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Truth Matters Conference Takes Aim at Beth Moore, Female Preachers

By
Megan Briggs
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truth matters conference john macarthur beth moore
Screengrab Facebook @Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore / Screengrab Facebook @John MacArthur

“Go home,” those are the words John MacArthur said in a word-association drill (for lack of a better word) in which Beth Moore was mentioned. Phil Johnson, who also participated in the drill, chose “narcissist.” 

“There’s no case that can be made biblically for a woman preaching….end of discussion,” MacArthur elaborated to a laughing, cheering crowd.

Truth Matters Conference Celebrated MacArthur’s Ministry

The comments were made at the Truth Matters Conference, held at MacArthur’s Grace Community Church in California from October 16-18. The conference marked 50 years of MacArthur’s “pulpit ministry” and was intended to “focus on some of the doctrinal distinctives that have guided and shaped John MacArthur’s Bible teaching.” 

One of those distinctives, for MacArthur, has been candidly speaking about the theologies, and the people who profess them, he considers to be unscriptural or heretical. While MacArthur contends he is simply preaching the “truth of God,” other ministers have labeled his comments “unkind” and even lacking in truth. 

Not only did MacArthur say Moore was unqualified to preach, he also likened her (and by association, any other female minister) to a television saleswoman. “Just because you have the skill to sell jewelry on the TV sales channel, doesn’t mean you should be preaching,” MacArthur said. “There are people who have certain hawking skills—natural abilities to sell, they have energy and personality and all of that. That doesn’t qualify you to preach.” 

Johnson, who is the executive director of Grace to You (MacArthur’s ministry, which includes a radio program) expanded on his thought that Moore is a narcissist by saying, “This is what it looks like to preach yourself rather than Christ.” 

This isn’t the first time MacArthur has named Moore specifically. In years previous, he’s criticized her “embracing” of Joyce Meyer and for “sounding more like a charismatic” as her ministry has gone on.  

MacArthur Believes the SBC Is Slipping

Even more pressing than the problem of Moore’s preaching, however, is what MacArthur sees as the church “caving in to women preachers.” This is on display, he believes, when evangelical leaders do things like endorse Paula White’s book, who MacArthur calls a “heretic.” 

MacArthur also said the #metoo movement was claiming ground for the culture in the church. “When the leaders of the evangelical movement roll over for women preachers, the feminists have really won the battle,” he opined. Feminists want power, not equality, MacArthur believes, and, in the evangelical world, the pastorate is the “highest location.” Thus, MacArthur argues, power-hungry feminists have their sights set on preaching. It’s “feminism gone to church” and he fears it is “overturning Scripture.” 

The Southern Baptist Convention was specifically implicated in MacArthur’s accusation that the church is “overturning Scripture.” MacArthur gave the example of a decision made during the SBC’s annual meeting this June in which the convention passed Resolution 9, a highly debated and controversial statement on critical race theory and intersectionality. MacArthur believes this event represents a “watershed” moment which signals the denomination is allowing the culture to interpret the Bible. 

Another point of contention MacArthur has with the SBC’s current trajectory is in the literal interpretation of the Bible. The denomination announced it would not form another Bible translation committee without Latino, African American, and female representation. MacArthur said sarcastically, “How about someone who knows Greek and Hebrew?” to much cheering from the crowd. 

In short, MacArthur believes the SBC is on a dangerous path. One where they are overturning the “clear teaching of Scripture to empower people who want power.”  In doing this, MacArthur believes, the SBC is giving up biblical authority.

Pastor Resigns: My Heart and Willow Creek’s Are Not Aligned

By
Jessica Lea
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Willow Creek Crystal Lake
Screengrab Youtube @Willow Crystal Lake

Marcus Bieschke, the lead pastor of Willow Creek Crystal Lake, announced last week that he is resigning from his position at the church. Bieschke’s announcement comes months after Reece Whitehead, lead pastor of Willow Creek Wheaton, also announced he was stepping down. 

“No doubt, this is a surprise to many of you,” wrote Bieschke in an email to the church, as reported by Julie Roys. “And it may be hard to understand what has been such a long, deep, and difficult process. Over the past 20 months, it has become increasingly clear to me that my heart and values are not in full alignment with Willow’s current direction. I cannot pastor and lead to the best of my ability without being fully aligned in these fundamental areas.”’

Leaving Willow Creek Crystal Lake

Bieschke said he announced his decision at the church’s Core Meeting and that it was entirely his own choice. He will officially leave his role and the church on December 1st.

Willow Creek has eight campuses in the Chicago area, and for the past 20 months, the megachurch has been dealing with fallout from a scandal surrounding church founder and former senior pastor, Bill Hybels. In March 2018, the Chicago Tribune broke the story that Hybels had been under investigation for sexual misconduct for four years, an investigation the Willow Creek congregation knew nothing about. As a result, Hybels retired six months earlier than he had originally planned, but did not admit to any wrongdoing.

The Willow Creek elder board initially defended the former pastor, claiming that the women who had accused him of misconduct were colluding against him. The board later changed its position, even admitting its investigation was flawed, and the entire board resigned in August of that year. Willow Creek subsequently initiated a new investigation, conducted by the Independent Advisory Group (IAG). When the IAG released its findings in February 2019, it said the accusations against Hybels were credible and that the megachurch needed to make some serious changes in its culture and policies. Despite the fact that church leaders have taken some steps toward reconciliation, many believe Willow Creek has not sufficiently named and apologized for the wrongs that were committed by Hybels and others, such as when leaders called the women liars instead of believing they might be victims. 

Looking for a Different Path

In his email to the church, Bieschke said, “I’ve longed for and encouraged Willow to pursue a different path toward healing. But due to a difference of opinion on what that path should be, I believe I must depart.” 

When Bieschke leaves, the Executive Pastor of Willow Creek Crystal Lake, Dave Smith, will take over as Interim Lead Pastor. Bieschke emphasized his confidence in Smith, saying, “I strongly endorse and have the highest respect for him. He knows and loves you and has served our church faithfully, with great diligence and uncompromised integrity.” Bieschke went on to express his hope that the church will fully embrace Smith as the new lead pastor. 

In a message he gave on October 20th, Smith addressed Bieschke’s impending departure, acknowledging that many church members were discouraged by what he called “yet another blow” in the unfolding turmoil of the past 20 months. Said Smith, “My overwhelming emotion is sadness, and I know that’s the same for many of you.” He apologized to the congregation on behalf of Willow Creek for the pain members have experienced because of the Hybels scandal. Smith also thanked the people who have reached out to support him after hearing Bieschke’s news, and he encouraged the congregation to seek God in the midst of this difficult time. 

At the end of his email, Bieschke expressed similar sentiments, encouraging the congregants not to falter in their love for Jesus or for Willow Creek Crystal Lake. He wrote, “My prayer is that the emotions you may feel as a result of my departure will in no way negatively impact your love and commitment to Jesus and His Body, the Church—or negatively impact your love for Willow Crystal Lake.”

Where Are the Men in Missions?

By
Brooks Buser
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

The topic of young men is much on my mind these days. In less than a month, my wife (Nina) and I will send our son off to university and the opportunities and perils that it brings. In anticipation of this milestone, we recently finished reading together the short and very commendable book Thoughts For Young Men by J.C. Ryle. In it he asks,

Who are the most backward about means of grace, the most irregular about Sunday services, the most difficult to draw to weekly lectures and prayer meetings, … who require the most frequent warnings and rebukes, who occasion him (the pastor) the greatest uneasiness and sorrow. … Depend on it, his answer will always be, “The Young Men.”[1]

When I was overseas, there was an oft-quoted one-liner that went something like this: “Single men who love Jesus, have normal social skills, and are seriously committed to long-term missions are unicorns. If you find one, trap it so we can study it and find out where they come from.” Another common remark was, “Two-thirds of missionaries are married couples, the other third are single women, the rest are single men.” It was a less painful way of reminding ourselves of the reality that single men are rare in missions today.

Where are the single men that stand up and wish to give their lives to see God’s glory spread to the last “nations”? It is lamentable in our time to see so few who are capable of and serious for the cause of cross-cultural missions. At Radius this is also the case, although this year is a welcome anomaly. Every time the admissions committee receives an application from a single young man, with good references from both his church and his peers, there is an almost palpable excitement felt. Why? Because it’s so rare!

So why are there so few single men in missions, or in the missions pipeline? The most common answers are: pornography, student debt, and bad dating choices. Pornography is chewing at the root of the church, so it is no surprise that the effects are being felt in the Great Commission effort as well. “Pornography lurks where missions doesn’t”[2] has seemed too often to be the case. Student debt is less complicated. At Radius we continue to praise God for The Go Fund and the unique relationship we have with them to help our graduates in an incredible way. Marriage is more complicated. I speak quite often to young men in college who explain that their girlfriends and fiancées “are just not that into missions now.” The tragedy is that “just not that into missions now” almost never turns towards missions later.

