Diversity, Opportunity To Contribute Spurred Ohio Church To Join SBC

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September 23, 2022

Diversity-opportunity-to-contribute — Pastor Derek Williams courtesy of Baptist Press.

MANSFIELD, Ohio (BP) – Mount Calvary Baptist was like a lot of churches that were forced to lean on technology in the spring of 2020.

Staying connected due to the widespread suspension of in-person gatherings from COVID-19 presented a challenge. In order to bring in as many people as possible, Pastor Derek Williams opted to use a phone system for listeners to call in and hear worship services.

“For two years I would come down into the sanctuary by myself and preach from the pulpit with the phone on speaker,” he said.

Preaching to an empty room took some adjusting for many pastors during that time, but at least they had a camera on which to focus. During his sermons Williams had everywhere – yet nowhere – to look.

So he prayed for faces he had never seen, much less known.

“I disciplined myself, based upon the visual of when Jesus went away by Himself to talk to the Lord,” Williams said. “I would visualize the church full of people who were not members at that time, but who would come and be changed by the Gospel, those we were to ministering to. The Spirit was showing me different types of people.”

Yes, he thought it a little strange too. Then a woman he’d never met approached him at a funeral.

“I recognized her as one of those faces and she recognized me from when I preached at other funerals in the city. Later she joined our church and I told her about my vision of her sitting in the sanctuary,” he said.

That woman has become an active church member. The story reflects Williams and Mount Calvary’s decision to become affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and a desire for deeper involvement.

Williams had wanted information on joining the SBC, but COVID disrupted that process. He reached back out earlier this year through the Buckeye Central Erie Baptist Association. That process finished shortly before the church celebrated its 104^th birthday in March.

“First, I went to our board of deacons to tell them about my desire to bring us into affiliation [with the SBC],” he said. “We had some with questions, but they followed my leadership in that decision.”

The credentialing process included a question to Williams – “What can Southern Baptists do for him?”

“I told them I wanted Southern Baptists to acknowledge me and use me,” he said. “Acknowledge me not as an African American pastor, but as a pastor. Don’t put me off in a corner and say, ‘You’re over here.’

“Once you acknowledge me, I’ll do everything I can to help the organization because I believe in the principles … and doctrine of Southern Baptists, the entirety of the Baptist Faith and Message because it’s part of our constitution.”

The church will remain dually aligned with the National Baptist Convention, through which Williams serves as a national instructor for education.

Still Recovering From Maria, Puerto Rico’s Catholics Assess Fiona’s Blow to Church Buildings

By

Kathryn Post

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September 23, 2022

Still-recovering-from-Maria-Puerto- — Buildings are flooded on Salinas Beach after the passing of Hurricane Fiona in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Sept. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

(RNS) – Last month, Catholic Extension, an aid organization that helps poor Catholic communities, including repairing their churches, sent out 55 requests for bids to construction companies, asking them to estimate the price tag for restoring church buildings damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017.

They were the first of hundreds of such “requests for proposals” that would follow, a start to an already lagging process of undoing Maria’s $100 billion in damage.

“Of course Fiona then arrived and hit Puerto Rico,” said Joe Boland, Catholic Extension’s vice president of missions.

Now Catholic Extension has a team evaluating the most recent storm’s impact on Catholic properties in Puerto Rico, where more than 40% of the population lives below the poverty line and 56% identified as Catholic in a 2014 Pew Survey.

“We are just starting to reach out to the priests and communities,” said Manuel Martinez, who heads Catholic Extension’s rebuilding efforts in the island’s six dioceses, in a call from Puerto Rico on Tuesday (Sept. 20). “My suspicion is that there will be three or four heavily affected dioceses,” he said, pointing to heavy flooding in the dioceses of Mayagüez, Ponce and Caguas.

The more than 1,000 church buildings damaged by Maria are considered to be eligible for $400 million in reimbursement from the federal government, according to Boland.

Karixia Ortiz Serrano, lead public affairs specialist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Puerto Rico, told Religion News Service in an email that FEMA has set aside just over $88 million for repairing Catholic properties damaged in both Hurricane Maria in 2017 and recent earthquakes. Boland said that more than 1,000 church buildings could be eligible for as much as $400 million.

The catch, according to Martinez, is that the repairs need to be paid for upfront, with FEMA reimbursements coming later. “We have to go out and spend money we don’t have to have that money be reimbursed,” he said.

“Priests are out there trying to serve their communities with leaky roofs, windows that haven’t been repaired and replaced, paint in the facilities scraped and deteriorated,” said Martinez. “And if you rush out to do repairs, you can put at risk the funds that are supposedly coming to you.”

Participants in Catholic Extension’s Mission Immersion trip to the dioceses of Puerto Rico visit Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Guayanilla on June 15, 2022. The church was heavily damaged by an earthquake in January 2020. Photo by Juan Guajardo, courtesy of Catholic Extension

In addition, he said, Catholic Extension has suffered a series of setbacks that have prevented repairs from proceeding. Initially, many of the dioceses weren’t aware they were eligible to apply for aid. Catholic Extension has been guiding dioceses through the application process, but Martinez said it’s been a convoluted task.

“They keep moving the goal posts, so to speak,” said Martinez, referring to FEMA. “When you think you’ve provided all the documentation you needed to provide, all the proof of ownership, the insurance documentation, somebody down the line revises the project again and requires you to almost go back to square one.”

Martinez added that Hurricane Maria was so catastrophic it caused many of the island’s insurance companies to go belly up, leaving Catholic groups that paid insurance premiums for years with nothing to show.

When asked about the repair delays, FEMA’s Ortiz Serrano pointed to the complex eligibility requirements for private nonprofits, which may receive financial assistance through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program if their facilities were damaged by a major disaster. Once FEMA allocates funds, it’s up to a Puerto Rican government entity to disburse them.

“It is the Applicant’s responsibility to substantiate its claim as eligible. If the Applicant does not provide sufficient documentation to support its claim as eligible, FEMA cannot provide PA funding for the work,” said Ortiz Serrano.

The damaged gymnasium of Colegio Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, in 2019. The school was damaged in 2017 by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Catholic Extension.

Martinez described a chapel in Toa Baja, on the island’s north coast, that’s been closed for five years due to water damage. At a Catholic school in Vega Baja, a few miles away, the preschool building was destroyed, an entire wing remains unusable and the basketball court was ripped apart.

“Unfortunately, parents who want to put kids in Catholic school, they go there and they see the facility and there’s no way you would enroll your kid there,” Martinez said. “So they are losing registration, and it’s a vicious cycle that’s making things worse if these schools don’t get help fast.”

Many of the damaged properties are historic and require exacting preservation. The Cathedral of Old San Juan, at 500 years old the second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere, suffered substantial damage from Hurricane Maria that has yet to be repaired.

