Burden & Blessing

Target’s bathroom policy: You already know about it. You probably have formed an opinion about it. And you’re most likely sick of hearing about it.
But, I ask to consider one more point on the matter; the Biblical position, which seems to be largely absent from the public forum. As a Christian, how should you react to it? Does it affect your faith? Does God say anything about it in the Bible? It might seem like we’re parsing the words of the Bible a bit too thin to say that God cares about department store bathroom policies. But as it is with any situation, you have to get down to the root cause in order to fully understand it. Target’s policy didn’t just poof out of thin air. It was the result of years of subjective conflict against the core principles of God’s Word; a conflict which rages stronger today than ever.
We’ve heard the arguments for and against Target’s change, and that’s part of the problem. After a while, people begin to think that’s all there is to talk about. Some say there’s nothing to be concerned with; that it’s a policy designed to be more inclusive which, from their perspective, is always better. They may also say that no one is being hurt by it. The other side, where most Christians seem to stand, asks what’s to stop a sexual predator from entering the women’s restroom or a pedophile from being alone with a child? They say it creates a dangerous scenario, and it’s hard to argue to the contrary. But sadly, often the discussion ends at one of those two conclusions.
The biggest problem with Target’s policy, and the overall LGBQT platform, is precisely the very thing so many people are overlooking. It’s a moral problem. We’re not just talking about peoples’ civic rights in these issues. Ultimately, it becomes a matter of what we consider to be right and good. From a Biblical perspective transgender ideology is defiance to God and specifically His act of creation. If we open the door to subjective determination of gender, what’s to stop us from allowing any self-made determination that an individual has? The entire transgender movement is built around individual choice. When that reigns, truth is thrown out the window. Eventually, all people must draw a moral line. For the Christian, finding that line is easy because God has already determined it for us.
In the Bible, disobedience to God’s ordered creation is seen as idolatry (see Romans 1). How does this become idolatry? Well, remember, subjective determination reigns in transgender ideology, and other such belief systems that would do away with God’s created standards. The individual becomes the source of truth, not God. Therefore, it becomes self-worship. It is precisely this type of disobedience to God that is the hallmark of the LGBQT movement.
But, hang on a second, isn’t it unloving to judge someone else’s lifestyle? That depends on what you mean by love. Again, for the Christian, God reigns, not subjective desires or opinions. Therefore, God gets to define love. This is actually true for all people, since God is the Creator and therefore the author of truth, reason, and love. But, only Christians who listen to the Bible actually believe it.
God, and specifically Jesus, said this about love:

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me (John 14:23-24).”

It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Love flows from God and from God’s Word. You can’t claim to have love if you disassociate yourself from God’s commands.
But does the Bible leave the question of gender identification open? Surely, Jesus never said anything about this… or did He? Again, the answer is simple:

“Have you not read, He who made them in the beginning made them male and female (Matthew 19:4).”

For Jesus, God’s own Son, this was the standard from creation, a rule that God set.  Male and female. From the beginning. From the Creator. No extra genders. No self-image confusion. No sex transformations. No need for crazy bathroom policies. That alone, outside of tons of other clear passages, not only simplifies the matter, but settles it.
What Christians today seem to be forgetting, or blatantly ignoring, is that the people promoting transgender belief often don’t believe in God, that God created the world, or that God’s Word is the authority for life. If we Christians aren’t willing to compromise on the existence of God (and what Christian is?) why are we compromising on positions that destroy the need for Him in our lives? To dismantle God’s created order is to attempt to dismantle God. And, furthermore, why are Christians allowing atheists to define morality and love? We are not held hostage by man’s opinions, we have life-giving truth! A bathroom policy may not seem like much, but it absolutely deals with these bigger issues.
It’s almost as if Christians in America have come to the conclusion that the fight against the spiritual dangers of the transgender movement is not worth the time anymore. It feels logical to conclude that our country is too far down this path of subjective decision making that no amount of evidence will turn them back. So, the Christian retreats to a more logically neutral place, in the hope of saving some face with society, and the transgender issue shifts from a moral argument of God’s creations to an argument about the safety of our women and children in public restrooms.