In the same breath that I lament the loss of so many brothers to the fight, I want to commend the sisters who are worthy of so much honor. The remarkable heritage of single women includes Amy Carmichael, Lottie Moon, Betty Greene, Gladys Aylward, Mary Slessor, and many unnamed that the world was not worthy of. The fortitude and endurance of these women is still remembered today because of their unwavering commitment to the God of the ages.

At Radius, Nina and I often think of and pray for our single sisters who are shouldering incredible tasks in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. We think often of Kalee, Gillian, Liz, Jessica, Jaime, Halle, Elizabeth, Heather, Jayna, Analise, and so many others we have had the privilege of helping train, who are in some of the most challenging circumstances. They face the difficulties of support-raising alone, navigating questions and stares in new environments, wearing constricting clothing, quite often enduring much that men would not, at times being compromised, and still …they stay. It honestly brings tears to our eyes when we read their letters. I believe Jesus had them in mind also when he said in Matthew 19, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

But this does not help us with the problem of finding our single brothers who are to be about this task. Are we to believe that God desires single women to go to the field at over three times the rate of single men? Has God destined single men for flowery beds of ease while their married brothers and sisters, and most especially their single sisters, fight to win the prize? I don’t believe any reasonable Christian would agree with that.

If there is ever to be a turnaround in the rate of single men going to the “nations,” I believe it will begin with the church and with parents. There is a war to be fought, a King to fight for, and a commission to be completed. As parents teach the examples of Daniel, David Brainard, Henry Martyn, and the apostle Paul to their young boys, it will cease to be a logical or spiritual leap for them to give their lives in like manner. As the church holds forth the example of following Christ, no matter the cost, even at the risk of losing out on much that men can take hold of in their youth, young men will follow. The American dream must be drowned out by the reality of a greater dream, the fleeting mist of this life constantly remembered, and the position of being aliens and strangers in a foreign land, waiting for our true country, has to be taught. Young men can be impacted with God’s heart for the nations, but it begins with parents and is fortified by the church.

I remember often how Elisabeth Elliot recounted a conversation she had with Gladys Aylward regarding being single and the husband she was hoping would make it to China.

“Miss Aylward talked to the Lord about her singleness. She was a no-nonsense woman in very direct and straightforward ways, and she asked God to call a man from England, to send him straight out to China, straight to where she was, and have him propose to her.” 

I will never forget what she said next:

“With a look of even deeper intensity, she shook her little bony finger in my face and said, ‘Elisabeth, I believe God answers prayer. And he called him.’ And here there was a brief pause of intense whisper. She said, ‘He called him, and he never came.’”[3]

Oh, may the young men we raise be soldiers of the cross, followers of the Lamb, at all costs. May parents have enough courage to teach their young men that there is a God worth moving to foreign lands for, worth raising their grandchildren to learn Swahili, Arabic, Hindi, and Mandarin for. May our churches hold up the nobility of the Great Commission over dreams of health, prosperity, and “good” earthly families. May we inspire our young men to a glorious task that will outlive their short and fleeting time on this earth.

J.C. Ryle writes in conclusion:

“Young men of the present day, you are wanted for God. … A wide field of usefulness is open before you, if you are only willing to enter upon it. The harvest is great, but the laborers are few (Luke 10:2). Be zealous of good works. Come, come to the cause of the Lord against the mighty.”[4]

This article originally appeared here.

Looking Closely at Speaking in Tongues

By
Jared Olivetti
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

1 Corinthians 14 is not an easy passage. The rise of modern Pentecostalism over the last 120 years has made the issue of speaking in tongues a perpetual issue, making it even more important to study this passage carefully. Further, Paul’s arguments in this chapter–made in response to the Corinthian Christians’ unruly worship and self-centered theology–stretches both the mind and heart. In this post, I will not be answering every question you or I might have about speaking in tongues, but I do hope to point out four features of this chapter, features which should shape our hearts and guide our discussion about speaking in tongues.

The first feature is context. Often ignored (because we don’t read our Bibles well) is that 1 Corinthians 14 comes right after 1 Corinthians 13 and is itself a continuation of Paul’s great call to love above all else. It’s right there in verse one: “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts…” Paul is not giving general directions on how to speak in tongues; he is strongly rebuking the self-centered, hateful way the Christians in Corinth were using gifts intended for sacrificial love. Any discussion on these amazing gifts from the Spirit that doesn’t start and end with a pursuit of love is already wrong.

The second feature is the goal of speaking in tongues. Against the Corinthians’ desire to be the best Christian with the coolest Spiritual gift, Paul returns them (repeatedly) to the point of Spiritual gifts: to build up the church. While the gift of speaking spontaneously in another language was surely exciting and personally encouraging to some degree, the point of the gift was “so that the church may be built up.” (14:5) This goal of Spiritual gifts is why Paul prioritizes prophesying (the declaration of God’s Word to God’s people) over speaking in tongues–simply because prophecy benefited everyone while speaking in tongues only brought benefit to those who understood that language. Building on the call to love, Paul calls the church to be most dedicated to whatever builds up the the church, specifically the Word of God.

The third feature is the audience for speaking in tongues. It’s plain as day in verse 22: “…tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers.” God gave the gift of speaking in tongues (like almost all other miracles) as a “sign and wonder” to validate the message of the gospel being preached. This particular “sign and wonder” communicated two important things to those outside the Jewish people. First, it showed clearly that Jesus and His salvation was available to them without having to become part of ethnic Israel. Second, it indicated God removing the lampstand from Israel that the gospel might go to the Gentiles. (See Paul’s quotation of Isaiah in v21 to get the sense of this argument.) One of the reasons most modern versions of speaking in tongues doesn’t pass the test is that they aren’t being used for the Biblical purpose of validating the message of the gospel to those outside the church.

A final feature to consider in this passage is Paul’s focus on our minds. Throughout, Paul is most concerned that people understand what is being communicated, because without understanding there is no (or very little) spiritual benefit. After humbling all the proud tongues-speakers in Corinth by assuring them he spoke in tongues more than any of them, he turned the tables by declaring, “Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue!” (v19) It is no new thing for Christians to seek emotionally fulfilling experiences without engaging their mind. But this is not how the Holy Spirit works! Even His gift of tongues was really intended to get people to listen to God’s Word and respond in faith. If we want to grow as a disciple of Jesus, we will learn to engage our mind with God’s Word. And if we want to help others grow as disciples of Jesus, we will learn to engage their mind similarly.

A post like this can’t ask or answer all the important questions about speaking in tongues. But if we take more care to understand 1 Corinthians 14 as it was originally written and intended, our thinking and conversations will be led away from immaturity to maturity. “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (v20)

This article originally appeared here.

What Is the Gospel of John About?

By
Wyatt Graham
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

The Gospel of John aims to persuade readers that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

The means by which the Gospel communicates its purpose is eye-witness testimony. The evangelist identifies himself as “the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true” (John 21:24). 

Putting the purpose and mode of delivery together, we can say that John as an eyewitness of Jesus Christ carefully selected and organized the gospel of John so that readers would believe and have life in the name of Jesus, the Christ and the Son of God. 

Structure of the Gospel of John

The Gospel book splits into two halves. Chapters 1–11 narrate seven miracles of Jesus that John calls “signs.” Each sign signifies that Jesus does the works of the Father so that readers might identify the Son with the Father (John 10:37–38).

Part 1: seven signs:

  1. Jesus turns water into wine (2:1–11)
  2. Jesus heals the royal official’s son (4:46–54)
  3. Jesus heals the paralytic at Bethesda (5:1–16)
  4. Jesus feeds five thousand (6:1–14)
  5. Jesus walks on water (6:16–21)
  6. Jesus heals a blind man (9:1–41)
  7. Jesus raises Lazareth from the dead (11:38–43)

After the seven signs, the narrative takes a sharp turn. The religious leaders set their minds to kill Jesus (11:53) and Lazarus (12:10). Jesus marks this difference by asserting, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (12:23; cf. 2:4). In John, Jesus’ glorification comes by way his humiliation, his Passion. 

Part 2: the passion of Christ: Chapters 13–18 chronicle the night before Jesus’ death during the Pascha meal (Thursday) before Jesus dies on Friday via crucifixion (18:28–19:42). Three days later Jesus rises from the dead and gives final words to his disciples (chs 20–21).

Reflection

Early Christians called John “the Theologian” and described his Gospel book by the image of an Eagle because, as Gregory of Nazianzus notes, John soars above the rest. What we have in the Gospel of John is eyewitness testimony reflected upon and meditated upon for about sixty years. John wrote the Gospel in the 90s—a full sixty years after Jesus. 

From the testimony of early Christians like Papias, we know that John spent that time retelling the story of Jesus along with other disciples. Imagine telling the same story for sixty years. We would become experts. John did and became an expert. He gives us a unique insight through his eyesight into a deeper understanding of Jesus.   

