. It’s the natural effect of a growing Christian, to want an opportunity to get involved more in the ministry of the church they attend. People want to be a part of something. People want to serve, and we must not forget God wants them to serve as well. As a Church we must be excelling at preparing our members for service. Giving them an opportunity to serve Jesus. So many times we can fail because we wait too long to get new members involved in serving. They want to serve, and we must let them. Is your Church full of opportunities to serve?

Is your Church a place of acceptance, accountability, discipleship and opportunity? Will you rise up to the challenge, and make these a part of your efforts? What other things do you think people want from church?

5 Benefits of Passionate Leaders

By

Dan Black

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October 4, 2023

Passion is a key element for a leader. I have observed that people who are successful and achieve great things are passionate leaders. It is important to find the areas you are passionate about then stay focused on them.

I have discovered finding your purpose and strengths helps when it comes to having passion. Authors Robert Kriegel and Louis Patler cite a study of 1,500 people over 20 years showing the value of finding your passions within your life:

At the outset of the study, the group was divided into Group A, 83 percent of the sample, who were embarking on a career chosen for the prospect of making money now in order to do what they want later, and Group B, the other 17 percent of the sample, who had chosen their career path for the reverse reason, they were going to pursue (their passions) what they want to do now and worry about money later. The data showed some startling revelations:

At the end of the 20 years, 101 of the 1,500 had become millionaires.

Of the millionaires, all but one-100 out of 101- were from Group B, the group that had chosen to pursue what they loved (their passions)!

This study clearly shows the benefits and results of finding and focusing on your passions. Here are 5 other things that happen when a leader has passion.

5 Benefits of Passionate Leaders

1. Passion produces energy.

A leader who has passion is driven forward from the energy it produces. When it comes to leading yourself and others, passion and energy are essential. Donald Trump said, “Without passion, you don’t have energy; without energy, you have nothing.” Leaders who have passion also bring energy into what they do.

7 Simple Prayer Ideas for Daily Prayer

By

Alvin Reid

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October 4, 2023

It’s helpful in daily prayer to explore simple prayer ideas. While in my seminary days I found great help in prayer from a resource produced by Peter Lord of the First Baptist Church of Titusville, Florida, called the 2959 Guide (29.59, or about 30 minutes in prayer). The following is my adaptation and expansion of something I first thought of while going through the guide. I often use this in my daily prayer time. Perhaps it will encourage you as well. These are seven prayer ideas you see practiced consistently in Scripture. While I’m emphasizing these for personal prayer, they would be useful in corporate settings as well.

7 Simple Prayer Ideas from Scripture

1. Praise

Praise is our response to the person of God. We praise him for who he is. Praise is not noise, just as reverence is not silence. It is the acknowledgment of God’s greatness. It is recognizing he is “hallowed,” or “holy,” as the Model Prayer tells us (see Matt 6:9). Sometimes reading a Psalm of praise helps here. Beginning with praise starts our praying with a focus on God, not us, which is always best.

2. Thanksgiving

This is our response to the goodness of God. Thank him for what he has done. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (Ps 100:4). “In everything give thanks” (1 Thess 5:18). An attitude of gratitude should permeate our lives.

3. Confession

Confession is our response to the holiness of God. Our sins will hinder our praying (see Ps 66:18). As we pray, we can ask the Holy Spirit to reveal each sin in our lives. Then we can confess the sin (see 1 John 1:9) and forsake it. When broken relationships are involved, we should seek to make them right as well (see Matthew 5). Remembering God’s forgiveness in Christ also helps us to be forgiving to others.

3 Ways Worship Leaders Can Encourage Worship

By

Gary Durbin

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October 4, 2023

I live in Denver, where every season is filled with some sort of fanaticism over a sports team. I’m an NBA fan, so I love to go to Nuggets games. In the spring, the weather’s amazing and it’s fun to go to the ball park and cheer on the Rockies. Last but not least, the NFL season brings on the undeniable force of the Broncos. One thing that’s common with each team is people in attendance expressing their adoration. So, I ask myself, “Why doesn’t that expression follow them to church? How can I encourage worship?”

If you’re a worship leader, I want to encourage you to keep asking that kind of question, because your church needs you to. There are different answers to that question, and I’ve heard a lot of them over the past several years. If I were to pick the most frequent response, it would probably sound something like, “I’m just more reserved and quiet in my worship.”

The only problem with that statement is that it’s less about what God desires and more about what the person prefers. The responsibility of the worship leader is to lead people to experience and participate in the worship of the one, true God in spirit and in truth, because that’s exactly what God wants (John 4:23).