As a father and a husband, I share this concern, but I can’t allow it to dominate the discussion. Common sense eliminates many of the potential dangers. My wife is an adult. If she enters the bathroom and a man is inside, she can calmly exit. As a parent, I can accompany my children into the restroom and make sure they are safe. I’m not saying the concern for safety isn’t legitimate, but it’s also not nearly as serious as a person’s relationship with God.
In the end, we don’t get to pick the battle lines. The Lord has already done that through His Word. We have the task of holding that line no matter how much the world is falling apart around us. Think of other Biblical heroes who were faced with difficult circumstances or impossible odds. Just skip ahead and read Hebrews 11 for a summary. When you’re done reading, ask yourself if the Lord wants you to retreat.
But, who will listen!? How will we survive!? What if I’m disliked!? It doesn’t matter!!! God never tells you to worry about these things. In fact, He promises you that if you are indeed following Him, you can be guaranteed that you will suffer for it (2 Timothy 3:12), so be ready! I wonder, what would Christians today have if the early Church gave in, if they retreating from God’s created standard of truth? Remember, they faced many of the same moral pressures that we do today! They held the line, like all God-fearing people do, no matter the circumstances or the reaction from the world. Many of them paid the ultimate price to do so, but it was also the ultimate act of honor to God.
Like most of you, I’m tired of hearing about transgender ideology in the media. But, I also realize it’s only going to increase. We are in the midst of a battle for the truth of God’s Word and the sanctity of His created order, whether we like it or not. Since God has spoken, my task as His follower is to hold that line in the midst of the battle, both in my heart and in my witness to society.
If you are weary, and we are all at some point, don’t fret, you have help. Help to use for personal strength but also the same help to use in the fight.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).”

We all have been redeemed from sin and the many twisted forms that sin takes. We are more than a conquerors through Jesus Christ who loved us (Romans 8:37). Our escape plan from this wicked and sinful world is already in place. Therefore, we don’t retreat. We don’t shy away from the true battle which rages beneath the petty arguments trying to save face with the opposing side. We don’t seek for a neutral position. We seek the truth, and when we find it we don’t let go of it. If we do, we only lose more. No one has ever gained intrinsic purpose, meaning, or value by forsaking the truth. We’d be fools to start trying now. Instead, hold the line. Your Lord and Savior is beside you, ahead of you, and behind you in the fight.
 
 
 

Whenever I got something new as a kid, my dad would make me read through the instructional manual before using it. This was especially important for things that could either be broken or that could break something else. Dad expected me to know how to use whatever it was properly, even if it was a toy. One memory of this practice stands out clearly in my mind. Upon being paid as a young child to help work on the remodel of my sister and brother-in-law’s house, I decided (with quite a bit of encouragement from my dad) to reinvest my earnings by purchasing a cordless drill. This was a great thing for me as a young lad who was just learning how to build and fix things with power tools. As you can imagine, as soon as I got home, I wanted to unpack the drill and try it out. Not so fast!
According to my dad’s rules, I had to first read through the entire instruction manual. He then proceeded to quiz me on certain parts of the manual, just to make sure I had read it. I chuckle and tease my dad about it to this day, but in reality it was good for me to study and learn. It taught me to appreciate using a power tool and how it really wasn’t a toy, even though I kind of thought about it like that. And I still think about this every time I buy a tool, electronic device, or item that needs to be assembled. I always have the impulse to bypass the instructions and figure it out on my own. But, when I take the time to read and learn, it usually saves me some headaches down the line.
I also think of that lesson when it comes to the instruction manual of God’s Word. Now, the Bible is much more than an instruction book. Most importantly, it is the message of free salvation in Christ. But it’s also instructional in that it teaches and that’s important for us when it comes to defining and describing our Christian faith. It’s so easy to fall prey to the temptation to be the type of Christian that others want us to be, rather than actually learn about what God has to say. In our day people pick and choose whatever they feel like believing, while retaining that all important title of “Christian.” I read an example of this kind of thinking this past week. As I perused the newspaper the title “Why Hillary Clinton Needs Jesus” certainly caught my attention. I thought to myself, “Hey, that’s sounds pretty good, I think she needs Jesus too!” But, clearly the author has a different understanding of what it means to “need Jesus.”