The prologue to the Gospel already shows how deeply John reflected on the person of Jesus. Jesus, we learn, is the Logos of God (John 1:1) who became flesh (John 1:14) in order to make God known (John 1:18). 

Throughout the Gospel of John, we see through the eyes of John what he came to realize through spiritual sight. We see with John past the veil to gaze upon the face of Jesus the glorified incarnate one who ascended the cross for us and for our salvation. So take up and read—eat up this book of life, eternal life. 

This article about the gospel of John originally appeared here.

4 Super Effective Ways to Motivate Spiritually Apathetic Teenagers

By
Greg Stier
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers
Spiritually apathetic teenagers … what does that mean? ap·a·thet·ic ?ap?’THedik, adjective: “showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm or concern.”

If you’ve been in youth ministry for any amount of time, you’ve encountered spiritually apathetic teenagers. Between the rolling eyes and heavy sighs it’s easy to get discouraged when it comes to inspiring young people to know, live, share and own their faith.

Over the last 26 years of ministering to teenagers I have discovered four super effective ways to motivate spiritually apathetic teenagers:

1.  Break up the hard ground of apathy with a massive prayer effort.

“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12

There’s nothing like prayer that breaks up the hardened “unplowed ground” of a teenager’s heart. From recruiting the adults at your church to pray for specific teenagers in your youth group (check out PrayForMeCampaign.com), to spending time with your adult leaders praying for your teenagers, to having teenagers pray for each other during youth group, there is much that can be done to amp up prayer in the typical youth group.

And amped up prayers lead to amped up teenagers!

2.  Use stories, sermons and dramas that unleash the great (and often controversial) subjects of God’s Word.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.” Luke 16:19-23

From the glory of heaven to the urgency of hell to Christ’s imminent return to the impending reality of Judgment Day to the horrific torture and execution of Christ on the cross, the New Testament is packed with powerfully controversial motivations to serve Jesus. Yet many youth leaders tuck away some of these highly controversial, highly inspirational subjects under a stack of self-image talks. But if you want to make a big impact you have to break out the big guns.

I’ll never forget speaking to a group of teenagers about the reality of hell. I shared with them how Jesus described it in graphic terms (like he does in Luke 16:19-31). Afterward a teenaged girl approached me and asked, “Why has my youth leader never talked to us about hell before? If my friends are headed there I want to do everything in my power to keep them from going there. Because I love them I must share the Gospel with them before it’s too late. I don’t understand why my youth leader has ever brought this up with us before.”

Talking about hell isn’t pleasant. Reminding teenagers of Judgment Day is no fun. Unpacking the pain that Jesus endured so that we could have life is not enjoyable. But all of these subjects (and more) must be unpacked in real and visceral ways if we want to motivate our apathetic teenagers.

Use drama, tell stories, tie it into your talks. When we share these realities with honesty and authenticity, the hearts of our friends can be broken for their friends who don’t yet know Jesus.

3.  Get them sharing the Gospel with friends and strangers alike.

 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Acts 4:31-33

There’s something about evangelism that activates a generation. It moves Christianity beyond theory to reality. It forces a teenager to put skin in the game.

The adrenaline-filled process of evangelism causes teenagers to be put in a position where they have to depend on God. With their social equity on the line (especially with their friends) everything is accelerated…including their spiritual growth.

Youth group gets more exciting, prayers get more fervent, youth group unity solidifies and, of course, Satan counterattacks! But the “big mo” of ministry momentum eventually wins out as we keep our hearts fully dependent on Christ.

To give your teenagers this experience, make sure you get them to Dare 2 Share Live. With 72 locations from Puerto Rico to Fairbanks, Alaska, this one-of-a-kind, highly inspirational day of outreach will not only prepare your teeangers to share their faith, it will unleash them to do it…along with tens of thousands of teenagers across the nation!

To see the closest venue near you click here.

4.  Choose leaders who are on fire for Christ.

“The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” Luke 6:40

If we want on-fire teenagers we need on-fire leaders. From student leaders to adult leaders we shouldn’t settle for anything less than all in for Christ and his Cause!

On-fire people set people on fire. If you have lukewarm students you most likely have lukewarm leaders. If you have on-fire leaders you most likely have at least some on-fire teenagers.

That’s why Jesus invested so much time into his leaders. By the time he ascended and his Spirit descended, these disciples were leaving a scorched trail of changed lives behind them. They were now “like their teacher” to the degree that the religious leaders “were astonished and took note that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

When our student and adult leaders spend time with Jesus, get set ablaze by his Spirit, live out his cause and authentically pour into the lives of the teenagers in your youth group, apathy will begin to dissolve like dew in the midmorning sun.

Choose wisely…and stay on fire yourself!

What are some other ways to motivate spiritually apathetic teenagers?

This article about spiritually apathetic teenagers originally appeared here.

Is Your Digital Front Door Working?

By
James Emery White
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Several years ago, I wrote a book titled Opening the Front Door: Worship and Church Growth. It was a simple book, but rather controversial at the time. I made the case that weekend worship services had eclipsed Sunday School in attendance since 1971, and therefore, Sunday School was not the “front door” of the church in terms of outreach; rather, the large group weekend service was. Today, I am arguing that there is still a front door to the church, only that instead of it being physical it is a digital front door. And it can be handled in a way that is just as alienating as when churches used to sing nothing but hymns, play organs, sit in pews and pray in King James English.

Fifteen seconds on your Facebook page, Instagram account, Twitter feed, or webpage – 15 seconds into listening to your message or watching your service online – and they may have already clicked off because of what they’ve seen, heard or experienced.

Actually, 15 seconds is generous.

According to the research of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the average attention span has dropped from 12 seconds in the year 2000 to just 8.25 seconds in 2015. That’s approximately a 25% drop in a little more than decade. To put that into perspective, the average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds. No, I did not make that up. We’re .75 seconds less attentive than “Mr. Bubbles.”

But what are really operating are highly evolved “eight-second filters.” People today have learned to sort through information quickly because there’s so much of it to sort through.

Now, once you do get their attention, they’ll stay with you.

They can become intensely committed and focused.

But you only have eight seconds to break through.

That’s why one New York marketing consultant tells his clients this about the digital front door – “if you don’t communicate in five words and a big picture, you will not reach this generation.” All to say, today is the day of crafting a digital message to a post-Christian world that captures their attention – or at least doesn’t lose it – as instantaneously as possible.

That’s the barrier we need to break through.

The bottom line is that today, the typical first-time guest to your church is coming at the end of a long process. It may be their first time through the physical front door, but the actual front door of the church – the first one they entered – is a digital front door.

So ask yourself some basic questions, and they are more significant than you might think:

Who is your website designed to serve? For most churches, it is designed for the members and active attenders of the church.

What about your Facebook page? Is it for the community of your church or for those who might be exploring your church?

What about your Instagram account? Twitter feed? It’s not that there can’t be posts for your church – of course there can be member-specific posts and should be – and it’s not that your website can’t serve up information needed and necessary for your church community. The real issue has to do with thinking about it as the front door.

Is your main splash page for the first-time guest?

Are the easiest, primary links designed to serve someone exploring you digitally?

Is your Facebook page winsome, compelling and inviting?

Is what you have on Instagram going to make someone want to go higher up and deeper in?

How well does it pass the eight-second filter?

Think everything through digitally the way we have been thinking through everything physically for the unchurched. We’ve always been about opening the front door. It’s just that now,

… that door is digital.

 

This article originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

The Hidden Reason Why Negative Emotions Are Helpful

By
Alison Cook
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

There is a powerful hidden reason negative emotions are helpful.

Imagine yourself as a child. When you’re hungry, you cry and someone feeds you a nutritious meal. Or when you fall and hurt yourself, you scream and someone runs to your side, lovingly trying to help.

As you grow older, negative experiences occur, such as a friend turns on you and gets other kids to turn on you, too. You feel awful, so you tell an adult that you feel bad. Their wisdom helps you understand that something bad DID happen and that your emotions aren’t wrong. Your feelings are meant to show you how you to take appropriate action to stand up for yourself.

When a caring person guides you through a tough situation, you learn to recognize an unpleasant feeling. You pay attention to your negative emotions, because you understand they are key to your growth. In other words, they help you detect basic needs and warn you of boundary violations. Thus, negative emotions aren’t to be avoided. In fact, they help lead you toward healthy self-care and wise decision making.

But, what if you never learned the value of your negative emotions?

For instance, what if you cried as a child but no one paid attention? What if you got bullied at school, but came home to an empty house with no one to offer compassion? Maybe a misguided adult even told you, “It’s all YOUR fault.”

In that case, you might assume your broken heart is a burden that you must shoulder alone. You might tell yourself, “Heartache is silly—who really cares?” or “Get over it! Life is hard, so just deal with it.”

The problem is that ignoring your negative emotions doesn’t make them go away.

Instead, they will just get lodged even more deeply inside of you. If no one taught you how to understand your negative emotions, one of two things likely happened:

1.) You learned to numb them with food, entertainment, substances, or overworking.