To prevent buildings from being redamaged in future storms, Catholic Extension is working with FEMA to install wind-resistant windows, reseal roofs and replace some building materials with storm-resistant options.

The Rev. Enrique Camacho, director of the Catholic charity Caritas de Puerto Rico, said he took shelter from Hurricane Fiona at his parents’ home in Guaynabo, a suburb of the capital, San Juan, as the strong winds and continuous rain battered the island from Saturday afternoon until Monday evening. Guaynabo was spared the worst of the hurricane, which hit the central and southern parts of the island most directly.

Camacho told RNS that Catholic infrastructure is not only a matter of saving church property. It’s critical in Puerto Rico because the Catholic Church is on the front lines of disaster response, providing impromptu shelter and distributing food and aid. Caritas de Puerto Rico, he noted, plans to purchase 50 generators for those still without power in the wake of Fiona.

“That’s where we work the most, helping parishes to be organized. The best way to help the people is with the parishes and the parishioners. They know who is the most in need,” he said.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, in 2020. The churh was heavily damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Photo courtesy of Catholic Extension

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, in 2020. The church was heavily damaged by an earthquake in January 2020. Photo courtesy of Catholic Extension

Boland agreed. “The thing that makes the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico unique is that it’s located everywhere across the island,” he said. “So even in some of those hard-to-reach communities that can often get cut off in moments like this, the Catholic Church is present. They’re oftentimes the first organization to show up.”

It’s precisely the church’s commitment to helping those in need that inspires Martinez to remain committed to seeing Catholic buildings repaired. “This is my land, this is my church. I’m Puerto Rican, I live here, and I’ve been working for church in one way or another for seven years. It’s in my heart, it’s in my blood, it’s in my DNA,” he said.

“The church is a main protagonist of the recovery of an island that has been battered by several disasters in the last several years. And the church’s first focus is still, who needs help?”

This article originally appeared here.

The Number One Issue Many Pastors Face and Must Fix

By

James Scott Jr.

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September 23, 2022

In 2022, there are more pastors who say they’ve seriously considered quitting vocational ministry (42 percent according to the latest research by Barna Group) than at any other time in our lifetime.

There are multiple reasons why so many pastors feel burned out, feed up, or overwhelmed. But beneath all the stress, anxiety, depression, anger, disappointment, and other thoughts and emotional states of many pastors who are ready to quit (or very frustrated in their service in the church) is a major problem that is actually caused by themselves.

Yep, it’s an individual, personal choice they have made, and continue to make, that impacts their living out their call as a church leader more so than all the other things they feel impacted by, like:

The challenges and criticisms over their leadership through the pandemic.
Conflict about politics from church members.
Unparalleled heightened level of church members criticizing church leaders, that “nothing a pastor does” seems to please at least half of their congregation.
The loss of many church members over the last two years, many of whom have not returned to church and don’t intend to …

… and other things.

Beyond what is happening “to” them, many pastors bear the responsibility of inflicting the most damage onto themselves as church leaders by continuing to allow a problem we have talked about ad nauseam for decades.

What is this incredibly destructive issue?

Continuing to complain they don’t have enough personal time in the Word and prayer to adequately care for their personal spiritual needs AND properly fuel them in their service as a spiritual leader.

NOTHING …

Let’s be VERY clear about this:

NOTHING is more important to a pastor — both personally and “professionally” — than their own communing with God. It is from their time and study in God’s Word, and their communing with God in prayer, that they serve from. If that time is inadequate, then responsibilities, expectations, and use of time MUST be reorganized to make this top priority reasonably attainable.

I know that is easier said than done, but regardless of what it takes to accomplish, it needs to be done. For some, just a little more self-discipline will fix this problem. Some are truly maxed out in their time; these ministers need to sit down with the elders of their church and discuss getting help and/or redistributing responsibilities so the pastor can have the time he needs in the Word and prayer. If church leaders and/or the congregation won’t support changes that are necessary, then a minister may need to consider leaving in order to serve somewhere that doesn’t demand spiritual service done from the flesh because a minister does not have the time needed in the Word and prayer to be able to serve as a spiritual leader.

The False Gospel of “You Be You”

By

Clark Forbes

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September 23, 2022

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

You be you. It’s a phrase that has gained popularity in recent years, especially among Generation Z (children born after 1999). One New York Times article explains it as a contemporary version of the encouragement “Just be yourself.” However, unlike “Just be yourself,” you be you is not just a phrase a parent uses to encourage her child on the first day of school. “You do you” has become the slogan for a generation that prides itself on individual expression. It’s a statement of one’s individual right to judge what’s best for himself, regardless of what others say or think.

From the sexual revolution to gender identity to everyday life decisions, “You do you” is the message teenagers are sending to the world today in order to declare that no one can tell them what to do or who they should be.

The Good and the Bad of You Be You

As narcissistic as the You be you phrase may sound, it has sometimes been put to good use, which reminds us that God’s common grace permeates various aspects of culture.[1] The “You do you” ideology has given this generation of youth greater confidence to stand up for what they believe in; it has been used to speak up against injustice; it has encouraged them not to sit by passively watching the world. With the rise of social media and cyber-bullying, some students seem to be standing up for one another and guarding the rights of others. This is a good thing. I’m grateful for the students at my church who are taking a greater interest in what goes on in the world and who are standing up for the rights of others. However, I also worry that this generation has made individual expression an untouchable law.

Youth today may be more atheistic than ever before, but you will also find studies showing they are more open to religion than their Millennial and Gen X predecessors. They are seeking more of life’s answers in religion over science. They are thinking deeply about life, social issues and the spiritual realm. Such openness poses great opportunities for the church to reach young people today. However, if you threaten their desire for individual expression, then be prepared for some backlash. Even among Christian teens, guarding one’s self-expression—whether it be sexual orientation, gender orientation, life paths, or what clothes to wear and music to listen to—is a non-negotiable. The “You do you” mentality has become their Savior: If only more people believed in themselves, expressed themselves and did what they thought was best, then our world would be a better place.

Self at the Center

In light of this generation’s idolatry of self-expression, the church ought to point Gen Z toward the true gospel of Christ by teaching them why the gospel of self-expression is not the way to salvation, let alone happiness. At the heart of today’s message is the desire for freedom to be yourself, to be true and authentic to who you really are. Self-expression, self-love and self-glory are the answers to freedom in life. Teenagers are told to think about themselves more, love themselves more, and express their own individuality.

The problem with furthering our self-glory is that, as we look within, we will only find more brokenness, which then pushes us to justify that brokenness in order to find “freedom” for one’s true self. (This may be one of the reasons our culture is beginning to justify sexual practices that were once forbidden by previous generations). Self-consumption only results in further self-absorption. The answer to the internal struggle in life is not to look further within, where brokenness and sin abound, but to look outward. Instead of being more captivated by ourselves, we must be more captivated by Another, by One Who is far greater and more glorious than we are.