The author writes as someone who claims to know a lot about being a Christian, but it’s as if he hasn’t read the instruction manual. The way in which he talks about using the Christian faith is not only misleading but dangerous, like using a power tool as a toy. “Christian” to this author is about a political affiliation,”passion for social and economic justice,” and using Jesus as a means to acquire someone’s vote. I wouldn’t mind so much about an opinion expressed if it wasn’t so false and didn’t have such a weighty influence in our culture. The problem is that there are a lot of people, Christians included, who allow others, like this author, to define the Christian faith for them rather than taking it directly from God’s Word. The truth is that Hillary Clinton does need Jesus.
She needs Him for forgiveness of her sins.
She needs Him to know truth, and therefore to know right from wrong.
She needs Him for salvation; for a life of eternal value.
And before you think I’m judging from my high horse, I need Jesus for the very same reasons, and so do you.
Because so many are defining faith in Jesus as a solely worldly thing, I find myself thinking about passages like Matthew 9:35 more and more: “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” Such a simple passage; one we might readily gloss over as just scenery and many have. But it’s also a passage with profound implications and direction for our lives. Jesus was busy preaching the gospel and healing sicknesses and diseases. Two parts to His ministry: one spiritual, one physical; and the precise model for us to follow.
Modern scholars and experts, like the one who wrote the newspaper article, want to strip Christianity of its spirituality. They want to turn the gospel message of sins forgiven into a “social gospel.” They want to do away with sin and its implication for our lives, namely that we are lost without a Savior, no matter how much we stand up for: women’s rights, poverty, and immigrants. It’s true that it’s wrong for Christians to “talk the talk” and refuse to act when it comes to helping others. But if people want to call out Christians on that, they have to be ready to do the same in the opposite direction. It also makes no sense for people to claim faith in Christ and say they’re doing good works, yet ignore what the rest of God’s Word says; especially on the most important matters of our lives (yes, there are more important things in life than social reform, personal rights, and immigration). We become hypocrites, in both directions, when we don’t read the instruction manual.
We all need Jesus just as much as Hillary Clinton does. But let’s not reduce Jesus to a ‘social Savior’. Helping the poor, defending the weak, and calling out the greedy are all important things (pay attention here, too, Bernie Sanders). But, Jesus is not some resource to be used to achieve our own personal vision of how to accomplish these tasks. He defines the basis of both spiritual and social justice in His Word, just as He practiced both in His life. It was Jesus who said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”, and “My kingdom is not of this world…” Likewise, you can’t pick one area of the Christian faith to accept and promote while denying another. The true gospel does not exalt one person’s choice over another person’s life. It was also Jesus who said, “Let the little children come to Me, for of such is the kingdom of God,” and “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.”
It’s horrific to see political leaders ascend church pulpits to promote their political ideologies and cater for votes. If ever there was a modern version of merchants in the temple that would have to be it. But it’s even sadder to see Christians redefining the rich heritage of their faith, which is rooted in the holy Word of God. They should know better. You don’t re-write the instruction manual because so many people are misusing the tool. You correct the misuse.
May God continue to use His effective Word to change hearts, by relaying the instructions of truth and by promoting the good news of salvation!

Yesterday was the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion in the United States. It saddens and amazes me that something like abortion could continue for so long in what we call a civilized society. Diversity of faiths is as high as ever in America yet almost all people still claim to be moral in their natures. You don’t need to be a Christian to see that abortion is just plain wrong. How can we claim morality and still turn a blind eye to such bloodshed? How can so many still defend it? These things have been on my mind this week and so I feel compelled to share some thoughts with those on both sides of the issue.

First of all, some bare facts about unborn children and abortion:

• At 12 weeks, all the major organs have begun to develop in the baby.
• At 8 weeks, brain activity can be detected in the baby.
• At 3.5 weeks, the heart begins to beat.
• At 2 months, a child can hear, move, and feel pain. Most abortions are performed in the first 3 months.
• The original wording of the Hippocratic Oath (400 BC) condemned abortions: “I will give no deadly drug to any, though it be asked of me, nor will I counsel such, and especially I will not aid a woman to procure abortions.” The part about abortion was changed in 1964.
• Less than 1% of abortions are performed to save a mother’s life.

Before you condemn these stats as “pro-life talk” seriously consider what these things mean when it comes to defining the beginning of life. If a senior citizen had brain function, a heartbeat, the ability to hear, move, and feel would we call it life? Would they no longer be alive because they needed help to live or because others made the choice that they shouldn’t get the right to live?