2.) You developed strong protectors such as armoring up with angry, critical views of other people.

Those coping tactics helped you survive as a kid. But they are not serving you now. They keep you from forging strong, healthy connections with others. And, they keep you from healing the pain that’s lodged deep inside of you.

That’s why your negative emotions are key to your growth—they signal a need or a wound that might need tending.

Do you notice any of the following negative feelings in your life:

—a constant sense of worry

—an angry temper you can’t shake

—a desire to critique or perfect everything (or everyone) around you

—frequent feelings of of shame or fear

—loneliness, no matter how many friends you now have.

Don’t hate these negative emotions—they’re trying to help you in some way. They’re a cue that some aspect of yourself needs loving attention.

Instead of hating yourself for having negative emotions, start to get curious about them:

I wonder what that anger is about. What role does it play?

How long have I been a worrier? When did it start?

What do I fear might happen if I let go of a need to be perfect for one day?

As you get curious about your negative emotions and treat them with compassion, they’ll soften. You’ll

—guide yourself through them instead of denying them.
—get to the root of lies you’ve believed and start to gain clarity.
—develop what psychologists call the ability to “self-regulate” and what the Bible calls the fruit of “self-control.”
—learn how and when to act on an emotion and when to let go.
—develop wisdom from deep down inside.

Your negative emotions don’t have to rule you; freedom comes as you get curious about them and treat them with compassion. You can become that wise adult for yourself—you can calm your emotions and learn better strategies.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.—2 Timothy 1:7

This article about negative emotions originally appeared here.

5,000 Christians Meet in Jerusalem to Celebrate Feast, Support Israel

By
Jessica Lea
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At least 5,000 Christians from 100 countries took part in the “March of Nations” at this year’s Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles, in Jerusalem. The parade, which had around 10,000 participants, was one of the main events of the feast, traditionally called “The Season of Our Joy.” Breaking Israel News (BIN) reports that the event was “the largest Christian gathering in Israel this year and the largest solidarity mission to Israel of 2019.” 

“The whole world is learning that the Gentiles can come celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with the people of Israel,” David Parsons said, according to the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). Parsons is the media spokesperson for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), the organization that sponsored the feast. Said Parsons, “They want to come see the modern miracle of Israel which the Bible talked about.” 

The Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem

The Feast of Tabernacles runs from October 13th through October 20th and contributes roughly $18 to $20 million to the economy. The first day of the feast featured a concert and outdoor meal at the Ein Gedi oasis, and the closing session was a prayer vigil at the Tower of David. Throughout the week, there were opportunities to hear speakers, take part in worship, and visit famous biblical sites. Thursday, the day of the parade, included children’s activities, fair stalls, song and dance performances, and an aerial acrobatics show.

The municipality of Jerusalem funded and organized the march, which traveled through the main streets and historic neighborhoods of the city. The parade had quite a bit of variety, including “collector cars, marching bands, flag-bearers, dance groups, IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers, street artists, inflatable characters, performers and sports teams.” 

Marchers carried signs and wore buttons with phrases like, “We stand with Israel” and “We love you Israel.” Evangelical Christians from the Philippines participated in the march, and Cameroon, the Netherlands, Germany, Bulgaria, Albania, Australia, and Fiji were just some of the other countries represented.

Pastor M. Moran Rao, who is from India, said that he and his wife came to the feast “because we love Israel, we are friends of Israel, we stand with Israel, and we support Israel.” He believes the Bible teaches the importance of this support: “In the Bible, it says to pray for the peace of Israel, and if you bless Israel, you will be blessed.” 

Something else notable about this year’s feast is it is the first time Evangelical Christians from an Arab country have participated in it. Sixteen Egyptians made the trip to Israel for the event, an effort that has its challenges since it requires caution on the part of the travelers. 

One Egyptian Christian told The Jerusalem Post he believes that the pilgrimage of so many believers to Jerusalem is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. He cited Isaiah 19:23, which mentions a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Zechariah 14:16-19, which includes the statement, “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.”

What Is ICEJ?

In 1980, the Israeli government made Jerusalem the undivided capital of the State of Israel, provoking international protests and the closing of 13 foreign embassies in the city. Christians living in Israel at the time responded to the uproar by founding the ICEJ.

ICEJ has two primary goals: “First, to serve as a conduit of comfort and blessing through which believers in the nations could show their love and support to Israel. Second, the ICEJ stands as a prophetic voice to this generation concerning God’s unwavering plan to fulfill His covenant promises to the fathers of Israel.” The ICEJ also helps Jewish people scattered across the world to return to Israel. This is sometimes referred to as “making Aliyah.” Since its inception, the organization has helped more than 150,000 Jews make Aliyah, something the ICEJ celebrated at the feast this week. 

The Feast of Tabernacles does have an impact on the Israeli people, as attested by Jerusalem’s deputy mayor, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum. Speaking at the feast, the deputy mayor recounted how, when she first took her 13-year-old daughter to an event at the festival, her daughter was surprised to see there were people in the world who actually liked Israel. 

“My daughter thought that no one around the world liked us, until she came to one of these gatherings,” said the deputy mayor. “So, thank you for restoring her faith in humanity, and thank you for your love and friendship.”

NAE Elects New Leaders to Reflect Evangelicalism’s Diversity

By
Stephanie Martin
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For the first time in its 77-year history, the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) has named a president of color. Walter Kim, a Korean-American pastor in Virginia, will take the reins from longtime president Leith Anderson, who is retiring at year’s end.

Kim, 51, has served as a board member for the NAE, a network of 45,000 churches representing 40 denominations. He plans to retain his current role as pastor of leadership at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Who Is Walter Kim?

Kim, who was raised in an immigrant family in Appalachia, says his background “will be an asset to the NAE in a time of polarization.” He describes “backing into evangelicalism” and credits God’s creativity for helping the gospel’s seeds bear fruit in his life.

After earning a Ph.D. from Harvard in Near Eastern languages and civilizations, Kim was a chaplain at Yale and taught at Boston College and Harvard. For 15 years, he pastored Park Street Church, a Boston congregation key to NAE’s founding. Kim has served at Trinity, a 1,000-member Charlottesville church, since 2017, the year violence erupted at a white nationalist rally.

Roy Taylor, chair of NAE’s board of directors, says, “As a proven pastor, scholar, and thought leader, Walter brings an incredible combination of skills to lead the National Association of Evangelicals into the next decade.”

Addressing the theology of race during a 2016 NAE podcast, Kim said, “The harder work of reconciliation is learning how to live together [and] love the other in close proximity. This is what the early church sought to do.” He added, “We should not be satisfied with anything less than the full notion of the gospel calling us to reconciliation, to do the hard work of loving the other.”

NAE board member Johnnie Moore calls Kim “a respected and thoughtful Christian leader who defies evangelical stereotype,” saying he’ll lead “at a time of exponential growth in the global, evangelical movement.”

A Challenging Time for Evangelicalism

Especially since President Trump’s election, evangelicalism has tried to distance itself from political labels. Kim recognizes the challenges ahead. “The sheer number of books and articles on evangelicals and evangelicalism reveals that this movement is confronting an identity crisis,” he says. “Yet in this crisis there is genuine hope. The NAE is uniquely positioned to draw people together, and I am eager to guide this labor.”

As evangelicalism has become more diverse—with growth throughout Asia, Latin America, and Africa—so has NAE leadership. Along with Kim, the association also elected as board chair John Jenkins, an African-American pastor of a Baptist megachurch in Maryland, and as vice chair Jo Anne Lyon, a prominent leader in The Wesleyan Church.

These diverse new leaders, says outgoing president Anderson, are “a reflection of much of evangelicalism in America,” of which “the growing edge…is significantly in minority communities and churches.”

Anderson, NAE president since 2006, has advocated for immigration reform and criminal justice reform, conducted largely through World Relief, the NAE’s humanitarian arm. Kim’s “passion to see the gospel impact lives, transform communities, and change culture is contagious,” says Anderson. 

Chick-fil-A UK Met by ‘Get the Chick Out’ Protests

By
Megan Briggs
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Chick-fil-A has opened its very first location in the United Kingdom. Since Thursday, October 10, it has served “several hundred” patrons in the town of Reading, Berkshire county. However, the shopping center leasing the location to the fast-food chain has just announced they will not be renewing the company’s six-month “pilot period” lease. 

The location is meant to test British reception to the American fast-food chain and learn what kind of menu items might hit it off in the UK. However, some are not so pleased with the company’s sites on expansion across the pond. A protest at the Reading store has been planned for tomorrow, Saturday, October 19, 2019, organized by the group Reading Pride. 

Chick-fil-A UK Told to ‘Get the Chick Out’

Citing Chick-fil-A’s historically anti-LGBTQ stance, protestors say the UK is “no place for backward practising organisations that support charities including a charity that sent a preacher to Uganda to assist in the ‘kill the gays’ law.”