When we are consumed not with our own fading glory, but the infinite glory of God, we will begin to understand what Paul meant when he said, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).

Paul’s greatest self-expression was not found by being more true to himself or by declaring “You do you” to his disciples, but rather in submitting himself to Christ Who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death” (Philippians 2:8). Paul was willing to suffer “the loss of all things” in order to “gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). The truly free person is not the one who is adamant about self-expression; the truly free person is the one who willingly submits to self-denial for the sake of gaining Christ. Of course, we can agree with our culture when it affirms the worth of each individual. However, self-expression is not the true path to freedom. The gospel points us to true freedom, and this freedom is found when we are consumed with worshipping God, not when we are so consumed with worshipping ourselves.

True Fulfillment

Although it sounds strange to the world, fulfillment is not found when we fully express who we are naturally according to our worldly, sinful, broken selves. Fulfillment comes when we realize that no amount of self-expression can cover up our brokenness and that this brokenness and sin is covered in Christ. Self-expression is most fulfilling, not when we live out our human freedoms in the world, but when we live out our heavenly freedoms in Christ (Philippians 3:20).

We may feel that we are not presently who we ought to be, but we know that upon our Savior’s return we will fully become who we ought to be (1 John 3:2). We will be changed in a moment’s notice (1 Corinthians 15:52) and obtain the full glory of who God intends us to be (Romans 8:18–19, 29–30).

[1]Bruce Ashford, Theology and Practice of Mission (Nashville: Broadman &Holman, 2011), 111-12: “human culture [both as a work of human hands and a world in which humans live] is part of the physical and material world, which is part of God’s creation and therefore is not inherently bad.”

This article aboutt You be you originally appeared on Radical.net.

Is God a Bully? (Some People Think So)

By

Jarrid Wilson

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September 23, 2022

Is God a bully? God isn’t out to get you, nor is he relentlessly searching for a reason to condemn you. God is constantly seeking for opportunities to show you love and grace. He’s anything but the bully people make him out to be.

Is God a Bully?

Does the Bible talk about God’s wrath? Yes. But does this mean God is a wrathful being looking to seek and destroy anything that comes in his way? Nope. God, although disciplinary when needed, is a loving and caring Lord. The Bible is full of examples that showcase this truth. So, although God can be tough when needed, we must also understand that God’s grace is a welcoming embrace and his love is a comforting environment.

God isn’t a bully, yet so many people use “turn or burn” tactics to scare people into a relationship with him. It’s not biblical, and I believe God is shaking his head at the detrimental ways being used on behalf of his name. When people do this, they are portraying God to be someone he’s not, and for centuries we’ve seen individuals use God’s name as a tool to bully those that differ from them. Although God does have some very clear lines as to what is biblical and what isn’t, this doesn’t mean we are to showcase our beliefs in a hateful or prejudicial way. God isn’t a bully.

God Is Love

Love is that thing that everyone talks about but very few will ever truly put into action. It’s the fuel that we are called to live by, and it’s the very reason Jesus’ body was brutally broken upon that splintered tower of a cross. It’s unbeatable, unrestricted and hands down one of the greatest attributes of Jesus that anyone could ever harness. Love will transform the way you see life, and it will radically invade the way you see others. God showed us love by sending his one and only Son, Jesus (John 3:16). He is the definition of love itself.

“But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” —1 John 4:8

He First Loved Us

God created the heavens and the earth, and then loved us enough to create us in His own image. He didn’t have to do this but he did, and that’s what is so intrinsically beautiful about our existence. We were all made unique, for a purpose and destined to share his love with those we come across. We love because God first loved us. We love because God is love, and that love is the oxygen that fuels our soul.

Is God a bully? NO! God isn’t a bully. God is love.

Is Your Streamed Worship Complying with Church Copyright Laws?

By

Jessica Lea

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September 23, 2022

Even after the COVID-19 pandemic churches are continuing in livestreaming services. But do those services comply with church copyright laws? In a webinar, worship consultant Kenny Lamm explained what churches need to know to ensure their online worship services are legal.

“Many churches break the law on a daily basis,” said Lamm, who is the senior consultant for worship and music for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. “They make illegal copies of music or distribute illegal audio files.”

But many church leaders are clearly concerned about whether or not they are following church copyright laws. “I’m overwhelmed by the number of people that have expressed interest in this topic,” said Lamm, observing that the question of what copyright licenses are necessary can seem quite “muddy.”

Why Do Church Copyright Laws Matter?

Some people think church copyright laws are irrelevant and say, “As long as it’s for the Lord’s work, it should be okay.” Lamm disagrees and pointed to the following passages from Scripture to support his position: Exodus 20:15, Romans 13:1-2, and Luke 20:25.

He compared using copyrighted music without permission to asking to borrow a friend’s truck and then tampering with it. Just as you would never use your friend’s vehicle for anything other than what you asked permission for, no one has the right to use someone else’s artistic work without the creator’s permission.

Before he began, Lamm emphasized that he is not a lawyer. He has, however, been talking to experts and gathering a lot of helpful information on the topic of church copyright licenses.

There are five types of copyright licenses that are relevant to church leaders:

Print License, which allows you to print lyrics, music, or a combination of the two
Mechanical License, which allows you to make and distribute audio recording (applies to a specific song, not recordings of it)
Video Synchronization License, which allows you to make copies of a song in a video (applies to livestreaming and to specific songs, not recordings)
Master Recording License, which allows you to use a pre-existing recording (covers recordings, not original compositions)
Public Performance License, which allows you to perform music in a public gathering

For example, said Lamm, you need a Master Recording License in order to use backing tracks. To use Shane & Shane’s recording of “His Mercy Is More,” you would need a Master Recording License and a Video Synchronization License.

Copyright law does provide something called the “Religious Service Exemption,” which allows “performance of a nondramatic literary or musical work or of a dramatico-musical work of a religious nature, or display of a work, in the course of services at a place of worship or other religious assembly.” But it is important to note that this exemption only applies to copyrighted work played during a worship service. It does not apply, for example, to background music playing while people are fellowshipping in a foyer.

Volunteer Role Descriptions: Top 10 Behind-the-Scenes KidMin Jobs

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ChildrensMinistry.com

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September 22, 2022

What do volunteer role descriptions look like in your church’s children’s ministry program? When you picture (and recruit) kidmin volunteers, you may see teachers, worship leaders, and classroom helpers. These frontline roles shine Jesus’ light in a big and bright way, after all, and they’re amazing!

But don’t miss seeing the steady light that shines from supporting volunteer roles, too. When you delegate behind-the-scenes and even at-home responsibilities, your church’s ministry to kids and families will really shine! So get creative with volunteer role descriptions in your program.

As you invite people to serve on your team, consider these top 10 volunteer role descriptions.