That kind of worship has nothing to do with our comfort and everything to do with God’s desire. I love to let my church know that God doesn’t NEED our worship. It’s way better than that. He WANTS our worship. As sons and daughters of the King, God’s desire should supersede the need for own comfort.

Expression is not always comfortable, but I’ve come to understand that it’s very important to the corporate worship experience of church.

If you’ve experienced the power of expression, you probably agree. The challenge of it all is convincing your church of that, especially if they haven’t fully experienced that kind of freedom in worship.

If you’ve ever led worship in a church that’s less than expressive, you’re not alone. I’ve been there and many other worship leaders have too. I’ve been really blessed to lead worship in churches where the pastor has shared my desire to see God’s people break free in praise. It’s amazing to see the spiritual growth happen in corporate worship as your people slowly, but surely, let go and embrace biblical expression to their God. As a worship leader, you can be a catalyst for that growth, and help encourage worship.

3 Ways Worship Leaders Can Encourage Worship

1. TEACH IT

There are many ways to get people worshipping. The best ways are the biblical ways. Start with the Bible and study what it says about expression. You’ll find out quite a bit. You’ll find the motive for expression, and that it’s not about drawing attention to yourself but about pointing to the glory and presence of God. You’ll also find specific instruction and, some would say, mandates about it. Psalm 47:1 says, “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” This definitely doesn’t seem to be optional. The churches I grew up in were not comfortable with rhythmic clapping and definitely not shouting, but they sure were proud about their “stance” on God’s Word. There’s freedom in expression and we need to teach our church about what the Bible says about raising hands (Psalm 134:2), clapping (Psalm 47:1), bowing down (Psalm 95:6), shouting (Psalm 95:1) and dancing (Psalm 150:4). We can teach and educate our church during a worship set, and even better, a strategic sermon every once in a while. Remember that the pastor of your church is just as much or more the worship leader as you are. A sermon or message series will teach and lead your church to understand biblical, expressive worship way more than a song or worship set can. Look for teaching moments and opportunities anywhere you can. If you don’t teach, the majority will never learn, therefore you cannot expect them to be expressive at church.

Pastor Albert Tate Takes Leave of Absence Over ‘Inappropriate Text Messages and Questionable Comments’

By

Jessica Mouser

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October 3, 2023

Albert Tate, founding and lead pastor of Fellowship Church in Los Angeles County California, is taking a leave of absence as a result of “inappropriate text messages and questionable comments” he made, according to a statement on the church’s website.

“Myself, the senior staff and the Board feel it is important that I share with you that our Senior Pastor Albert Tate, will be taking a leave of absence,” said George Saleh, chairman of the board of Fellowship Church, in the statement originally issued Sunday, Sept. 24. “This decision follows an initial review by the board and outside experts concerning inappropriate text messages and questionable comments he has made.”

“We believe in grace, accountability, and the redemptive power of Christ,” Saleh continued. “Therefore, we see this leave of absence as a necessary time for Albert to engage in a period of reflection, spiritual guidance, and restoration.”

Albert Tate ‘Had a Really Hard Year for About 3 Years’

In addition to being the senior pastor of Fellowship Church, which he cofounded with his wife, LaRosa, Albert Tate is an author and speaker. He serves on the board of trustees at Azusa Pacific University, the Global Leadership Network (GLN), and Stadia, a global church planting organization.

During a talk Tate gave this year at GLN’s Global Leadership Summit (GLS), he said, “If I’m honest, I’ve had a really hard year for about three years.”

“The year really has been rough,” he shared. “Some personal struggles, organizational struggles, challenges with navigating family and trying to find balance and priorities.”

Tate said that Life.Church pastor and GLS Champion Craig Groeschel encouraged him that “you can have a hard season and still be a good leader.” Tate exhorted church leaders “to lead where you are, regardless of if that’s from a bad place, from a struggling place, from a discouraged place. Lead where you are.” Pastors should rely on God to give them what they need on a daily basis, said Tate, and continue showing up in their roles even when they are disheartened.

In his statement to Fellowship Church, Saleh said that he had “a heart full of humility, love, and a sense of responsibility to each and every one of you who make up our wonderful spiritual community.”

“The Board and senior staff are committed to supporting Albert and his family through this season where we are all seeking clarity and the right steps forward,” said Saleh.

Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa Says Christian Faith, God’s Word Keep Him ‘Encouraged’

By

Stephanie Martin

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October 3, 2023

After his Miami Dolphins suffered their first defeat of the season Sunday, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said recalling Bible verses motivates him to keep going. The 25-year-old admitted that losing to the Buffalo Bills 48-20 was “humbling” but said his Christian upbringing and God’s Word “keeps me encouraged in continuing to press forward, especially in times like this.”