The goal of Reading Pride’s demonstration is to bring awareness to “the Chick-fil-A chain and their anti LGBT+ stance.” Ultimately, they would like to see Chick-fil-A out of Reading and the UK. So far, the group’s advocacy has managed to convince the shopping mall leasing to Chick-fil-A in Reading not to continue its six-month lease. According to the BBC, a spokesperson for the Oracle Shopping Centre said they have decided “the right thing to do is to only allow Chick-Fil-A to trade with us for the initial six-month pilot period, and not to extend the lease any further.”

Reading Pride is satisfied with the shopping center’s decision. A spokesperson told the BBC the six-month period is a “reasonable request… to allow for re-settlement and notice for employees that have moved from other jobs.”

What Does Chick-fil-A UK Have to Do With the ‘Kill the Gays” Law?

Much like the protests and boycotts that have been organized against Chick-fil-A in the U.S., this protest is focused on the charitable donations the company regularly gives to evangelical Christian organizations. While boycotting Chick-fil-A efforts in the U.S. have most recently focused on the company’s giving to organizations such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the Salvation Army, the UK protest is centered on the company’s ties with the National Christian Foundation (NCF) and its alleged connection to a bill in Uganda known as the “Kill the Gays” law. 

The bill was first introduced in 2014 but it failed to receive approval. According to Reuters, the Ugandan government has plans to resurrect it. Uganda’s Ethics and Integrity Minister, Simon Lokodo, told Reuters the current penal law concerning homosexuality is insufficient. “It only criminalises the act. We want it made clear that anyone who is even involved in promotion and recruitment has to be criminalised. Those that do grave acts will be given the death sentence,” Lokodo said. He also indicated that Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni supports the bill and that they will likely vote on it before the end of the year. 

However, on October 12, the executive director of Uganda’s Media Centre tweeted that the government was clarifying its stance on the bill. Ofwono Opondo P’Odel wrote, “Government hereby clarifies that it does not intend to introduce any new law with regards to the regulation of #LGBT activities in Uganda because the current provisions in the #PenalCode are sufficient.” 

It’s unclear what might happen with this proposed law, given the mixed signals from government officials, but for now, it appears to be tabled.

So what does this proposed bill and Chick-fil-A’s new UK location have in common? The connection lies in Chick-fil-A’s charity, the WinShape Foundation, and the NCF. WinShape has contributed to NCF in the past, and that organization has been linked to the lobbying of this “Kill the Gays” bill in Uganda. The Center Against Religious Extremism wrote a lengthy article outlining the NCF’s connections to other evangelical groups such as the Alliance Defending Freedom and Advocacy International and these groups’ efforts in anti-LGBT rights activism. 

Snopes says that while the connection between the WinShape Foundation and the NCF is undeniable, other parts of the protestors’ claim are a little murky. Specifically, the claim that the NCF sent U.S. pastors to Uganda to prop up or help get the “Kill the Gays” bill passed. It is true, notes Snopes, that “many American pastors and preachers—funded either directly or indirectly by the NCF—have in recent years met with, trained, and spoken alongside anti-LGBT Ugandan ministers.” Still, that doesn’t necessarily qualify as a direct connection. 

So far, Reading Pride’s protest has 112 people indicating they will participate. It is not clear what Chick-fil-A plans to do once its six-month is up at the Oracle Shopping Centre and how this may impact the company’s launch into the UK. 

Unbelievable: A Netflix Show Youth Workers and Parents Might Want to Watch

By
Jonathan McKee
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Every once in a while a movie or TV show comes along that actually “gets” young people today or provides a glimpse at “how to reach them.” Well, Netflix just released a series titled, Unbelievable, that literally took my breath away, on several levels.

First, I’m writing a book on social media right now and happen to be waist deep in research about predators (which sadly sometimes turns into sexual assault, rape, sex slavery, etc.). And this series is about rape victims.

Secondly, this Unbelievable series provides a picture-perfect example of how not to treat people who are victims of abuse, bullying, rape, etc. I mean perfectly! As in, I would actually make my youth ministry volunteers watch episode one and then episode two of this series, and then we’d all meet together and compare the two polar opposite ways we could treat those who are abused, assaulted, etc. and discuss what this looks like in the youth ministry world.

I’d do the same with parents of today’s teens. I’d tell them to watch this, at least the first two episodes and then discuss how the foster parents responded in the series, what went wrong and the correct way to respond. And yes, I’d warn them, “Even though this series is very responsible and doesn’t have any gratuitous nudity or eye-candy, it does show quick flash’s of a rape from the victim’s point of view. And yes, it’s difficult to step into this person’s shoes. That’s the point. And I’d watch it with my own 16 to 18-year-old girl.” It’s that good.

But the third element about this Unbelievable series that literally shocked me was the fact that one of the central characters was a pretty authentic believer…and the film-makers didn’t make her look like an idiot! Many of you remember a couple weeks ago when I blogged about a new series on Amazon Prime that made Christian’s look like imbeciles and I made the comment, “Random thought: Can you think of a moment when Hollywood actually portrayed a Christian in a positive light? Can you count the examples on more than one hand?”

Well Unbelievable actually portrays a couple believers in a positive light, even one of the main characters. She ain’t perfect, but she’s authentic and she’s blatantly a Christian. Pretty cool.

I warn you—episode one is difficult to watch. But 15 minutes into episode two you’ll be glad you actually sat through it without fast-forwarding.

The Unbelievable series stars Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever and a few others you’ll recognize.

Extremely well done!

Not for everyone. But if you have teenagers in your life…I strongly recommend Unbelievable.

This article about the Unbelievable show originally appeared here.

God’s Desire for One-Percenters

By
Eric Geiger
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

If you make or will one day make $30k or more, you are one of the one-percenters. Just as being tall presents some challenges, being wealthy presents challenges too. Yet many would love to be in the position of a one-percenter.

When I was in high school I so badly wanted to be tall. We had a couple guys on our high school basketball team that were 6’5” or taller, and I envied them. They could dunk easily. They were more imposing defensively than me. I asked God to make me taller and He did not. Someone told me to hang from the doorframe, to stretch myself out and that would somehow spark a growth spurt. It did not. Less than 1% of the population is 6’5” or taller. If you are 6’5” or taller you are in the top 1% of people for height. You are a one-percenter. Yes, I know that there are challenges with being tall. You never look comfortable on an airplane. Showers at hotels are a challenge. You struggle to get into some cars. But I still envy you and your 1% height like ways.

Being 6’5” makes you a one-percenter in height. What does it take to be in the top 1% of wealth in the world? On the website globalrichlist.com you can put your income into a calculator and see where rank. If you make $30,000 you are in the top 1.2% of income-earners in the world. While it takes you a year to earn $30k, it takes a worker in Ghana 187 years. If you earn $30k, it takes you approximately two minutes of work to pay for a can of soda, and it takes a worker in Ghana over seven hours of work to pay for a can of soda. If you make or will one day make $30k or more, you are a one-percenter. Just as being tall presents some challenges, being wealthy presents challenges too. Yet many would love to be in the position of a one-percenter.

So, what does God want for us one-percenters? The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and challenged him to instruct the rich who lived in Ephesus. He wrote, “Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

In the passage, we see three commands (three “be” statements) of the type of people we should be. God desires one-percenters to be these three things.

1. Be humble.

There are plenty of examples in the Bible of godly people who were also wealthy. God does not condemn us for wealth but He does warn us about wealth – that it can take our affections away from Him. In the Scripture we are not condemned for having money, but we are warned about the danger of money having us. We are to be humble, to realize that anything we have is only because He gave it. We only have what we have received from Him. The solution to arrogance is to set our hope on God, not the uncertainty of wealth. The market ebbs and flows; His mercy remains constant. Home values fluctuate; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

2. Be rich in good works.

We are to live in such a way that people speak more of our works than our wealth — that we treat people kindly and justly, that we serve others, that we show hospitality, and that we offer mercy.

3. Be generous.

Growing in generosity reveals a growing understanding of God’s generosity to us. Because He is generous and has been generous to us, we are called to be generous to others. We store treasures in the coming age by being generous to God’s kingdom in this age.

One-percenters: Be humble. Be rich in good works. Be generous.

This article about one-percenters originally appeared here.

5 Lessons from the Radical Leadership of Jesus

By
Pete Scazzero
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jesus as a leader
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Leading people in the name of Jesus is complex, demanding great wisdom and discernment. I have dedicated my adult life to the study of leadership. I have written books on leadership, read innumerable books on the topic, and attended more than my share of leadership conferences. But for the last 18 months, I have been meditating on the radical leadership of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel. Considering Jesus as a leader has shaken me. The Holy Spirit has challenged me to honestly look at the Western church model of leadership that lives in me more than I care to admit (i.e., bigger, better, more, faster), and invited me to drink more deeply of Jesus’ life and radical leadership.