10 Volunteer Role Descriptions for Children’s Ministry

1. Spreadsheet Specialists

Some people love spreadsheets, and others really love spreadsheets. Find those people! They’ll lead the way when it comes to budgets, event registrations, VBS crew assignments, and weekly Sunday school attendance tracking.

From the comfort of their own homes, these volunteers’ attention to detail and administrative skills will really shine! Ask them to help on an ongoing basis, or for specific special events.

2. Organizing Authorities

Let’s face it. We children’s ministry leaders know how to make a mess. And we’re not always good at cleaning up after ourselves. Find an organizational whiz who delights in plastic bins, label makers, and shelving systems. When you find these dear people, trust their system. Follow their rules. Thank them profusely and buy them lattes often.

Volunteers in this role need to have flexible schedules that allow them to clean up and re-organize on a weekly basis.

3. Shopping Super Stars

Do you know people who can always find the best deals? Who cut coupons and sniff out clearance sales? Ask them to use their sleuthing skills for your children’s ministry! Hand over your shopping lists and a budget, and these behind-the-scenes shoppers will stock your children’s ministry with all kinds of goodies.

From snacks to supply closet items to paper supplies, these superstars will happily push carts through stores or add items to online carts from the comfort of home.

4. Climate Controllers

If you’ve ever arrived at your church building early, you’ll see why this often-overlooked role is so important! This faithful volunteer assesses room temperatures, sets and checks thermostats, turns on lights, and knows how each room should be set up to welcome its kids and leaders. That way, if you’re running late, out of town, or simply can’t be everywhere at once, you’ll be confident that your children’s ministry environment is ready and waiting to welcome families—all thanks to this selfless servant!

Consider church members who tend to be early arrivers, and find someone who is willing to commit to this regular behind-the-scenes role. Be sure to communicate well with these volunteers so they know what to look for in each space every week.

5. Behind-the-Scenes Postcard Pros

Even in this digital age, kids still LOVE to get snail mail. Receiving a birthday greeting at home is such a simple but powerful way to show kids in your church that they are loved by God—and their church family! So, find a volunteer who delights in keeping track of each child’s birthday and sending a special greeting. These volunteers could also send follow up postcards to first-time visitors or get-well cards to kids who are under the weather.

Supply these volunteers with stamps and cards, and they can work from home and establish a weekly card sending rhythm. Be sure to give them ideas of what to write in the cards and access to mailing addresses.

How to Disciple a Teenager Who Puts Up Resistance to Faith

By

Andy Blanks

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September 22, 2022

How to disciple a teenager is one of the most frequent questions I hear. All youth leaders encounter students who, despite our best efforts, simply don’t seem interested in growing their faith. These kids show up. They hang out. But they don’t seem willing or interested in taking their faith to the next level.

So, you want to know how to disciple a teenager who puts up resistance? Want to know how to lead these students to faith growth? Want to disciple teenagers who don’t want to be discipled?

Unfortunately, we can’t.

Really, we can’t! I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve learned a lot about people and about faith development. Plus, I’ve had to unlearn and relearn a lot. Culture may change. Ministry philosophy may change. But one unchanging truth is this: No matter how badly we may want to see someone grow in their faith, if they don’t want to grow, they won’t.

No matter how committed we are, no matter how solid our ministry approach is, the individual on the other end has to want to become more like Christ. And until that happens, we won’t see a lot of fruit.

If this message seems depressing, it shouldn’t. If it makes you want to give up, don’t let it. The situation isn’t hopeless! Read on for three important tips.

How to Disciple a Teenager

The fact is, teenagers are selfish sinners. The students we disciple have their hearts bent toward themselves. (Newsflash: We are sinners too. My heart is naturally as selfishly inclined as anyone’s.) The journey toward God is a fight that goes against our sin natures. It is a credit to God’s grace and the Spirit’s power that anyone ever takes the first step toward following Christ.

Discipleship is an uphill battle. It’s not easy. And honestly, if it were, it would be boring. Part of the reward is in watching students struggle and seeing the moment when it takes.

So what do we do? Is there any method for how to disciple a teenager who resists faith? Can we do anything? Yes, I think we can.

1. Don’t give up.

Never stop trying, as difficult and as exhausting as it can be. A clock is ticking inside every teenager who seems so unwilling to grow. God is working in his or her life. We can’t see when that moment occurs, but God can. I want to be there when it happens. So do you.

Maine OKs 1st Religious School for Tuition Reimbursement

By

David Sharp

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September 22, 2022

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine is ready to fund tuition for some religious school students for the first time since a Supreme Court ruling in June ordered the state to treat those schools the same as other private schools regarding tuition reimbursement.

Cheverus High School, a Jesuit college preparatory school in Portland, was the only religious school to apply for participation in the state’s tuition reimbursement plan and its application was approved by the state.

Carroll Conley, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, said he’s encouraged by the first tuition reimbursements for a religious school since the 1980s in Maine.

“We’re hopeful and encouraged that (others) might be able to find a path to path to participate” next year, he said.

There was no immediate comment from Cheverus, which is a Roman Catholic school but is not governed by the Diocese of Portland.

There were several lawsuits over the years since the state ended tuition reimbursements to religious school before the Supreme Court ruled that Maine can’t exclude religious schools from a program that offers tuition for private education in towns where there are no public high schools.

The Supreme Court‘s 6-3 decision was the latest in a line of rulings by the court that have favored religion-based discrimination claims. It could fuel a renewed push for school choice programs in a number of states that have so far not directed taxpayer money to private, religious education.

Despite the victory, religious schools are taking a cautious approach after Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said all schools accepting public funds must abide by the Maine Human Rights Act.

The act bans discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability. That would include accepting gay and transgender teachers and students, which could conflict with some religious school’s beliefs.

In the Maine case that led to high court’s ruling, parents sued in federal court to be able to use state aid to send their children to Christian schools in Bangor and Waterville. The two schools in question, Temple Academy in Waterville and Bangor Christian Schools, have policies that discriminate on a basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, Frey has said.

This article originally appeared on APNews.com.

March for Martyrs Plans DC Rally With Enes Freedom To Focus On Religious Persecution

By

Adelle M Banks

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September 22, 2022

March for Martyrs — People participate in March for the Martyrs 2021 in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy For the Martyrs

(RNS) — Advocates for religious freedom, including basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom, are planning to gather on the National Mall this weekend to draw attention to the plight of persecuted Christians across the globe.

The March for the Martyrs is set to be held Saturday (Sept. 24) for the third year in row with a particular focus on China, said Gia Chacón, founder of the nonprofit For the Martyrs.

Other expected speakers include Open Doors USA CEO David Curry and Andrew Brunson, a U.S. minister who survived two years of political imprisonment in Turkey.

Freedom, a Muslim man, has been outspoken about human rights issues in his native Turkey and in other places across the globe.