The Oct. 1 defeat, leaving the Dolphins with a 3-1 record, came one week after Miami’s historic 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos.

Tagovailoa, who suffered two concussions last season, has been outspoken about his faith since his college days at Alabama. He’s also been vocal about his Samoan culture, which reveres family, faith, and respect.

Tua Tagovailoa: Playing on Sundays Is Tough

During Sunday’s post-game press conference, a reporter asked Tagovailoa how his faith affects his approach to football. The quarterback replied, “I think the best thing about being a believer of Jesus Christ…is that the good Lord up above doesn’t care whether you win a game, whether you lose a game.” He continued, “For me it’s been a little tough having to play on Sundays…having to watch church online after games.”

But Tagovailoa acknowledged the benefits of being a Christian in pro football. “Allowing me this platform…to me is the best thing in the world, to be able to profess my faith, something that I firmly believe in, something that’s been foundationally instilled in me at a young age.”

The quarterback, who wears eye black in the shape of crosses, said he prays before heading onto the field for offensive series. “I’m on a sideline, looks like I’m talking to myself, speaking in tongues. Some people think ‘What, this guy knows how to speak in tongues?’”

Tagovailoa grew up in a nondenominational Christian church. He credited that background with providing a firm foundation and allowing him to handle whatever football throws his way.

Miami Dolphins QB: My Faith ‘Keeps Me Motivated’

After a Dolphins’ victory on Sept. 10, Tagovailoa referenced Matthew 19:26 during an on-field interview. “First and foremost, I’d just like to give all the glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he told a CBS reporter. “Without him, nothing is possible for me.”

Tagovailoa, who grew up in Hawaii, is raising funds to “Help Heal Maui” after last month’s devastating wildfires. His father, Galu Tagovailoa, said Samoan culture is “all about giving back” and “being obedient.”

‘This Is Not the Gospel as Preached by the Apostles’—Dr. Albert Mohler Responds to Andy Stanley’s Message

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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October 3, 2023

Dr. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as Boyce College, didn’t take long to respond to Andy Stanley, North Point Community Church’s lead pastor and best-selling Christian author, after Stanley said he “never subscribed” to Mohler’s “version of Christianity.”

On Sunday, Oct. 1, Stanley gave a rare, non-livestreamed message to his congregation that was prompted by an article Mohler wrote last month titled, “The Train Is Leaving the Station: Andy Stanley’s Departure From Biblical Christianity.”

In the article, Mohler voiced his concern regarding a conference geared towards Christian parents with LGBTQ+ children hosted at North Point Community Church. On Monday, one day after Stanley’s message responding to him, Mohler wrote a follow-up article stating that Stanley “doubled down on his departure from Biblical Christianity.”

Albert Mohler: ‘This Is Not Biblical Christianity’

“On Sunday, Andy Stanley responded to my previous column about his departure from Biblical Christianity, speaking of my argument and noting, ‘Lots and lots of people saw it. That’s why we are talking about it today,’” Mohler said.

“He said a great deal,” Mohler added, “and he stated up front that he ‘never subscribed’ to the Christianity I represent, so he has not departed from it.”

Mohler said that Stanley described Mohler’s “understanding of Biblical Christianity as drawing lines” and Stanley went on to teach that “Jesus, unlike those who draw lines, drew circles. The SBTS president quoted Stanley’s words: “He drew circles so large and included so many people in His circle that it consistently made religious leaders nervous.”

“The problem with Stanley’s assertion that Jesus drew circles rather than lines,” Mohler said, is that “the four Gospels consistently present Jesus as drawing both.”

Mohler gave the example of Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan, saying that the Samaritan, “unlike the religious leaders of His day, helped the man assaulted by robbers. Casting the Samaritan as the God-honoring character in the parable was indeed a way of drawing a circle.”

An Arizona School Board Member Was Told To Stop Quoting the Bible. Now She’s Suing.

By

Kathryn Post

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October 3, 2023

(RNS) — An Arizona school board member who was instructed to stop quoting Bible passages during board meetings filed a federal lawsuit against her district Wednesday (Sept. 27), alleging her First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion had been violated.

Heather Rooks, a Christian who attends a large nondenominational church, has been serving the Peoria Unified School District, one of Arizona’s largest districts, since January 2023. She is being represented by the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP and the First Liberty Institute, a Texas-based conservative legal organization known for defending school football coach Joe Kennedy, who recently won a Supreme Court Case after being fired for praying at the 50-yard line.

Since the start of her term, Rooks, whose four children attend school in the district, has quoted short Bible passages during the “board comments” portion of each board meeting. The passages were often related to the theme of courage.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” Rooks said at a meeting in January, quoting from the first chapter of Joshua in the Hebrew Bible.

“Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge,” she said in April, quoting from Psalm 16.

Rooks told Religion News Service she was surprised and then saddened after being instructed not to quote Scripture, because she “never thought that would happen in America.” She said she recited Bible passages as a source of strength when faced with difficult decisions.

“With everything that goes on as a new school board member, we’re facing a lot of adversity and challenges. So reading those verses really gave me some strength and courage and peace,” Rooks said.

Rooks said, in particular, she was seeking courage to “keep speaking out for parents.”

Critics of Rooks say her quoting of Bible passages has political undertones, especially during board meetings where issues like white supremacy and gender nonconformity are discussed. In April, the board voted down a bathroom policy supported by Rooks that would have restricted transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity.

In February, the group Secular Communities for Arizona issued a complaint to the board arguing that Rooks was violating the Constitution’s establishment clause.

“It is coercive, embarrassing, and intimidating for citizens from a different religion or nonreligious citizens to display deference toward a religious sentiment in which they do not believe, but which this school board member does,” wrote Dianne Post, legal director of Secular Communities for Arizona, in an email included in the lawsuit.

In May and again in June, a staff attorney for the nonprofit group Freedom From Religion Foundation sent emails to the board president requesting that the district stop board members from promoting their beliefs. The emails said that failure to do so would “subject the school district to unnecessary liability and potential financial strain.”

The board’s legal counsel emailed board members in mid-July saying it would “be in the best interest of the District” for board members to stop quoting Bible verses because doing so violated federal and state laws and because Freedom From Religion and Secular Arizona had “threatened” to “take further action,” including filing a lawsuit.

Loving the Truth and Speaking in Love

By

Nicholas Batzig

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October 3, 2023

The noisy gongs of acerbic and judgmental discernment bloggers, podcasters, vloggers and conference speakers are scattered throughout our social media feeds…and they’re here to stay. The uncharitableness with which such individuals speak online immediately ought to leave a bad taste in the mouth of Christ’s true lambs.

After all, the fruit of the Spirit in the life of believers is an inextricable constituent of doctrinal truth. No amount of insistence that one is speaking the truth in love (when, in fact, he is speaking the truth in anger) will mask the fact that he is actually speaking in loveless pride.

As Jesus said, “A tree is known by its fruit.” The bitter fruit of an acrimonious “truth speaker” will inevitably be the bringing forth of disciples more fractious than himself. Nevertheless, the root of the problem does not lie in a love of the truth and a desire to trumpet forth sound doctrine—it is rooted in pride and self-love.

In Scripture, God everywhere charges us to be lovers of biblical truth. The early believers “continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42). The Apostle Paul teaches us to be lovers of truth and practicers of love when he wrote, “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13).

It is often, on account of a loveless defense of truth that many Christians succumb to the opposite error, namely, the embrace of the diminution of sound doctrine. One doesn’t have to scroll through his or her social media feed for long to come across an influential pastor or teacher warning his followers about the dangers of an overemphasis on sound doctrine. It sounds quite pious to sophisticatedly downplay truth in order to up play love. Nothing, however, could be more fallacious and factitious. It is impossible to love the truth and to speak the truth too much or too often. In fact, where there is no truth, there is no love. Christians have been redeemed in love by the One who said, “I am the truth.”

Of course, the danger of swinging from one error to another is not a new phenomenon. It is as old as the fall. Though it comes in new sociological and philosophical packages, the human heart has always revolted against embracing, loving, propagating and defending the truth about God. Throughout the early decades of the 20th Century, J. Gresham Machen warned about the destructive dangers of the theological liberalism that had stealthily yet persistently crept into the church and the academy.

The strength of the theological liberalism of Machen’s day is that it downplayed doctrinal truth under the guise of up playing love–much as it seeks to do in our day. In his “The New Testament: An Introduction to Its Literature and History,” Machen wrote,

Many Christians today have a horror of theology; they suppose it must necessarily be a cold and lifeless thing. As a matter of fact, theology is merely thinking about God. Every Christian must think about God; every Christian to some degree must be a theologian. The only question is whether he is to be a bad theologian or a good theologian. If he contents himself with his own preconceived notions, or gives free scope to his own natural feelings, he will be a bad theologian; he will soon find himself cherishing a miserable, imperfect, unworthy conception of God which makes God a mere creature of man’s fancy. If, on the other hand, he makes himself acquainted, through patient study, first with the teaching of the Bible about God, then with the mighty acts of God that the Bible records, then with the Bible’s explanations about these acts, he will soon be in possession of a ‘theology’ which will give backbone to his who religious life. There need be nothing technical about such a theology; it may not even be called ‘theology’ at all; it may be expressed in language that a child can understand; but whatever it is called and however it is expressed, it is absolutely necessary for a genuine Christianity. Christianity is based, not upon the shifting sands of human feeling, but upon solid facts; and the apprehension and understanding of facts inevitably requires the use of the intellect.