Jesus as a Leader

I have summarized my learnings about Jesus as a leader into five lessons for your reflection and prayer:

1. Jesus rejected the powerful ministries presented by Satan—the sensational, the spectacular and the speedy.

Jesus chose the low road of suffering and the cross. He did not storm Israel by messianic force. He refused to flaunt his power or knowledge to “show people” who is the Lord. Instead he knocked quietly at Israel’s door—little by little. In fact, Jesus deplored religion that did show business, preferring to do his work quietly, inconspicuously and in a measured fashion—unlike the false Messiahs of his day. He often withdrew or commanded people to silence, seeking to be hidden and not looking to be well-known. Lord, grant me grace to reject the temptations of going fast and big.

2. Jesus purposefully chose a path of humility.

Jesus chose to be born in a manger and to live in obscurity in Nazareth (i.e., no-wheresville). His first miracle was a miracle of humility as he joined us in the human race in the deep waters of repentance at the hand of John the Baptist. In fact, the center of his ministry took place in the backwoods of Galilee (“the sticks”) and not strategically in Jerusalem. Lord, help me choose humility today.

3. Jesus discipled only a few people, and they were not persons of great influence.

Jesus did not go after celebrities, influential people or worldly leaders, but sided with those without power and status, those at the bottom rungs of society. Unimpressive people impressed him. He gently saved failures and little people at society’s margin, treating them with special respect. Jesus raised little people to bigness, insignificant people to a new significance, and poor people to a very rich life. Lord, teach me to not look at the outward appearance but to look at the heart as you do (1 Sam.16:7).

Latest Pew Survey: Christianity in America Is Declining, Still

By
Megan Briggs
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

The results of a Pew Research survey released today reveal that Christianity in America is continuing on its declining trend. While the study concludes “the U.S. is steadily becoming less Christian and less religiously observant as the share of adults who are not religious grows,” there are a couple of silver linings to look out for within the Protestant church. 

The data was collected from political polls conducted by Pew Research, which asked respondents “What is your present religion, if any? Are you Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mormon, Orthodox such as Greek or Russian Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, agnostic, something else, or nothing in particular?”

Christianity in America Is Declining

The percentage of American adults who describe themselves as Christian has gone from 77 percent to 65 percent, representing a 12 percentage point decrease over the last 10 years. Not only has the number of those who identify as Christians decreased, the number of people who identify as either atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular” has risen from 17 percent to 26 percent over the past decade. 

Breaking those groups down, the survey revealed that both the Catholic church and Protestant denominations have lost members. Protestants are down to 43 percent of the population (compared to 51 percent in 2009), while Catholics are down to 20 percent (compared to 2009’s 23 percent). 

Additionally, within the religiously unaffiliated group (or “nones” as they are called these days), there are three groups: Atheists, agnostics, and “nothing in particular”. Atheists now account for four percent of those surveyed (up from two percent in 2009); agnostics have gone from three percent to five percent over the last ten years; and “nones” have jumped from 12 percent of the population to 17 percent today. 

Protestants and Catholics shrinking as share of U.S. population; all subsets of 'nones' are growing

The data also suggest these declines in Christian affiliation are affecting all demographics and regions of the country. From the silent generation to Millennials, college graduates to non-college graduates, Americans are not identifying themselves as Christian as much as they used to. However, two groups of people stand out as losing the most: Millennials and those who identify as Democrat. 

Broad-based declines in share of Americans who say they are Christian

As one drills down into the broad stroke of people represented by the phrase “Protestant”, however, there appears to be a group that is maintaining its share of the Protestant pie (even as the pie itself is getting smaller). While the numbers of the general population suggest that those who belong to evangelical or “born again” circles are declining along with all other Christians, if one just looks at the Protestant population, the share that is evangelical or born again is actually comparable to the 2009 percentage. 

Among Protestants, share who say they are 'born-again or evangelical' Christians is as high as or higher than a decade ago

Church Attendance Declining

In addition to asking how the respondents identify in terms of religion, the survey also asked how often respondents attend religious services. Here, too, the general population data suggests decline. The question posed to respondents was: “Aside from weddings and funerals, how often do you attend religious services? More than once a week, once a week, once or twice a month, a few times a year, seldom, or never?”

Those who responded once or twice a month has dropped by seven percent, while those who say they attend less often than that (or not at all) has risen by seven percent. The data also suggests that those who attend infrequently are starting to outnumber those who attend regularly. Pew’s report explains:

In 2009, regular worship attenders (those who attend religious services at least once or twice a month) outnumbered those who attend services only occasionally or not at all by a 52 percent-to-47 percent margin. Today those figures are reversed; more Americans now say they attend religious services a few times a year or less (54 percent) than say they attend at least monthly (45 percent).

In U.S., church attendance is declining

There is one silver lining in the church attendance numbers, however. While overall church attendance frequency is going down in the general population, church attendance frequency among those who still identify as Christians is not going down. “Today, 62 percent of Christians say they attend religious services at least once or twice a month, which is identical to the share who said the same in 2009,” Pew’s report says. So why is church attendance going down overall? It’s due to the smaller number of Christians in the general population. 

Among Christians, little change in rates of church attendance

Differences in How Previous Surveys Were Conducted

Pew has had to use alternate methods to gather current data compared to how it conducted its Religious Landscape Studies in 2007 and 2014. For those years, Pew spoke to over 35,000 respondents on the telephone and asked “dozens of detailed questions about their religious identities, beliefs, and practices.” 

This year, however, Pew relied on data collected while it was doing other, political surveys. They also used this data collected from political polls to fill in the years between 2007 and 2014 (the two years when the Landscape Studies were conducted), and the years between 2014 and 2019. More information on the methodology behind the survey can be found here. 

After 3 New Dove Wins, Daigle Shares How She Stays Grounded

By
Jessica Lea
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Lauren Daigle’s star continues to rise. The Grammy-winning singer is about to embark on a world tour and recently took home three trophies at the 50th annual Dove Awards. Speaking in the press room after her wins, Daigle shared how her experience touring shaped the writing of Look Up Child and how she copes with the challenges of her career.

“It’s the people in this room that have held me up through this journey,” said Daigle at the awards. “It’s been profound, it’s been vast and it’s been wild.” 

Lauren Daigle at the Dove Awards

Daigle took home Dove awards for Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. 

She was also nominated for Songwriter of the Year-Artist, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, and Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year. Her wins bring Daigle’s total number of Dove Awards to 10, not counting her previous nominations, and this is the second time she has won Artist of the Year.

Setting More Records

Daigle’s popular song, “You Say,” from the album, Look Up Child, recently set the record for the longest running song on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. As of this writing, “You Say” has remained in the number one spot on the chart for 64 consecutive weeks.

The song that previously held that record was “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United. Reflecting on the impact that “Oceans” has had on people, Daigle said, “I hoped that I could be a part of something that shakes the earth like that song. I didn’t know that would ever happen, and I had no idea that ‘You Say’ would be something that would parallel the life of ‘Oceans.’” 

In January, “You Say” broke a different record, when it made Daigle the female artist with the longest running single on the Hot Christians Songs chart.

Learning and Growing

In the press room after her Dove wins, Daigle said that touring for her album, How Can It Be, set the stage for the creation of Look Up Child. She was “brand new” when she wrote How Can It Be, said Daigle, adding “I felt so green, had no idea what I was doing.” But she toured for that album for three to four years, and during that time, she learned what she called the “weight of a song,” that is, what it means to sing the same song every night and to see God move through it.

So when it came time to write Look Up Child, Daigle knew she wanted “a little piece of home” with her when she eventually toured for that album. So she went home to Louisiana for six months where, she said, “I would let where I came from kind of seep back into my bones, and I would walk around the pond at my parents’ house and just talk to the Lord, and honestly, that’s kind of where a lot of it started…I feel like what the Lord opened in my heart back home is what He got to complete here in Nashville with my producers.”

When asked what “keeps her going,” Daigle said it was other people’s stories. Recently, she was having a rough day and was struggling with a bad attitude when she had meet-and-greets with two families. Each family had experienced a child being diagnosed with cancer. One family’s story was that their child was now cancer-free, but the other family’s child had passed away. Said Daigle, “That will change you. That will take you out of the places that your head can go to—your pride, your disappointment, your frustration. All those things.”

Daigle also shared a little about her struggle with feeling normal, saying there is an emotional high from performing that is hard to recover from. “You get so high that normal feels really low,” she said. So she’s had to learn how not to get carried away by the intensity of that feeling.

At the same time, it’s a struggle not to doubt herself or compare herself to others. “I think that comparison is a thief,” she said and observed that comparing yourself to others reinforces doubt. Even when it comes to her recent awards, Daigle said it’s easy to feel insecure and start wondering why she only won three awards instead of all six. To combat this mindset, she works on being grateful for what she has been given. 

And that attitude of thankfulness was on display that evening. “Just to see the support of so many people, it’s really, really moving. It’s overwhelming,” she said.