Including a speaker with Freedom’s religious background sends a message about the need to build bridges between Christians and Muslims, Chacón told Religion News Service in an email.

“Having a voice like Enes Kanter Freedom speaking up for the persecuted Church also sends a message of peace and unity to Muslims both in the United States and abroad,” she said.

Freedom, who legally added his new last name when he became a U.S. citizen last year, co-wrote a Sept. 14 commentary in which he decried those who remain silent about worldwide oppression.

“From Uyghur Muslims in China who are imprisoned and forced into concentration camps to Christian schoolgirls murdered in public in Nigeria, all people of all faiths are entitled to the same rights, dignity and respect,” he wrote in the Fox News opinion piece with Tina Ramirez, a former policy adviser for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Ye’s Moses Statement and New Private Christian School Provoke Speculation

By

Jessica Lea

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September 22, 2022

donda academy — Kanye West performing atop a mountain at the Verizon Center on November 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. on The Yeezus Tour. Peter Hutchins from DC, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, compared himself to the Israelite leader, Moses, in an Instagram story Sunday. The rapper and fashion icon’s cryptic statement came after he deleted all of his posts on the social media platform—and as many are speculating about Donda Academy, the private Christian school he has opened in California.

“No one asked Moses how much he slept,” said Ye in a post that had white text on a plain black background.

It is unclear what Ye meant by this statement, although some have concluded that the rapper, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, is having trouble sleeping. According to Vogue, after Ye first revealed his diagnosis in 2016, he later said that he actually had a sleeping disorder, but then admitted again to being bipolar.

“Ye about to get lost in the wilderness with a bunch of people for 40 years,” said one Reddit user.

“I think this means that he isn’t sleeping because he’s in a manic episode,” said another, “and people are asking him how much he has slept because he’s acting erratic…and this is his best response.”

Donda Academy and Ye’s Christian Journey

This is not the first time Ye has compared himself to Moses. In a 2020 tweet, he said, “I need to see everybody’s contracts at Universal and Sony. I’m not gonna watch my people be enslaved. I’m putting my life on the line for my people. The music industry and the NBA are modern day slave ships. I’m the new Moses.”

I need to see everybody’s contracts at Universal and Sony

I’m not gonna watch my people be enslaved

I’m putting my life on the line for my people

The music industry and the NBA are modern day slave ships

I’m the new Moses

— ye (@kanyewest) September 15, 2020

My Christian Faith and Polyamory Don’t Conflict, Writer Insists

By

Stephanie Martin

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September 22, 2022

Editor’s note: Our coverage of the topic of polyamory is not an endorsement of it. One of our stated goals is to inform the church, and we believe this article serves that purpose.

In a recent article on Insider.com, self-described “dirtbag Christian” Jennifer Martin defends her polyamorous lifestyle as being compatible with her faith. Both identities are important to her, she writes, despite Christianity’s “many, many flaws.”

Martin was raised in a “strict Pentecostal, conservative household” and realized at a young age her “ability to develop attraction to multiple people simultaneously.” At 20, she married a man, and they had two children. As their “progressive ideologies” developed, Martin and her husband joined a United Church of Christ congregation. “The denomination changed my life,” she writes, calling it “the type of Christianity I had always longed for.”

Before the pandemic, a male partner of Martin’s moved into the family home. Now he’s a type of third parent, and Martin alternates sharing beds with him and her husband. “We are not a throuple,” she notes, because the two men don’t date each other. But all three people have other dating partners.

Jennifer Martin: ‘Both My Faith and My Polyamory Are Important to Me’

Jennifer Martin acknowledges that some people don’t understand how Christianity and polyamory can co-exist. But she insists there’s no conflict. “I’m not a Biblical literalist, for one thing,” she writes. “There is nothing about the concept of a ‘Biblical marriage’ that appeals to me.” Despite Scripture having some instances of polygamy, Martin says, it’s “still patriarchal and has no benefit for people in modern relationships.”

When asked why she doesn’t become agnostic or atheist, Martin replies that she still believes in God and in Jesus’ teachings and values. She attends worship weekly, prays, and reads the Bible. “Both my faith and my polyamory are important to me,” she writes, adding that for her, the two have never been “at odds.”

In an email to Church Leaders, Martin denies any conflicts between Jesus’ teachings and her lifestyle. “I see a lot of conflicts in how people support greed and wealth in their politics and in the teachings of Jesus Christ, however,” she says. “I believe Jesus was a radical who fought oppression, challenged the status quo, defended the marginalized, and was executed by a corrupt empire for doing those things. I think the Christian obsession with sex-based ‘sins’ is uniquely rooted in patriarchal and harmful theology.”

Not ‘A Real Christian’?

People often tell Jennifer Martin she’s “not a real Christian,” and sometimes other progressive Christians challenge her “nonmonogamy.” Fellow polyamorists have warned Martin that her faith is “inherently harmful.” She understands the “anger toward Christianity,” she says, because she has “a lot of it myself.”

Podcast Special: Paul Miller on Living in the Tension Between Pastors, Patriots, and Politics

By

Jason Daye

-

September 22, 2022

As pastors and ministry leaders, how do we engage in the political arena in a way that is productive, honors God, and aligns with the way of Jesus? In this conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye is joined by Dr. Paul Miller. Paul is a devoted Christ-follower, a veteran who has served our country in a variety of capacities. He’s currently a professor at Georgetown University. He’s written several books, including The Religion of American Greatness. Together they explore patriotism, Christian Nationalism, politics in general, and what it looks like to minister in the midst of all these tensions in which we find ourselves today.

FrontStage BackStage Podcast Guest Dr. Paul Miller

View the entire podcast here.

Learn More:

Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed. Find your Weekly Toolkit here… Love well, Live well, Lead well!

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Inspired by Pope Francis, Graffiti Artist Brings Pop Message to Young People in Assisi

By

Claire Giangrave

-

September 22, 2022

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis’ economic vision meets graffiti art in a new show by Roman artist Mauro Pallotta, or Maupal, who hopes his work will inspire the thousands of young adults gathering in Assisi this week as they imagine a new kind of global economy.

The artist’s nine most influential works are on exhibit in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi until Nov. 6, along with a never-before-seen painting. The exhibition is called “Papale Papale,” a play on the Italian words meaning “papal” and “to state things very clearly.”

Pallotta’s graffiti art aims to bring the complexity of Catholic teaching to regular people on the streets.

“I try to represent in a graphic way the magisterium of Pope Francis by using designs that are understandable to adolescents,” said Pallotta in an interview with Religion News Service. “I use a simple and clear message to illustrate the main steps and objectives of Pope Francis.”

Pallotta’s art is on display in the small town as more than 1,000 young adults from all over the world descend on Assisi, the birthplace of Pope Francis’ namesake saint known for his dedication to the poor, peace and creation, for The Economy of Francesco meeting from Thursday through Saturday (Sept. 22-24). The gathering, which aims to promote a more inclusive, sustainable and equality-based economy, will convene “young economic scholars, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, from more than 100 countries,” according to the event’s website.