Christians today, no less than in Machen’s day, desperately need to come to terms with the fact that we are all theologians—whether good ones or bad ones. While we must be zealous to guard our hearts against embracing the ethos of the vitriolic doctrinal voices around us, we must equally avoid giving ear to those who, under pretense of love and charity, have functionally encouraged “a horror of theology.”

As Machen rightly noted, “Every Christian must think about God; every Christian to some degree must be a theologian. The only question is whether he is to be a bad theologian or a good theologian.”

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Don’t Give Up on Your Bible Study So Quickly

By

Mike Leake

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October 3, 2023

“Doubt acts as a sparring partner both to truth and error. It keeps faith trim and helps to shed the paunchiness of false ideas. Like a terrier, doubt worries at weak ideas until they escape reinvigorated or collapse exhausted. It is the nature of doubt always to be questioning, challenging, inquiring, cross-examining.” (Guinness, 48)

A relentless terrier. I think that’s a pretty apt description of doubt. Terriers aren’t exactly the breed of dog you’d employ to fend of intruders, but they’ll do the job in sounding the alarm that danger is afoot. Doubt is like that—it’s a horrible thing to use as the sole means of protecting your house, but there is a way in which doubt can actually alert us to false ideas and lead us into a more robust and lively faith.

Yet, I think far too many Christians have opted to just shoot the dog and not deal with the doubt. We’ve been told that to doubt the Scriptures is to launch yourself onto a slippery slope of unbelief. We get afraid when we start to ask questions. We’re afraid that if we put our faith through the fire it might not stand. When we come to a passage of Scripture which unsettles us we rebuke those feelings, try to ignore them, and move on to things which make us feel a bit more certain.

But the terrier still barks.

You can muzzle the terrier, but you’ll remain stuck at that place. You’ll now possess a “faith which was once vital but has become so taken for granted that it is no longer authentic.” Because to keep yourself shielded from the barking dog you have to either ignore places of Scripture, or shelve the entire enterprise. The dog will be silent but your faith will wither into nothingness.

There is another option. Listen to the dog. Truth is never scared of a microscope. If something is true then it’s true down to it’s very core. You don’t have to be afraid to ask difficult questions.

I appreciate this picture given to us by Esau McCaulley:

I propose instead that we adopt the posture of Jacob and refuse to let go of the text until it blesses us. Stated differently, we adopt a hermeneutic of trust in which we are patient with the text in the belief that when interpreted properly it will bring a blessing and not a curse. (McCaulley, 20)

When something in God’s Word unsettles us we should not be quick to leave it for the more comfortable places. Yes, there may be times when we have to table some of our concerns and pick them up at a time when we’re in a healthier place. But we should as McCaulley so aptly put it, “be patient with the text”. God aims to bless us through His Word. We should believe that.

This is why we wrestle with the text. We believe that if keep doing that eventually we’re going to be blessed. That terrier can be our friend. He’s pointing out that something isn’t consistent. It could be that we need to change our worldview and lifestyle. Or it could be that we’re not seeing the Scriptures, or the God of the Scriptures, consistently. And so we wrestle. We plead with God to bless us from His Word—to sort out the questions and help us see Him shine.

When you get unsettled by something you read in your Bible, don’t give up on your Bible reading too quickly. I’d also say that if you’re never uncomfortable with God’s Word, you’ve probably already shot your terrier and are deeply within the process of making a god of your own making.

This article originally appeared here.

The Call of God to Ministry: Should You Be a Children’s Pastor?

By

Andrew Linder

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October 3, 2023

The call of God to ministry is a fascinating topic. Volunteers, students, and teachers often wonder, “Is God calling me to ministry? Should I return to school and serve in the church full-time?” So how do you know you are called to ministry?

One question I’ve heard multiple times is “How do I really know if God is calling me to be a children’s pastor?” Read on to discover how I respond.

The Call of God to Ministry: What to Consider

Sometimes this question comes from a teenager or adult wrestling with God’s will for their life. Other times, it’s from someone serving in full-time ministry who’s questioning their direction or calling.

For the person who’s struggling with that, here are some ways I recognized the call of God to ministry. Hopefully these will help you too.