John Bunyan and Pastoral Calling

By
Matt Haste
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At the southwest corner of St. Peter’s green in the English town of Bedford, a bronze statue of a man sits close to the street. The man’s eyes are lifted to the sky and a Bible rests in his hands; he bears a grave expression, yet he looks ready to speak a word of truth at any moment, to plead with passersby. This, it seems, is exactly how John Bunyan would want to be remembered.

His depiction of the ideal pastor in his famous allegory Pilgrim’s Progress supplied the inspiration for the statue. With his back to the world and his gaze on the heavens, the man was among the select few authorized to guide others along their way to the Celestial City. John Bunyan was typical of the Puritans in his veneration of the pastorate. With such a lofty vision for pastoral ministry, one might wonder, how did the Puritans discern who was called by God to this great work?

THE PURITAN CONCEPT OF CALLING

The Puritan concept of calling was built on Reformation convictions about vocation. As William Perkins put it, one’s calling is a stewardship “ordained and imposed on man by God for the common good.”[1] In the Puritan mind, God appointed each person to a particular vocation for his own sovereign purposes. If God called a man into the pastorate, the Puritans believed his life would display certain characteristics that confirmed this calling. A survey of Puritan writings on the subject reveals that the Puritans did not elevate one aspect of calling above the rest but rather sought a confluence of characteristics that demonstrated God’s wise hand of preparation. When a man established the necessary qualifications—conviction to lead and teach, competency for the work, Christ-like character, and the confirmation of God’s people—then, and only then, could he consider himself called to the ministry.

JOHN BUNYAN’S CALL TO MINISTRY

John Bunyan’s journey into the pastorate is a helpful illustration of how these principles worked out in one man’s life. Several years after his conversion, some observant members of his local church began to recognize his potential. As he recorded in his spiritual autobiography Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, they “did perceive that God had counted me worthy to understand something of his will in his holy and blessed word, and had given me utterance in some measure, to express what I saw to others, for edification.” So, they asked Bunyan to provide a “word of exhortation” at an upcoming meeting, which in turn was well-received. As John Bunyan later reported, “I discovered my gift amongst them” as the congregation was “both affected and comforted.” After he was asked to preach several more times, he began to pray and fast for wisdom. When the church appointed him to a more regular preaching role, he confessed, “I did evidently find in my mind a secret pricking forward thereto.” His heart set upon 1 Corinthians 16:15 in particular, which, in the Authorized Version that Bunyan read, spoke of the apostles having “addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” Feeling this same desire growing in his own heart and continuing to see fruit from his labors, Bunyan concluded, “These things, therefore, were another argument unto me, that God [had] called me to, and stood by me in this work.”[2]

John Bunyan was first recognized for his character and then tested to evaluate his competence. As the church confirmed his gifts, he began to develop the conviction that he longed to serve the Lord in this way. The sum of those elements led Bunyan to conclude that he was, indeed, called to ministry.[3] John Bunyan remained confident in this call even as he faced persecution and spent over twelve years in the Bedford jail that his statue faces to this day. He would become one of the most highly-regarded preachers and influential authors of the Puritan era, but only after he was sure he possessed the necessary qualifications.

CALLED AND QUALIFIED

The Puritan perspective on calling is not above critique but the following brief commendations highlight the wisdom their writings offer for pastors today. Each point provides a helpful contrast to the approach of many modern evangelicals.

First, the Puritans viewed the call to ministry in the context of a developed doctrine of vocation. Instead of reverting to the sacred-secular divide of medieval thought, the Puritans recognized that all people are called by God and gifted for particular vocations.

Second, the Puritans emphasized external rather than internal confirmation. They encouraged a man to consider how God had gifted him, what opportunities lay before him, and especially, how others responded to him. This entrusted primary responsibility to the collective wisdom of the church and its leaders rather than the subjective assessment of the individual.

Finally, the Puritan approach was multi-faceted rather than mystical or minimalistic. Instead of over-simplifying the process or elevating one aspect of calling above the rest, the Puritans encouraged young men to approach the question from several angles. The four characteristics outlined in this article—conviction, competence, character, and confirmation—held relatively equal weight in helping someone determine if God had qualified him for vocational ministry. This inclination parallels a practice informed by another collection of C-words that may be familiar to some readers.

In the twentieth century, gemologists identified “Four Cs” that help classify the quality of a diamond—cut, carat, color, and clarity. Each characteristic serves as an indicator of the overall quality of the stone, but no single measurement is sufficient on its own to determine the diamond’s value. A wise jeweler examines a diamond from all angles, fixing trained eyes on potential imperfections or subtle deficiencies. A high mark in one category could skew the evaluation for a novice, but an expert knows to grade the stone across all four categories.

The parallel to the four themes discussed here is instructive. Just as diamonds are evaluated through a particular set of established categories, so we must train young men to evaluate themselves. Rejecting a simplistic lens, they must look at their lives from all angles—and get help from others—to discover if God has truly qualified them for the work of ministry. Bunyan and the Puritans understood the high calling of the pastorate and were eager to protect the office. They offer a wise example for helping young men determine if they are called by God to serve as pastors today.

______________________________________

This article is adapted from the forthcoming book, The Pastor’s Life: Practical Wisdom from the Puritans by Matthew D. Haste and Shane W. Parker (Christian Focus, 2019).

[1]William Perkins, A Treatise of the Vocations or Callings of Men (Cambridge: John Legat, 1603), 2.

[2]John Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, in Works of John Bunyan (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1991), 1:36.

[3]The story of Bunyan’s contemporary, the London pastor Frances Bampfield (d. 1683) provides a helpful experience. See Frances Bampfield, A Name, an After-One (London: John Lawrence, 1681).

This article about John Bunyan originally appeared here.

The Hidden Poverty of Affluence

By
Scott Sauls
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There is a definite hidden poverty of affluence among people in our world today that we must talk about.

When our family moved to Nashville from our 850 square-foot apartment in New York City, we were hoping for more living space… but not too much more. We had grown accustomed to the smaller space, which drew us together and enabled us to live more simply. We asked our realtor to find us a modest house within five miles of the church where I would serve as pastor. “Anything around 2,000 square feet will be plenty,” we told him. But the smallest house he was able to find for us – the house where we now live – is almost twice that size.

Moving day would be the first glimpse that either of our daughters would have of our new home. When we arrived, our justice-driven, sometimes bleeding heart, sensitive-to-global-poverty daughter exclaimed that the house was too much. Way too big. Why do we have so much space? This standard of living seems wrong. Although we didn’t say it out loud, in some ways Patti and I felt the same.

Two ironies soon emerged from this moment. First, our 3,650 square foot house ended up costing us about half of what the 850 square-foot New York apartment did. Secondly, within weeks, we all noticed that our big house was starting to feel small relative to some other homes we had visited.

Our former New York church and our Nashville church are unique, as both churches have an unusual number of well-off and “celebrity-types” in the mix. This has forced us to wrestle with the question of wealth and fame. What does Jesus think about wealthy people and celebrities? Is there a place for them at his Table and in his circle of friends? Are others in our church – namely those living bankrupt or paycheck-to-paycheck – more virtuous because they have less? Is Jesus’ imperative to the rich young ruler – that he must sell all he has and give it to the poor – a non-negotiable for all of his followers? Is the poverty of affluence a real problem?

The Opulence of Jesus

Mary took a pound of expensive ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus…The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas said, “Why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:1-8)

Despite Judas’ protest, Jesus received the gift – a full year’s wages worth of perfume – as he lounged comfortably at the table like a boss. This was the same Jesus who was born in a stall, died on a trash heap, and had no place to lay his head. This same Jesus enjoyed – and did not resist in spite of passionate, social-conscience driven protests – certain perks that would only be familiar to corporate executives, preferred country club members, and privileged blue-bloods.

What’s more, Jesus in his infinite wisdom – a wisdom that is higher and greater than ours – has appointed some of his children to live poor and others to live large.

Job, the most God-like man on earth, was also the wealthiest. Abraham was made prosperous with land and cattle. Solomon asked God for wisdom and got wisdom and great wealth. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, both influential and moneyed men, had the honor of securing Jesus’ burial site. History begins in an extravagant paradise, and will end in an extravagant city with many mansions, precious gems everywhere, and streets paved with gold.

Yet it’s also true that…

If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. (1 Timothy 6:8-10) No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24)

The Bible never says that having wealth is a problem, but desiring and serving wealth. It never says that money is a root of all kinds of evils, but the love of money. That is the poverty of affluence.

Why would Jesus tell the rich ruler to give everything to the poor, but not also demand the same from Abraham or Job? Because the rich ruler didn’t really have money. Money had him. The man who thought he couldn’t live without his money, in truth, wouldn’t be able to live with it. He had the poverty of affluence.

United States ‘not prepared’ for Persecution, Andrew Brunson Warns

By
Jessica Lea
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One year after being freed from prison in Turkey, where he was unjustly detained for two years, Pastor Andrew Brunson has published a memoir about his experience and what he learned from it about suffering for Jesus. He told the Washington Examiner that, upon returning to the United States, he was surprised by what he sees as a growing hostility toward Christianity. The pastor is concerned that young American Christians will not be prepared for overt persecution when it comes to them. 