After two days of workshops, roundtable discussions and networking, attendees will have a chance to hear from Pope Francis, who will be attending the event and delivering a speech on Saturday, followed by a reading and signing of The Economy of Francesco pact, which includes a series of personal commitments “and an appeal to citizens, institutions, and companies all over the world,” according to the EOF site.

The thought of young people working with an 85-year-old pontiff to challenge deeply rooted economic models may seem laughable to some, but Pallotta said he hopes his artwork will remind participants that it’s often the smallest and most humble who can change the world.

“It’s especially the simple people who do the greatest and most complicated things,” he said.

His first portrait of Pope Francis, “Super Pope,” launched the artist to international stardom in 2014 and remains his favorite to this day. “Even if that image shows a superhero,” he said, referring to the image depicting the pope soaring through the air with his white mantle, “he is actually a very humble and simple superhero.”

“He’s wearing glasses, has a bit of a belly, and his briefcase containing the Christian values that he always brings with him actually has a scarf emerging of his favorite soccer team in Buenos Aires,” he said.

Pallotta was born and raised in and around the Vatican and when Francis was elected in 2013, Pallotta said he immediately resonated with the new pope, who became something of a muse for him. “The greatest inspiration was his tremendous physical similarity with my grandfather who raised me,” he said.

King Charles Is Interpreting ‘Defender of the Faith’ for a New Britain

By

Catherine Pepinster

-

September 22, 2022

king_charles — King Charles III walks behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II being pulled past Buckingham Palace after her funeral service at Westminster Abbey in central London, Sept. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

LONDON (RNS) — An estimated 4 billion people worldwide were predicted to watch the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on television and online, with Presidents Joe Biden of the U.S. and Emmanuel Macron of France and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attending the obsequies in London’s Westminster Abbey in person. The medieval abbey, the sublime music and military processions were all a visual and aural feast, but the event was at its heart a Christian ceremony, with the coffin placed in front of the altar and presided over by robed clergymen.

The queen’s funeral, in this sense, was not entirely representative of Britain’s increasingly secular population. Even its believers are less likely to be Christian than at the start of Elizabeth’s reign, with 2.7 million Muslims, 800,000 Hindus and a half-million Sikhs, among many other faiths. Christians, who once consisted mostly of various Protestants — chiefly members of the Church of England, the Church of Scotland and the Church in Wales — and Roman Catholics, have been joined by a growing Pentecostal movement and other evangelical churches, according to the BBC.

There is nothing like a royal wedding or funeral to remind us that the Church of England remains the official, established church, with the monarch as its Supreme Governor, and since Elizabeth’s death on Sept. 8, we’ve seen it in the ascendant. Yet there are also signs that the late monarch, now-King Charles III and the Church of England have recognized that the time has come to adjust.

In a landmark speech in 2012 at Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the queen said of the Church of England that “Its role is not to defend Anglicanism to the exclusion of other religions. Instead, the Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country.”

She credited the established church with having done so already. “Gently and assuredly, the Church of England has created an environment for other faith communities and indeed people of no faith to live freely,” she said.

The new king has endorsed those words as recently as Sept. 9, the night after his mother died, in his first televised address to the British nation as its king. “The role and the duties of Monarchy also remain,” he said, “as does the Sovereign’s particular relationship and responsibility towards the Church of England — the Church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted.”

But he continued, ”In the course of the last 70 years we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many faiths.”

Nearly 30 years ago, as prince of Wales, Charles articulated concern about other faiths and Christian denominations in modern Britain not feeling included, and controversially suggested that when he became king he should be called Defender of Faiths — plural— rather than the title Defender of the Faith bestowed on Henry VIII by the pope in 1521 and used by England’s monarchs since.

Southern Baptists Cut Ties With LGBTQ-Friendly Church

By

Peter Smith

-

September 22, 2022

sbc — FILE - A cross and Bible sculpture stand outside the Southern Baptist Convention headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., May 24, 2022. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, the Southern Baptists' top administrative body voted to cut ties with two congregations: an LGBTQ-friendly church in North Carolina that had itself quit the denomination decades earlier and a New Jersey congregation it cited for “alleged discriminatory behavior.” (AP Photo/Holly Meyer, File)

The Southern Baptist Convention’s top administrative body voted to cut ties with two congregations on Tuesday — an LGBTQ-friendly church in North Carolina that had itself quit the denomination decades ago and a New Jersey congregation it cited for “alleged discriminatory behavior.”

The votes of the Executive Committee came at the end of a two-day meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, even as the committee copes with a Department of Justice investigation. The federal-level scrutiny follows a blistering report by a consultant earlier this year into sexual abuse in Southern Baptist settings and mistreatment of survivors by past Executive Committee officials.

The committee on Tuesday approved a statement that College Park Baptist Church of Greensboro, North Carolina, was not in “friendly cooperation” due to its “open affirmation, approval and endorsement of homosexual behavior,” which conflicts with the denomination’s theological conservative positions.

In fact, College Park had voted in 1999 to leave the denomination, and its website makes a point of stating it’s not a member of the Southern Baptist Convention but rather of more progressive Baptist bodies.

It wasn’t immediately clear why the Executive Committee decided now to put the matter to a vote. But Executive Committee Chairman Jared Wellman said afterward that the convention still had the congregation on its rolls until now.

On its website, the church describes itself as an “LGBTQIA Affirming Baptist Church” and says it “fully welcomes and affirms all persons without distinction regarding race, ethnicity, national origin, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other human category.”

The committee, in a separate vote, declared that Amazing Grace Community Church of Franklinville, New Jersey, was no longer in friendly cooperation. It cited its “lack of cooperation … to resolve concerns regarding alleged discriminatory behavior.”

Requests for comment from both congregations via phone and email were not immediately returned.

Since Baptist congregations are self-governing, the denomination can’t force them to follow their policies, but it can effectively expel them by declaring them not in “friendly cooperation” if they don’t conform to denominational stances in particular areas, such as for pro-LGBTQ polices, alleged support for racism or alleged failure in responding adequately to child sexual abuse, such as employing offenders as pastors.

There could be more congregations in the last category in the pipeline.

The committee learned that more than 200 referrals had been made to a newly established hotline about alleged mishandling of abuse cases by SBC churches or organizations.

That news came from the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force — created after the release of consultant Guidepost Solutions’ scathing report earlier this year into the sexual abuse of children in SBC settings and the mistreatment of survivors by the Executive Committee.

Mike Keahbone, vice chair of the task force, said it is working to hire personnel to receive and investigate reports of abuse and of mishandling abuse in Southern Baptist circles.

