What Does “Woke” Mean? And Why Does It Matter?Dr. Paul ChappellFri, 03/01/2024 - 16:49 Woke is an odd word—and not just because it is a past tense verb that is now commonly used as an adjective. It's odd because it has vague connotations without clear definitions. This ambiguity allows those who appreciate the word's implications to write off those who criticize its implications as “just not understanding its meaning.”? In conversations like this, clarity is always our friend. That's why I was thankful when someone from our Sheriff's Department recently asked me what I meant in using the word woke. This individual is not a believer, and I was happy to answer his question from a Christian perspective.? Below is a lightly-edited copy of the letter that I wrote him. I thought it may be helpful to readers of this blog who have similar conversations with law enforcement or others who are seeking clarity on our concerns over the radical changes in our society that are being furthered under the banner of wokism.? Thanks for asking about the definition of “woke.” I wasn't sure if the question was asked personally or on behalf of the Sheriff, but I am happy to share a few thoughts.? Many of us had never heard the term woke until a few years ago. Prior to that time, it was used simply to describe people who felt awakened to the injustices of racism. In recent years, however, it seems the word has been highjacked by political activists who are often far-left or socialistic in their views and have a larger agenda in mind than standing against racism.? Although I cannot in this short space define the whole woke philosophy as is commonly applied today, I can point out a few frequently used terms and highlight some of their implications.? Social Justice: This is a broad term that often defeats the principles of “equal justice under the law.” Social justice focuses on enforcing equal outcomes for everyone. In this way, it leans into socialism. And amazingly, “social justice” doesn't bring justice to the average citizen, as it focuses on groups rather than on individuals' misconduct or good accomplishments. The end result, as philosopher Friedrich Hayek observed, is that people must be treated unequally in order to create equal outcomes: “And that's what social justice amounts to. It's a demand that the state should treat people differently in order to place them in the same position. . . .To make people equal a goal of governmental policy would force government to treat people very unequally indeed.”? Critical Race Theory (CRT): Under the guise of exposing racism, CRT actually suggests a reverse racism by insisting that the color of one's skin determines whether or not he or she is racist. As one author explained, “Even if a white person has never had a genuinely racist thought…he is still a racist, white supremacist, because he is white and belongs to the majority” (Ronnie W. Rogers, “Understanding the Terms…” blog post). This kind of insistence on seeing everything through the lens of race brings division to communities.LGBTQ Promotion: For many years, the LGBTQ movement has sought to align with the woke activists to gain influence, and that strategy is working. Woke activists aggressively promote sexual behavior and lifestyles through celebrations and legislation with new laws and vocabulary introduced regularly (cisgender, transgender, cultural appropriation, intersectionality, conscious capitalism, etc.). They have enshrined these numerous terms which are now being forced upon the public. The woke agenda also belittles the nuclear, or biblical, family model. Yet strong families are a strength in any society. While claiming to be marginalized, the woke and LBGTQ lobbies in this state are well-represented in government positions and dominant in political circles. Most concerningly, they are now targeting children and prohibiting parents and teachers from speaking up. For instance, CA Bill AB 957 which was put before the California legislature and passed both houses before being vetoed by the governor, said a non-consenting parent of an under-aged child would lose custody if that parent refused a mastectomy or castration (sex re-assignment surgery) for his or her child. Only the “gender affirming” parent is deemed fit to parent a child who may actually be suffering from dysphoria. Additionally, teachers have been fired from their jobs for refusing to go along with these new ideals. (One local example is Jessica Tapias, a teacher in Riverside County, who was fired just this year for refusing to hide gender transitions from parents of young children.)Economic Equity: This aims to reduce the income gap between the poor and middle class—not by increasing economic opportunity for minority groups, but by taking from the middle class by way of taxes and/or not prosecuting theft. Wealth redistribution is a common theme in woke literature.Again, this is a very high-end summary, and more could be said. But the larger point is that, while every American should stand against racism, wokism actually focuses on emphasizing differences between race and seems to have an end agenda of the disruption of society.? In particular, it leads to concerning philosophies as it relates to law enforcement. The interpretation of social justice by woke activists has led to practices such as