“[Christian persecution] is actually very normal throughout history,” said Pastor Andrew Brunson. “The abnormality is to not have persecution, but we haven’t had that much in the West. And so people don’t expect it, and when you don’t expect it, then you are not prepared for it.”

What Happened to Pastor Andrew Brunson

Pastor Andrew Brunson and his wife, Norine, had ministered in Turkey for over 20 years when authorities arrested the couple in 2016. While Norine was released after 13 days, Brunson ended up staying in prison for two years. In an interview with Religion News Service (RNS), Brunson said the two at first thought they were going to be deported, but then Turkish authorities accused the pastor of being part of a terrorist group. Specifically, they claimed he had supported U.S-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan believes is behind a failed coup that happened in 2016. Erdoğan became involved in Brunson’s detainment early on, using him as a political pawn. 

Said Bruson, “I had never met anyone who was part of [Gulen’s] movement. I never met what I would call a Gulenist that I was aware of in my life. And so when they accused me of being part of his movement, I mean, they knew it wasn’t true. (The Gulenists) are trying to win people to Islam and I’m trying to win people to follow Jesus, so the idea that we would be working together is just ridiculous.”

Various high-level U.S. officials became involved in the extended battle to secure Brunson’s release. In August 2018, President Trump doubled Turkish aluminum and steel tariffs because of Erdoğan’s continued refusal to release Brunson. In addition to the efforts of President Trump (which Brunson described as “unprecedented”), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. diplomat Phil Kosnett and the U.S. Senate helped a great deal. Said Brunson, “There were several letters that were sent from the Senate, but the last one to Erdoğan had 66 senators who signed. That level of bipartisanship on an issue is very unusual.” North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis even visited Brunson in prison and appeared with him at one of his trials.

Tillis posted a video to Facebook of Brunson delivering the opening prayer before the Senate this past Tuesday. Before he prayed, the pastor thanked the senators, saying, “I am standing here today because so many of you fought for me, and I’m deeply grateful. In a time of many divides, you were unified in fighting for my release. Thank you.”

Pastor Andrew Brunson was released to the U.S. on October 12th, 2018. One day later, he and his wife met with Trump at the Oval Office, where the couple prayed for wisdom and a “spirit of counsel” for the president.

Pastor Andrew Brunson’s Crisis of Faith

In an interview with The 700 Club, Brunson said that when he and Norine went to Turkey, they failed to fully “count the cost” of following Jesus. They knew planting churches in the country was risky, but they never expected to be imprisoned. The pastor also described his expectations of what prison would be like as “naive and unrealistic.” From reading biographies of Christians who had been imprisoned, he assumed he would have supernatural experiences of God’s comfort. Instead, he felt as though God had abandoned him. He told the Examiner, “I had expected that I was just going to have a really strong sense of God’s presence and a sense of grace, and I didn’t. And that really surprised me.” In response to God’s silence, he became angry at God and had a crisis of faith. 

Brunson said, “I had periods where I was suicidal, where I lost all hope. I was in despair and had frequent panic attacks.” Even though he was surrounded by people, those men were Muslim, so he was isolated by his Christian faith. Also, out of his two years in prison, he spent 50 days in solitary confinement and was at one point facing a sentence of solitary confinement for the rest of his life. 

“What made a huge difference for me,” said Brunson, “was the prayer of many people, knowing that they were praying for me. And I began to focus myself on God and fight for my faith. I became aware that I could do very little to fight for my freedom, but I thought, I’m losing my relationship with God in this terrible environment and I need to focus because if I lose this, then I’ve lost everything in my life.” In the end, he said, “I had to come to the point where I said, ‘Whatever my circumstances, whatever I see or don’t see, I need to declare God’s character.’” This was a deliberate act of the will, said Brunson: “I took steps with my will and forced myself, not with my emotions, but making a choice, I’m going to look to God. Then he began to rebuild me.”

Pastor Brunson also said the faithful support of his wife was crucial. After her release, she remained in Turkey, speaking truth to him and praying with him when she was able to visit—even as she herself struggled with doubt and fear. Brunson said, “The Lord really used her to keep me going.” She wholeheartedly embraced his request that she be like the persistent widow on his behalf. Said Brunson, “She was truly persistent. She tried in so many ways, with every diplomatic means that was possible, contacting political leaders. And so she was fully engaged and she did not give up and I’m so grateful for that.”

A Lesson for Young Christians in the U.S.

After coming out of his isolation, Brunson said he was struck by how “overtly hostile” American society has grown toward Christians: “There is a turning in our culture that used to have more respect for Christianity, and that is now becoming unpopular. And Christians are portrayed as being bigots, racist, and basically evil. And so, for someone to stand publicly as a Christian — especially a young person — they’re going to get a lot of pushback from their peers.” Social media increases this pressure, facilitating the speed and potency of criticism. And as Judeo-Christian rights and values disappear, “It is becoming increasingly difficult for people to stand for Jesus publicly, to stand unapologetically for him, to stand for the things that the Bible teaches is true.”

Consequently, Brunson believes it is only a matter of time before Christians in the U.S. will have to decide whether they are willing to endure persecution similar to that which he suffered. To prepare for that, he says believers should focus on developing a fear of and love for God now, which is how he survived his ordeal. The pastor hopes his story will encourage those who hear it to do exactly that and pursue Christ with their whole hearts: “I think the value of my story is that, hopefully, it will be an example…[and] encourage the next generation of Christians to stand for the Lord unapologetically.”

Kimberly Daniels Submits Bible Bill for Florida Schools, Again

By
Megan Briggs
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A proposed bill in Florida is drawing attention even before it’s hit the floor of the House of Representatives for its requirement that Florida high schools include a Bible elective among their courses. A seemingly identical bill stalled earlier this year in the House, but the representative behind the proposal, Rep. Kimberly Daniels (D) of Jacksonville, is not backing down. 

If passed, House Bill 341 would go into effect July 1, 2020. 

This is the second time Daniels has brought this bill before the house. In January 2019, she filed essentially the same bill (House Bill 195). It died in a subcommittee in May, and now Daniels is taking up the cause once more for the 2020 session. 

HB 341 Would Require Bible Class in Florida High Schools

Schools in Florida currently have the option to offer religious studies classes as electives, but Daniels’ bill would make it a requirement for all schools to offer such classes. Earlier this year, on Daniels’ first attempt, she argued that such studies do not violate the constitution since they would be taught “objectively.” She cited a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court opinion on a similar case to back up her argument. As WJCT reported in March, Daniels said the bill “protects constitutional rights of students to be free from impermissible religious instruction by requiring an objective study of the Bible that does not convert or evangelize students.” 

Also in March, a fellow representative challenged the notion that the courses could be “objective” since they don’t also offer teaching on other books considered holy, such as the Quran. Rep. Anna Eskamani (D) asked Daniels “Would you consider adding the Quran to your bill to be a friendly amendment, as another holy book that can be taught ‘objectively,’ to your language?” 

Daniels turned down that idea immediately.  

It’s important to note that while the proposed bill would require schools to offer the courses, it wouldn’t require students to take them (the classes would be elective). Still, any school in Florida would need to either hire someone or reassign a current teacher to teach the class. In March, the question of funding such an endeavor came up. At that time, Daniels didn’t have a plan for how to fund such classes. It is unclear whether the senator has a plan for funding this time around.

Another potential point of contention is what translation of the Bible would be used in these classes. The bill states the students will be required to use a particular translation. 

Who Is Rep. Kimberly Daniels?

In addition to being a politician, Daniels is also an evangelical minister. She’s the lead pastor of Spoken Word Ministries and the author of several Christian books. While some of her constituents admire her faith and the readiness with which she speaks of it, others are not so thrilled. In July, Daniels faced criticism for deleting comments and blocking people who were posting negative comments on her Facebook posts having to do with faith. Daniels, who has both a public profile and a personal profile on Facebook, often posts videos of herself preaching and promotes her ministry’s events on her public profile. 

She also faced a lawsuit last year which was filed from a former legislative aide she fired. Karen Riggien says she was mistreated by Daniels, in part because of what was required of her. Riggien alleges that part of her duties included helping Daniels’ son “gain admission to Florida State University” and “working on (her) home insurance.”

Daniels has faced multiple legal challenges. Last year, she confessed to filing false financial disclosures in 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2017, she paid a $1,500 fine to settle a complaint that she used campaign funds to promote her book, The Demon Dictionary. This complaint dates back to 2015, when Daniels was on the City Council for Jacksonville, Florida. 

So far, Daniels’ bill has only been filed to the House of Representatives. She has not made a public comment on the bill or her hopes of its passing during the upcoming 2020 session. 

Other states are moving to pass similar Bible in public schools bills, although Daniels’ bill is unique in that it calls for these classes to be a required offering.

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