A plea to abortion supporters:

To all who continue to fight for abortion: Death is never the solution to a problem. Death is a foreign disease in the world. Arguing that destroying something life, or even the potential for life, is something beneficial is complete foolishness, inherently selfish, and unbelievably wicked. Don’t believe otherwise just because so many consciences in our land are seared.
To those who argue for the liberty of choice: You don’t have to right to murder, plain and simple. It’s true that not everyone agrees on when life begins. But, if there is any possibility of life, even if you don’t consider it life yet, it is still worth defending. If there is the slightest bit of evidence that life begins at conception, and there definitely is, destroying it should be a last resort; and only to protect someone else’s life. This is simple, common sense. Any argument to the contrary degrades the value of human life.
To those who argue for women’s rights: Women have the awesome responsibility of bringing new life into the world. That ability is given to them alone. Part of that responsibility is to protect life. Encouraging women to choose death over life does not empower them or protect their rights. That is not freedom or liberty, but rather slavery to one’s own desires. The only time abortion should ever be considered is when the mother’s health is at risk. Not her goals, not her hobbies, not her desires, but her actual health. Life presents all of us with difficult situations; harming others, especially the innocent, is never a solution to our problems. We need to encourage women to stop looking at childbirth as a burden but rather see it as a blessing. We need to give them options to help them succeed, not immoral ways out of difficult situations. The true measure of maturity is being able to face a problem and get through it, not to ignore it, especially when another’s life is at stake. Part of being a woman is carrying this awesome responsibility in a mature way. It is the same for anyone who has control or power over someone else’s life and well-being.
Even if abortion is an option, it should always be the last option. That’s the only moral path. There are plenty of resources available to help women faced with an unexpected pregnancy. There are plenty of other options. We owe it both to women and to the unborn to exhaust these options before considering abortion.
To those who say that the government should not intrude on this issue: Wake up to reality. It was the government who legalized abortion. Therefore, the government is already involved and has been for some time. Those who say the government shouldn’t get involved only do so because the government has already ruled in their favor. Furthermore, the government also has the obligation to protect the innocent and to punish the wicked. A person’s choice does not determine whether the taking of life is right or wrong. Only the truth of the matter should determine that and the government exists to defend the truth. It’s time to step up and protect life in the womb. Consider our own President who tweeted this in response to gun violence: “If there’s even one thing we can do, if there’s just one life we can save—we’ve got an obligation to try.” I completely agree and I know many abortion supporters do too, when it comes to gun control. Why isn’t it true for unborn babies, too? Why aren’t we trying harder?
To the Christian who supports abortion: In case you don’t think this is relevant, consider this stat: 37% of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 28% identify themselves as Catholic. 25% of women who obtained an abortion attended a religious service at least once a month (Guttmacher institute).
The Christian who supports abortion needs to seriously reconsider their morals and values in life. And they need to return to God’s Word for guidance and direction. The Bible absolutely condemns the practice of abortion. Christians from the very beginning have spoken against abortion. Yes, there can be extreme cases when abortion must be considered. But that is a far cry from what has been going on in the United States for 43 years. There is absolutely no place for abortion in Christianity but even more importantly, there is always hope for a better path. God values every life, whether the unborn or the morally lost. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).” Christians must stand for this, not for abortion.

A plea to abortion opponents:

To those who feel weakened by the struggle: Keep fighting. Remember Elijah when he felt that he was the only believer left. He was alone, he was on the run, and he felt helpless. But God was always with him. God had a plan. God had others who had not given in. Life can feel very dark but it’s never as bad as we imagine in our despondency. God is still in control. Keep fighting for the truth. Keep fighting for life. Keep sharing the gospel.
To those who are frustrated: Pray. The urgent prayer of the righteous is very powerful in its effect (James 5:16). You are able to accomplish more through a simple prayer of faith than worrying and fretting about life’s problems. But don’t forget to act either. Faith is never void of action. If Christians don’t defend God’s Word and take the difficult positions, who will?
Exercise love and wisdom in your stance. Don’t sink to the level of the radical pro-choice crowd. Understand that abortion destroys the emotions of the women who employ it as well. Be ready to comfort with the Lord’s forgiveness just as much as you are ready with reasons why abortion is wrong. God put His Law in everyone’s heart and it is at work when women feel the guilt and pain of abortion. Let us be ready to help them toward recovery through the gospel.
To those who ask, “What can I do?”: Start small and work your way up. Don’t ever feel that you are wasting your time by standing firm in your faith or speaking out against wickedness. No matter how insignificant it may feel or how little an impact it makes, it is time well spent. Do what you can in the situations that God has placed you. Speak when the time arises. Encourage those who are with you. Love those who are against you. Work at it everyday and after a while you might be surprised by how far you’ve come.
And especially around this time, think about your right to vote. Don’t allow abortion to slink to the background of your political stance. Don’t be silent because your friends might disagree with you. Some things are worth the shame, especially when they defend the cross of Christ and the life He has freely won for all people. At the end of the day, no political issue should be more pressing to Christians than abortion.