The convention said in August that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the convention. The DOJ didn’t confirm the report, but the convention suggested in a statement that it related to sexual abuse. On Tuesday, the committee voted to transfer $500,000 from investments to its operating budget, in part to respond to that investigation.

Ohio Baptists Give $500,000 From Camp Sale Proceeds to Cooperative Program

By

Timothy Cockes

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September 22, 2022

Ohio-Baptists-give-500-000-from-camp-sale-proceeds-to-Cooperative-Program-Baptist-Press — SBC EC Interim President and CEO Willie McLaurin (right) embraces Southern Baptist Convention of Ohio Executive Director Jeremy Westbrook Tuesday (Sept. 20) after Westbrook presented a check for $500,000 to McLaurin to be put toward the Cooperative Program. (Baptist Press photo by Brandon Porter)

NASHVILLE (BP) – The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio (SCBO) donated $500,000 toward the Cooperative Program from proceeds of the recent sale of its Seneca Lake campground property.

Jeremy Westbrook, SCBO executive director-treasurer, made the announcement during Monday night’s (Sept. 19) SBC Executive Committee plenary session.

During his presentation, Westbrook said motivation for the donation came from the impact the Cooperative Program made on his own life and ministry.

“In 2008 I left my hometown of Memphis, Tenn., to plant a church outside of Columbus, Ohio, and when I did, the Cooperative Program was there for me,” Westbrook said.

“In 2009, when I went to the Billy Graham School at Southern Seminary to earn my doctorate, the Cooperative Program was there for me. Then last year in 2021 when I returned back to Ohio to begin my new role as the executive director, I knew that it was now my turn to be there for the Cooperative Program. For Jesus said to whom much is given, much is required.”

Seneca Lake in a campground property in Senecaville, Ohio, that the SCBO had used for ministry purposes such as camps and retreats for church staff.

Westbrook explained that when he took over as executive director, he learned the convention was not doing well financially, and maintenance of the camp property was no longer sustainable.

The convention sold the property this past April to a private buyer for $2.1 million dollars, and choose to divide up the profit a number of ways.

Some of the money was put into the convention’s operating reserves (enough to cover a few months), some went to a church in the convention church that was paying for the renovation of a cabin on the camp property and some will go toward expenses to keep mineral rights (oil and natural gas) on the property.

Westbrook said the convention leadership wanted to use the remaining money to invest in the next generation, which was the purpose of the campground property to begin with.

Expansive Pro-life Legislation Introduced in House, Senate

By

Tom Strode

-

September 22, 2022

WASHINGTON (BP) – New legislation to help support pregnant women, young mothers and their children in a post-Roe America has gained congressional introduction.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, introduced a legislative package titled the Providing for Life Act Sept. 15 in each member’s respective house of Congress.

The legislation’s proposals include expansion of the Child Tax Credit, increased tax relief for adoptive parents, authorization of new parents to pull forward their Social Security benefits for paid parental leave, incentives for states to require fathers to pay half of a mother’s medical costs during pregnancy, protection of the rights of pregnant college students and permission for pregnancy resource centers to receive federal funding.

The legislative package followed in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling in a Mississippi case that reversed Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The high court’s opinion returned abortion policy to the states. Some states have outlawed most or all abortions, while others have promoted themselves as abortion destinations.

“America’s pro-abortion legal regime may be over, but our work is far from finished,” Rubio said in introducing the package. “Being truly pro-life requires an understanding of the pain and struggle, arising from serious difficulties and responsibilities motherhood entails, which lead a woman to abort her baby. As we take steps to protect the unborn, we have a duty to address those challenges.”

Pro-life and pro-family advocates endorsed the proposals.

“At this year’s annual meeting, our convention of churches affirmed our desire to ‘eliminate any perceived need for the horror of abortion,’” Southern Baptist public policy specialist Hannah Daniel said of a resolution approved by messengers to the convention in June.

The Providing for Life Act “contains a number of provisions consistent with that call,” said Daniel, policy manager for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). “It should be seen as a step in the right direction that lawmakers are putting forth proposals that are truly pro-mother and pro-family.

“The ERLC urges all of our nation’s leaders to continue efforts like this that seek to wrap around women and families and resource them to make life-affirming decisions,” she said in written comments for Baptist Press.

5 Mirages That Will Lead You Straight Into Having an Affair

By

Mark Atteberry

-

September 22, 2022

Protect your marriage by avoiding these five mirages that will lead you straight into having an affair.

[NOTE: This article is an excerpt from The Solomon Seduction: What You Can Learn From the Wisest Fool in the Bible by Pastor Mark Atteberry.]

King Solomon is known for many things, but let’s not kid ourselves; it’s the women that blow our minds.

The man had a mind-boggling 700 wives and 300 concubines. I’m pretty sure that no one who reads this article is ever going to have a thousand wives and mistresses, but many will be tangled up in an illicit romantic relationship, or at least heading in that direction.

Consider these five mirages and take them as a dire warning for having an affair. They are at the heart of every church leader’s descent into sexual sin.

5 Mirages That Will Lead You Straight Into Having an Affair

Mirage #1: That which seems harmless is actually dangerous and will lead to having an affair.

What seems harmless? Flirting.

Married people do it all the time, sometimes with body language, sometimes with seemingly casual, yet not-so-innocent touches, sometimes with suggestive comments and sometimes with just a look.

Challenge a flirtatious person and you’ll likely be laughed out of the room. And yet, every illicit sexual affair in the history of the world started with flirting.

I can’t think of anything a person can do that has more danger wrapped up in it than flirting with someone who is “off limits.”

Mirage #2: That which seems perfect is deeply flawed and will lead to having an affair.

What seems perfect?

The other woman, of course.

Your wife rolls her eyes at your jokes, while the other woman practically falls down laughing.

Your wife obsesses over the kids and the bills and the laundry, while the other woman is only interested in you.

Your wife wears frumpy clothes, while the other woman is always dressed to the nines and smells like a field of lilacs.

But it’s all an illusion.

If the other woman was really perfect, she wouldn’t be having an affair with a married man.

4 Reasons My Teenage Daughter Doesn’t Have a Cell Phone

By

Melissa Edgington

-

September 22, 2022

“My daughter is thirteen years old, and she doesn’t have a cell phone.” I said those words from the platform at a women’s event and was surprised at the sharp intake of breath all over the room. I am not naive enough to think that my daughter isn’t a bit of an anomaly. I know that most kids her age are already well versed in the ways of social media, texting, and the big world that a cell phone provides. I know that when she leaves school for the day, dozens of conversations are happening via Instagram, Snapchat, and text that she isn’t privvy to and that she doesn’t ever learn about, except when they are hinted at at the lunch table, where she simply smiles and nods even though she is probably somewhat lost as to what ideas transpired between her friends at ten o’clock the night before.