How Do You Know You Are Called to Ministry: 3 Considerations

1. DESIRE to Be a Children’s Pastor: God is the one who has put it in your heart.

I Timothy 3:1 If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

First and foremost, the call of God to ministry requires a genuine desire to serve in ministry. This may come more naturally for some, while God may need more time to “convince” others. (For some, “Is God calling me to ministry?” is a matter of God’s conviction over time. But it ultimately still ends in a desire.)

Regardless of the circumstances, a person must be called by God. You can’t be called by a pastor, by parents, or by pressure.

From childhood, it was my heart’s desire to follow the footsteps of my dad, who was (and still is) a pastor. Other than my dream to one day play in the NBA (LOL), my heart’s desire was to serve people through ministry. Where did that come from? I believe God put it in my heart. Plus, he used circumstances around me (my parents’ example and passion) to grow that desire.

For many, the call of God to ministry comes at a specific time when they surrender to God. Every calling will be unique but will include a God-given desire.

God says clearly that to desire to be in ministry is a good thing. And that’s where a calling must start.

2. GIFTING: Because of your abilities

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise…

Every person in ministry will have different levels of abilities. But certain characteristics and abilities usually accompany a call to the ministry. (First Timothy 3 is a great place to start for basic requirements and abilities.)

It’s highly unlikely that God is currently calling you into ministry if you’re still struggling to make it to church from one Sunday to the next. Or if you’re struggling to be faithful as a layman.

How do you know you are called to ministry? As my former pastor, Bill Prater, used to say…

5 Ways Technology Helps Accelerate Church Growth

By

ThreadsResources

-

October 3, 2023

First-time guests are the lifeblood for churches. Yet, the average number of first-time guests that become regular attendees in churches today is only 10 percent. While most church leaders want to make a good first impression, it takes more than good intentions to accelerate church growth and effectively engage guests in a way that helps them move toward becoming a fully-engaged member.

Technology can play a key role in helping your church identify, improve, activate and accelerate church growth assimilation processes that grow your church by effectively integrating first-time guests.

5 Ways Technology Helps Accelerate Church Growth

1) Technology helps you define your church’s first-time guest process.

It only takes seven minutes for a guest to formulate a first impression of your church. Technology helps you define your church’s first-time guest process by helping you evaluate when they are being greeted and how they are being greeted.

Is a Small Group Meeting Biblical?

By

Andrew Mason

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October 3, 2023

I’m passionate about the importance of small groups complementing (not duplicating) the experience of the corporate gatherings on the weekends. I’ve seen seasoned lay leaders lead a small group meeting for the first time and innocently turn it into a mini-service or Sunday school class. This happens as a result of their previous church history, but it is not the essence of what a small group should be.

I believe a small group is six to 15 people who are growing in relationship, discipleship and leadership together. There is a subtle dynamic of teaching that takes place in the group sessions, but it is very limited compared to the Sunday school model of ministry.

Small group meeting: a balanced small group meeting will produce a different output than a class (for more on this see 7 Reasons to Boycott Sunday School).

A valid question to what’s already been presented would be, “Where in the Bible is a Small Group Meeting?” My initial response to that would be that small groups are all throughout the Bible as ancient communities were much more intertwined than 21^st-century America. People were frequently invited into each other’s homes and the pace of life was much slower, thus more relational. The fact that Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi suggests that He used all of the best practices in a small group leader’s tool-kit.

To answer the question more head-on would cause me to turn to Acts 2:42-47:

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers… So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Noticed they met in the temple for corporate worship and teaching but they also met from house to house in smaller groups for community. There were four attributes given which describe what they were devoted to on a regular basis:

Apostles’ Doctrine (the Word of God)
Fellowship
Prayer (includes Worship)
Breaking Bread (Food)

To answer the question given in the title of this article, I want to key-in on the second attribute: fellowship. The Greek word for fellowship is the word koinonia. The word means “community.”

3 Different Aspects of Small Group Meeting Koinonia

1. Koinonia means Sharing and Participation.

This tells me that their community was not merely a classroom setting. There was interaction between believers. It wasn’t a monologue; it was a dialogue involving every person.

Youth Leaders Need These 10 Traits for Ministry Success

By

Jeremy Zach

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October 2, 2023

Youth leaders have a very challenging job. But with good management, leadership, judgment, hard work, and integrity, youth ministry can be rewarding and satisfying. Since entering youth ministry, I’ve collected practical resources for leading effective teen programs. I’ve always gravitated toward seeking better ways to lead.

At Orange, I learned from incredible leaders. I also talked with hundreds of youth pastors about how they run their ministry. I learned so much about healthy, vibrant, sustainable youth ministry.

Two pleasures of my work are learning from youth pastors and sharing what I learn. This post is dedicated to sharing best practices about leading day-to-day youth ministry.