Some helpful resources:

http://www.nrlc.org/help/
http://www.abort73.com/
http://www.lutheransforlife.org/

There’s been a lot of anticipation surrounding the newest Star Wars film, which came out this past weekend. There is little doubt that the hype has overshadowed some other recent releases. One film in particular that caught my attention was Spike Lee’s “Chi-Raq” which is an adaptation of the Greek myth, Lysistrata. If you’re not familiar with Lysistrata it’s about a woman who persuades other women to withhold sex from men in order to put an end to the Peloponnesian War. In his movie, Lee posits the same strategy when it comes to gun violence in America.
Full disclosure, I haven’t seen the film, and judging from the preview it doesn’t look like wholesome family entertainment, but the plot does present a provoking thought. Sex is one of the strongest forces in human nature. God created people with strong desires for sex, in large part to encourage procreation (Genesis 1:28). The engine of sexual desire is so powerful that it often runs people off the tracks. Men (and, yes, often males) have found plenty of ways to distort true sexual happiness into twisted forms like: pornography, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and others. Everyday, tons of people make horrible choices regarding sex which they end up regretting, sometimes for the rest of their lives. Even the strongest Christians falter and fail when it comes to sexual sins. The temptations of these sins are so powerful that the Lord’s simple advice is just to run away from the very thoughts (2 Timothy 2:22).
If ever there was a time in history when sexual desires ruled, it would be today. An improper use of sex is at the core of our nation’s greatest ailments. A few examples: The majority of abortions happen as a result of people who want the pleasure of sex without the commitment, responsibility, and maturity that it requires. The spread of AIDS is largely due to casual sex. Divorces often happen because of sexual problems leading to subsequent brokenness in families. A broken family can lead to a whole host of others hardships.
The sexual desires behind these problems are so strong that most people have given up trying to curb them. Kids are now encouraged to use condoms, not to wait for marriage. Just about every popular television show or movie romanticizes a sinful use of sex. We literally could end the spread of the AIDS virus, but people just can’t, or won’t, say no. Instead, they want a medical cure so that they can continue having loose sex without physical consequences. According to a CDC study from 2014, 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases are reported each year in America, and that’s only the ones actually reported. STDs also contribute to $16 billion annually in medical expenses.
On-demand abortion has been legal since 1973, accounting for the greatest loss of American life – 57 million and counting each day. To give you some perspective, that’s roughly 56 million more than the combined combat deaths of American soldiers since 1776. Think of that next time you see the rows upon rows of tombstones at a military cemetery. To salve their consciences, abortion supporters have twisted logic around to say they’re really fighting for women’s health. Please tell me when greater death ever led to better health, wellness, life, or whatever you want to call it? Others have chosen to call the baby a “fetus” in order to distance themselves from its humanity, even though modern technology shows that life exists from conception.
How do people believe such outrageous lies? Answer: the power of sex. Wherever strong desires exist people will find ways to weasel around the truth. Now there’s nothing wrong with supporting AIDS medical research, providing healthcare for those who suffer from STDS, or speaking out against gun violence. But it’s hypocritical, and ultimately self-defeating, to do so while leaving loopholes for the sinful actions and lifestyles that are perpetuating the issues. Whatever semblance of morality exists under such a platform is quickly found to be hollow when the core problem of sin is continually ignored or excused.
So, could Lee’s premise work? If women refused to have sex with men, could it change society for the better? Could it end, or at least seriously deter, gun violence? I doubt we’ll ever find out, but even if it could it would only be a temporary patch on a very small wound. It’s ironic what happens when humans put their own spin on God’s original plan. Oftentimes, human morality is similar to God’s will, and sometimes it shares many of the same characteristics. But human morality is never willing to give up the big things; things like sexual sins. God has designed a moral way to have sex. It’s called marriage – one man, one woman, for life. It’s really not complicated at all. If we would but follow that single principle, so many of our problems would go away.
It’s not as easy as it sounds, though, is it? Because of sin, the strong desire for sex now works against us daily. That doesn’t mean all sex is wrong. It also doesn’t mean we should get a self-righteous attitude against those who are caught in these sins, because no one is completely innocent. The solution is not to defiantly preach the Word of God while shunning those suffering from sexual sins. But at the same time no one ever cleaned his dirty laundry by trying cover it up, pretending that it didn’t exist, or even withholding something until others did it for him. That’s true literally and figuratively. The more we cover up the bitter truth of sin, and the great devastation it causes in our lives, the further we drift from God. In Christ, we have hope to be more than than our desires, our lusts, and our sins; because we are forgiven.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When it comes to positive changes in our culture, the influence of sex cannot be ignored. But if we’re serious about change, we have to do more than tweak our own version of morality for a time and then return to the status quo. When it comes to the temptations, especially those of a sexual nature, it’s nothing short of spiritual arrogance if we think we can control them on our own, and even use them to our advantage. God alone has power over sin, and He’s proven it by defeating it on the cross. Any control we can exercise over sin is solely a product of His grace as it comes in to us in His Word.