But, it does surprise me to learn that many parents feel that they don’t have the option to hold off on providing a cell phone for their kids. The day that I made my shocking confession, the attitude of the fellow moms in the room seemed to be: She doesn’t have a cell phone? You can DO that?

Why yes, you can. And I would argue that in most cases you should.

Now, before you start thinking that our children are living in the dark ages, we do have electricity and running water. And our two older kids have iPods. They don’t have internet access or texting privileges with their friends, but they are allowed to FaceTime and text their grandparents and cousins. They play games on their iPods and make movies and learn to take and edit photos and generally get a lot of fun benefits of technology through their devices. I’m not anti-technology. But, I am a believer in the benefits of sheltering my kids from social media and unfettered internet access. Yes, I said sheltering. Contrary to popular opinion, kids do need sheltering from some things.

A few days ago a couple of moms with younger kids asked me about our oldest’s cell phone, and when I told them that she doesn’t have one they said, “We were hoping you could tell us how you navigate the whole technology and social media world with your kids.” So, this isn’t really for the parents whose kids already have a phone, although I hope that it will help you think through some of the issues associated with phone use. It’s for those of you who are wondering how you are going to approach this subject with your kids when they get older. Essentially, I’m going to explain some reasons that Chad and I have decided to delay our kids’ access to phones.

4 Reasons My Teenage Daughter Doesn’t Have a Cell Phone

1. The Internet is a huge world full of strangers who can step into your home without your invitation.

Many times we have a false sense of security about the internet. We think of it as a tool when the reality is that it is an enormous collection of people that we do not know. I would never encourage my kids to go find a stranger at the grocery store and hang out in a private room with him, but in many cases this is what the internet leads our kids to do. It can be a very dangerous place where predators and people with bad intentions can learn all kinds of information about our kids. It can be a place where people we don’t know can have tremendous influence over our kids’ thinking and feelings.

When we present phones to our kids, we expect them to try to navigate this complicated online world before they have the cognitive abilities to make sound decisions. Studies show that their brains are literally underdeveloped in terms of decision-making until they are around age 25. So, imagine how inept a fifth or sixth grader’s brain is at understanding how to react to the various situations that could arise in the huge internet world filled with strangers.

2. The Internet is a big world of people your child knows who can step into your home without your invitation.

When you are a middle schooler, no world seems bigger than the one you’re living through in the seventh or eighth grade. Phones allow that world to have access to kids 24 hours a day. I like the fact that my home is a sanctuary for my kids. The only kids allowed within these walls are those kids that I invite, and that is important for the mental and emotional health of my children.

If they were to have a terrible problem with someone at school, if they had an issue with a bully or a group of “friends” who has suddenly turned on them, if something embarrassing were to happen at school that day, my kids know that when they walk to my car as the bell rings, they are free from all of that, at least until the next morning when they set foot back on campus. They don’t have to worry about the bullying following them home. They don’t have to worry about receiving mean texts or having someone post something horrible on their social media accounts.

Even if there are no issues at school, if there is absolutely no drama happening, I enjoy knowing that school and daytime hours are for friends and after school and nighttime hours are for our family. Your child’s time at home needs more protecting than you probably realize. Constant socializing on the internet is leading to all kinds of problems in kids, including lack of sleep, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. They don’t need constant connection with everyone. They need a real connection with their family at the end of each day. Phones make that harder to accomplish.

3. The Internet encourages kids to brand themselves.

I’m always running across funny collections of terribly photo-shopped pictures that teenagers have put on the internet. It makes us laugh, but the truth is that kids feel pressure to create a certain image of themselves on social media. It’s the same reason that so many take and post ten selfies a day. They are looking for approval and are trying to build a brand. They want their name to be associated with beauty or fitness or sexiness or casual coolness or whatever it is that they think will gain them likes and followers and the attention that they crave.

For kids, the work of figuring out who they are and who they are striving to be is only complicated by social media. They can become obsessed with themselves, their image, their approval ratings. And the last thing a middle schooler needs help with is being obsessed with herself. Delaying the dive into social media gives kids a chance to grow an understanding that the internet is not real life. It can be a fun place to play, but not a place to live. And if we give our kids more time to develop a real sense of themselves, of who they are and what their own standards are, then they are less likely to become obsessed with how they are seen on social media. They won’t see themselves as a brand but as an authentic person who is much more than a one dimensional image on a screen.

4. The Internet is where porn lives.

It practically goes without saying that pornography is a huge issue with phones, and one that isn’t taken seriously enough. Some studies now suggest that the average age of first exposure to porn is nine years old. Third grade. I’m in no rush to put that industry into the hands of my children, even with filters and accountability software, especially since pornographers are actively targeting kids to ensure that their industry continues to thrive. Pornography addiction deeply affects the brain, body, heart and spirit, and phones are the easiest way for the industry to reach kids, either through their own phones or through someone else’s.

There are so many other issues that I haven’t touched on here, but these are a few of the reasons that Chad and I are waiting to provide a phone to our oldest daughter. I don’t know when we will feel that the time has come, but I pray that she will have time to grow in Christ, learning her own heart and mind, before she delves into the social media realm. I pray that she will develop decision-making skills that will help her not to be enticed by requests for photos. That will give her wisdom that keeps her from texting things about people that she will later regret. I pray that she will learn to be led by the Spirit instead of being led by an obsession with self or an obsession with the approval of others.

I know many of you reading this have given your kids phones and have done so with great foresight and discernment. I know that many of you have safeguards in place and monitor your child’s phone usage and are beautifully navigating the internet world with your kids. Those of us who aren’t there yet will need lots of guidance from you.

To those who have younger kids, I ask you to consider some of my reasons for holding off on giving our kids phones. You don’t have to hand your child a phone just because others do. I’m convinced there are great benefits in waiting until kids have matured a little, have grown in their relationship with Christ a little more, have a firmer grasp of who they are and what they believe, before they really need to be grappling with the complicated world of the internet. Life is simpler without that constant din of the world in your kid’s pocket. Your teenager doesn’t have a cell phone. I’m in no rush to invite the noise in.

This article on why my teenager doesn’t have a cell phone originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

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1. Don’t give up.

Donda Academy and Ye’s Christian Journey

Jennifer Martin: ‘Both My Faith and My Polyamory Are Important to Me’

Not ‘A Real Christian’?

FrontStage BackStage Podcast Guest Dr. Paul Miller

Learn More:

Links

5 Mirages That Will Lead You Straight Into Having an Affair

Mirage #1: That which seems harmless is actually dangerous and will lead to having an affair.

Mirage #2: That which seems perfect is deeply flawed and will lead to having an affair.

4 Reasons My Teenage Daughter Doesn’t Have a Cell Phone

1. The Internet is a huge world full of strangers who can step into your home without your invitation.

2. The Internet is a big world of people your child knows who can step into your home without your invitation.

3. The Internet encourages kids to brand themselves.

4. The Internet is where porn lives.

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