10 Vital Tips for All Youth Leaders

1. Youth leaders must trust and be trustworthy.

First, you need to trust people. Then people need to trust you. Unfortunately, youth pastors in general don’t have a very trustworthy reputation. They often have a fly-by-the-seat mentality and a difficult time trusting others. When you trust people, they tend to trust you in return.

Extending trust is one of the best ways to create trust when it’s absent. If you break trust with others, you might as well leave your current ministry position. Trust is the glue that creates a healthy, impactful ministry. Without trust, nothing you do will work or stick.

2. Youth leaders must be reflective.

Youth pastors need to look at themselves objectively. Analyze where you’ve made mistakes or turned people off. Have you headed down a wrong path? A good, honest look in the mirror produces self-awareness. That’s essential for church leadership.

3. Youth leaders must be highly reliable.

This is simple, yet most youth leaders fall short. Returning calls, emails, showing up (on time), fulfilling commitments, having office hours, managing home life, and staying healthy are all part of being reliable. Reliability proves that a youth pastor has sustainability, trustworthiness, and consistency.

4. Youth leaders must know how to run a meeting.

According to Patrick Lencioni in Death By Meeting, youth workers should hold three types of meetings.

Daily stand-up meetings (five minutes)
Weekly tactical meetings (one to two hours)
Monthly strategic meetings (two to eight hours)

Youth leaders must know how to wrap up meetings and draw conclusions. They need to set the time and agenda for the next meeting. Then they must direct individuals to carry out certain tasks as a result of decisions made at meetings.

The single biggest structural problem facing leaders of meetings is the tendency to throw every type of issue that needs to be discussed into the same meeting, like a bad stew with too many random ingredients. –Patrick Lencioni

5. Youth leaders must know how to lead under senior authority.

Learning how to stay under authority is key. Youth pastors are entrepreneurial and mavericks by nature. So it’s more difficult for them to obey and sit under senior leadership. But submitting isn’t a sign of weakness and conformity. Rather, it’s a demonstration of obeying God’s authoritarian structure for His church.

One of America’s best senior pastors, Andy Stanley, tells youth pastors: You will never be over authority if you don’t know how to be under authority.

Just for Fun Is a Phrase No Church Should Ever Use: Find Out Why

By

Dale Hudson

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October 2, 2023

At church, nothing should ever be just for fun. Notice I didn’t say, “Kids should never have fun at church.” Church and Sunday school should be fun, exciting experiences for kids. We should create such fun, irresistible environments that children wake up their parents on Sundays, excited about going to church.

But nothing should ever be just for fun at church. In other words, every single bit of “fun” we offer children and families should have a purpose.

Why Just for Fun Just Won’t Cut It

Kidmin leaders and teachers have only a small window of time to teach, encourage, and invest in kids at church. With declining attendance rates and shorter services, every single minute we have with kids must matter.

Yes, we should have lots of fun games for kids at church. But every game needs a purpose. The purpose might be setting up discussion questions about the teaching point. The purpose might be helping kids apply the lesson. Or the purpose might be reviewing the lesson.

Yes, we should have lots of fun crafts for kids at church. But again, every craft needs a purpose. The purpose might be giving parents a discussion starter about the lesson for home. It might be setting up the lesson’s key point. Or the purpose might be helping kids memorize a Bible verse.

Yes, we should have fun activities for kids while they wait for class to start. But every activity needs a purpose. The purpose might be making new kids feel welcome and comfortable. It might be helping small-group leaders deepen their relational connections with kids.

The KidMin Bottom Line

Just for fun shouldn’t be the end result of what we do at church. The end result of children’s ministry should be to point kids to Jesus and help them learn more about God’s Word.

Fun is simply a tool we use to accomplish this. So make sure play always has a purpose. Make sure fun always has a focus. And make sure a scope and sequence exists behind your silliness.

Stand by the exit door of your ministry this weekend. Then listen as parents leave with their children. The majority of the time, you’ll hear two questions.

1. Did you have fun today?

2. What did you learn?

If you’re being effective, you’ll hear kids give a clear answer to both questions. Hearing a “yes” to “Did you have fun today?” is a must if you want to see kids engaged at church. But if kids can’t answer question #2, then the “yes” to question #1 is shallow and won’t be life-changing.

Every single hour…every single minute…every single second you have with kids at church should be planned and focused. Nothing should ever be “just for fun” at church. So take a close look at your curriculum. Make sure every part of your lesson has a clear purpose.

If you’re looking for curriculum that’s laser-focused and uses fun to teach kids to love Jesus and follow Him, check out this series. A year’s worth of curriculum gives children a solid faith foundation.

This article about just for fun originally appeared here.