That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Spike Lee is right about one thing, just as his movie poster states. We are living in a world that makes us feel like there’s “no peace.” The lack of peace can be blatant, like gun violence. But it’s also subtle, like the war of temptations in the heart. However, there is peace but it’s is not acquired by withholding sex, as the poster so eloquently implies by the subsequent word-play, “no piece.” True peace comes through a much deeper yet also much simpler way. It’s a peace that first exists in a heart that doesn’t hide or make excuses for wicked behaviors, but rather believes that Jesus Christ can freely take them away.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).”

A pastor never quite knows what his day is going to be like. You plan and schedule things, but you need to be flexible because changes spring up out of nowhere. On Wednesday, as I was preparing for our Advent service I received a phone call from a woman who was brought to tears. Her brother recently committed suicide and her mother had passed away from cancer a few months before. She also has suffered from: drug use, bi-polar disorder, diabetes, and depression. We talked for a while about things in her life; what she’s currently going through and what she needs to fix. And obviously, we also talked about God.
Whenever the topic of God came up the conversation always  reverted back to one thing for this woman – prayer. She talked about how often she prayed, how concerned she was that God wasn’t listening, how close she was to giving up, and so on. She was ready to call it quits with God because He apparently hadn’t answered her prayers. As a Christian, I’d have a hard time encouraging anyone not to pray. But, the more I see and hear about how people view prayer, the more discouraged I get. There’s obviously nothing bad or wrong about prayer, God implores us to use it in our lives and it is a most precious and vital resource. But we need to take care of how we use that gift and how we understand it.
For this woman, her individual prayers composed the foundation of her relationship with God. This conversation made me think about several of the recent tragedies in America and across the world, and how after all of them you hear the same response: “I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.” I would never withhold thoughts and prayers from someone, especially those suffering, but are they all I can give? Are thoughts and prayers even the best thing? When people are led to believe that prayer is the most important part of their faith, they will eventually despair. The truth is, there’s much more to Jesus and my faith than the communication I offer to God. Chief of all should be that Christ loves me enough that He freely paid the penalty of my sins. Without that message, prayer doesn’t mean anything.
The problem is this, if we focus too much on our prayers, we lose sight of God’s communication back. His words to us are not sent by prayer, they’re present in His Word. And often, the one who ignores or doesn’t know that Word, prays only for what they want or what they think they need. Make no mistake, we should ask God for blessings, but it shouldn’t be the only way we communicate with Him. Would you be friends with someone who only talked with you when they wanted something?
“Thoughts and prayers” are nice, but in our culture they have become a cliche, and often one that people repeat without thinking much. And it seems that the “thoughts and prayers” are becoming more important than the faith itself. Jesus once told His disciples, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses (Luke 12:15).” When it comes to prayer, we might paraphrase it this way, “One’s life with God does not consist in the abundance of the things he prays about.”
Thoughts and prayers are not the end all, be all of the Christian life. Sadly, this woman thought so, and she was ready to give up because of it. Much more important than what we say to God is what He says to us. Take it from Ecclesiastes 5:1-3: Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.
The next time you’re in need or you see someone in need, give them more than just “thoughts and prayers,” give them the gracious gospel of Jesus Christ!

A couple of months ago I was visiting with my uncle about politics. At the time Donald Trump was soaring in popularity. My uncle made a good point that stuck with me: guys like Trump are what we get when people become fatigued by political jargon and failed promises. When someone like Trump gets in the spotlight and starts shooting from the hip with his straight-talk rhetoric, it resonates with a lot of people. Good or bad, it’s the natural reaction to past political failures in our culture.
Politics aside, I believe a similar thing has happened with this recent Starbucks cup excitement, but in a spiritual sense. As a Christian in modern America, I’ve seen a continual trend by secular society of trying to de-Christianize things. I’m not saying Starbucks has done this by using a plain, red cup, but as a company they do have a track record of supporting unscriptural positions. It’s within this context that some Christians (a minority it seems) were offended. As a Christian living with the same societal pressure and, at times, persecution; I understand their concern about attempts to take Christ out of things, even if it’s something as minor as a disposable coffee cup. I don’t share their position nor do I want to legitimize their actions, but I understand where they’re coming from, and it’s always healthy to have a better understanding.
But, to me, there’s an even bigger concern present. For far too long Christians in America have been content to sit on the sidelines as our culture trends toward immorality. Instead of standing out as the “salt and light of the earth” (Matt. 5:13-14) they have become numb by the de-sensitizing pressures of our culture. The philosophy that society attempts to ingrain in us is that we shouldn’t publicly defend our faith. In America, freedom and tolerance are often the rallying cries of those who are sick of hearing the message of the cross. In such a climate, when Christians fail to provide a witness of the truth or defend their faith, it’s inevitable that people like Joshua Feuerstein will rise up and gain popularity. I’m not here to label Joshua’s intentions. From most of what I have seen and read about him, he appears to mean well and he certainly has sincerity about what he believes from the Bible, even if his actions are misguided at times.
But his radical views and tactics are what Christianity at-large gets for failing to take a stand and defend God’s Word in truth and love. Feuerstein is the religious version of Donald Trump, which isn’t surprising since Trump backed his idea to boycott Starbucks. While he may have good intentions he ends up turning others away with his overly aggressive, sarcastic, and demeaning approach. He has filled the vacuum that has slowly been forming through an ungodly trend in society combined with Christian timidity.
From a Biblical perspective, Feuerstein is an example of Ephesians 4:15 when “truth” is over-emphasized at the expense of “love.” An unfortunate by-product is that all Christians, even if they don’t agree with the minority, are eventually lumped in by association; especially among those with little knowledge of the Christian faith. We may sit back and point the finger solely at Feuerstein, and many are doing this, but as a collective body we are just as much to blame. He’s risen up as a voice for Christians because too many are failing to rise up on their own. It’s always easier to jump on the bandwagon and criticize the loud, and at times obnoxious voices, but it’s much harder to show the same fervor when the target is pointed the other direction; whether that be at your own sinful heart or at the errors of the world. Memes and quick one liners on facebook are the epitome of over-analyzing the speck while ignoring the plank (Matthew 7:3).
I don’t agree with Fuererstein when it comes to Starbucks’ cups, but I respect his courage to take a stand. How many of us regular, ordinary Christians would do the same? And if we did would things be different? A stand in your faith is more than just a facebook post here or there or a thumbs up “like” of approval, even though sometimes the little things can make a big difference. Taking a stand is a lifestyle. It means hastening to the Word of God daily to hear and learn. It means appreciating and taking advantage of the religious freedom we have to heed the “one thing needed (Luke 10:42)” each Sunday. Yes, the lost art of listening, especially to the voice of your Savior. This is the great enigma of the 21^st century when witty blog posts and keen facebook comments rule; and the eternal wisdom of Christ crucified takes a back seat. And finally, a stand in your faith means taking that Word to heart and showing it, even if that means having to go against the majority.
Before you judge anyone, whether it be Starbucks or Joshua Feuerstein, ask yourself this: Have you judged yourself? Have you examined your own heart? Have you been courageous in your Christian witness, even if you’re misguided at times? It’s easy to sit back and criticize a Christian for trying and failing, especially when so many others are joining in. But in the end what’s worse, taking a stand and saying the wrong thing or taking no stand at all? Are you examining? Are you listening? Are you learning?

Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. 2 Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. 12 Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You. 14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. 15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. Psalm 51:1-2, 12-15