I’ve ‘Never Subscribed to His Version of Biblical Christianity’—Andy Stanley Claims Al Mohler’s Version ‘Is the Problem’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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October 2, 2023

Andy Stanley Al Mohler — (L) Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks at the For The Church Conference sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. The conference was held Tuesday, June 14, the first day of the two-day 2022 SBC Annual Meeting at Anaheim, Calif. (R) Andy Stanley NPPublishing, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

During a sermon on Sunday (Oct. 1), Andy Stanley told the congregation at North Point Community Church that he doesn’t “subscribe” to the “version of biblical Christianity” held by Albert Mohler.

In his message, Stanley said that he was “so disappointed” in the broader evangelical community for its critical response to the “Unconditional Conference,” which was hosted at North Point Community Church this past Thursday and Friday (Sept. 28-29).

Referring to Mohler, Stanley said, “A prominent leader in the Southern Baptist Convention published this article—some of you have seen this—’The Train Is Leaving the Station: Andy Stanley’s Departure From Biblical Christianity.’”

Mohler’s article focused on the Unconditional Conference, which featured Stanley speaking alongside gay affirming leaders, including gay married men Justin Lee and Brian Nietzel—something Mohler said declares a position that is not “consistent with biblical Christianity. This is the side that I believe is not only incompatible with biblical Christianity but cannot coexist in one space with biblical Christianity.”

Stanley admitted that Mohler’s article was the reason he was taking a break from his normally scheduled sermon series. “I have never taken a whole Sunday to respond to criticism from outside our organization,” Stanley said. “In fact, I don’t even respond publicly to criticism that comes from outside of our organization,” because that is what “I’ve taught you for years: [if] you’re doing a great work, don’t come down like Nehemiah.”

“But because of [Mohler’s] influence and how widely his article has circulated in Christendom, and in light of the confusion that this article and others just like it have created for people in our church, our network of churches,” said Stanley, he decided to address it.

Stanley went on to explain why North Point Community Church’s leadership chose not livestream this service. “I’ve made it a habit to never say anything out there that I haven’t said in here first,” Stanley told the congregation. “I wanted you to hear it from me first.”

Speaking to the article in question, Stanley said that Mohler “is actually accusing me of departing from his version of biblical Christianity.”

“I want to go on record and say I have never subscribed to his version of biblical Christianity to begin with, so I’m not leaving anything,” Stanley stated.

Claim: Christians in Federal Government Fear Space Aliens Might Be Demons

By

Stephanie Martin

-

October 2, 2023

Mutual UFO Network — Screenshot from YouTube / @untoldradionetwork

According to a leading UFO researcher, fundamentalist Christians at the Pentagon have stymied funding of extraterrestrial investigations because they fear “the phenomenon that was being witnessed was demons.” Ron James, media relations director for the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), said the U.S. government’s Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program (AATIP) faced opposition from “a huge group of people…not just a little voice in the Pentagon” who believed that.

James said he heard that statement from Luis Elizondo, former head of AATIP. The organization existed from 2007 to 2012 but wasn’t made public until 2017. Its successor, the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force, was the subject of a June 2020 hearing in the U.S. Senate. The governmental organization that researches UFOs is now called the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office and is part of the Defense Department.

Fundamentalist Christians Hamper Study of Aliens, Say Insiders

On the Julian Dorey podcast in July, Mutual UFO Network’s James said he talked to Mars researcher Dr. John Brandenburg, who was “working under classification as a physicist for a long time” and who said “a big contingent” of “extreme fundamental religion is governing what we are investing our energy and our time [in].”

James described interviewing U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn), who pointed to scriptural evidence for UFOs. “His feeling was that if you look in the Bible and you look at Ezekiel building the wheel there’s a lot of people that think that that was a spaceship,” James said of Burchett. The congressman, who has called for Christian revival in America, made headlines after the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, when he said of gun violence: “We’re not going to fix it.”

Last month, astrophysicist and Christian apologist Dr. Hugh Ross said he believes alien encounters are spiritual manifestations, not literal space creatures. On Billy Hallowell’s “Playing With Fire” podcast, Ross said, “As a Christian, as a believer in the inerrancy of the Bible, I do believe in the existence of nonphysical reality. Because the Bible tells us God created two different species of intelligent life—one that’s constrained by the physics of the universe and one that is not.”

In New Film, Mutual UFO Network’s Ron James Describes ‘Biggest Deception’ Ever

Earlier this year, James released the documentary “Accidental Truth: UFO Revelations.” The film, narrated by actor Matthew Modine (“Stranger Things,” “Oppenheimer”), features interviews with scientists and government insiders about the UFO phenomenon.

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