zero-bail policies, refusing to prosecute crime, and large-scale defunding of and/or disrespect for law enforcement.? These policies, which are supported by left-leaning financiers such as George Soros and others, have been adopted by the Los Angeles District Attorney. The training of these policies has been disseminated throughout Southern Californian governmental agencies. What has been the result?? Increase in crimeIgniting class and race warfareDiscouragement and apathy among law enforcement, including many LA County deputiesFor instance, another bill recently passed the California legislature (AB 852) that requires judges to base their sentencing on race, rather than on crime. The essence of the bill is that someone who is a minority should not be prosecuted to the same extent as someone who is Caucasian because of past injustices. This is the actual opposite of Martin Luther King Jr.'s aspiration that people “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”The woke philosophy applied to law enforcement has essentially emboldened the criminal element of communities. No doubt, you have seen this with grab-and-go robberies of high-end stores and hit and run accidents. In places where the criminal element of a community is emboldened, the rank-and-file deputies as well as law enforcement in general have become discouraged. I know the citizens of the Antelope Valley as well as anyone, and I can tell you they are discouraged by the emboldened attitude of those who run red lights, commit robbery, and worse.? As a pastor of thirty-seven years here in Los Angeles County, I care about the safety of our citizens and the wellbeing of our law enforcement community. I am concerned to see crime on the rise and criminals emboldened. I'm saddened, too, to see these issues tied to race. I've preached here in our community for nearly four decades against racism, and I know that all people are made in the image of God.? Theologically and biblically, I believe that all humans fall short of God's perfection (Romans 3:23). None of us are better than others. We have all broken God's law, and we all need redemption through the finished work of Christ for us (Romans 6:23). Whoever calls to God, acknowledges his or her sin, and receives Christ as Savior may have forgiveness and peace with God. I realize this last point is another, although related, topic. But I am happy to discuss it with you at some point in time.? I realize there is political pressure because many woke activists are political donors. Yet, I believe the Sheriff's Department must not be guided by the woke agenda, but by the law. Without law and order, nothing else works in society. Certainly, our new Captain in Lancaster or anyone in the department should be advanced based on integrity, respect, leadership, and a history of good policing. They should not be affirmed because of adherence to a particular dogma such as “wokism.”Thank you for your service to our community. Please know that I am here to help you and our law enforcement community in any way that I can.? Your Friend,Paul Chappell? P. S. I'm happy to provide additional resources on wokism and woke interpretations of social justice if these would be a help to you. A few that may be a help are Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham Jr. and Woke, Inc. by Vivek Ramaswamy. I have written a minibook on this topic titled Which Justice? which I would be glad to send you. Category Christian Living

Principles for Retaining a Godly Testimony in the New YearDr. Paul ChappellTue, 01/09/2024 - 16:38 1. Avoid an uncertain sound. Don't engage in activities or associations that make your testimony for Christ unclear.“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8).2. Let not your good be evil spoken of. Be willing to limit your Christian liberty to avoid causing a stumbling block to others.“Let not then your good be evil spoken of” (Romans 14:16).3. Do not make a major decision without godly counsel. I have sought men who are my seniors to ask counsel of for significant decisions.“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).4. To change the world, you must not let the world change you. The men and women who have changed the world have been the men and women the world could not change.“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).5. Do all to the glory of God. There is no insignificant activity when it is done to the glory of God. And even seemingly insignificant activities can be done in a way that dishonors God.“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).6. Remember that what you do in moderation, the next generation often does in excess. As you weigh a decision, remember the impact it could have on your children or grandchildren, and purpose to walk in such a way that you would be glad for them to follow your example.Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) Category Christian Living

? Temple Baptist Church - 2-25-2024Psalm 119:65-72? Introduction: Psalm 119 is broken down into 22 stanzas with each stanza represented by one of the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza contains 8 verses with each verse beginning with the Hebrew letter that begins the stanza. An acrostic. A total of 176 verses elaborating upon the blessing of the Word of God and its intended work in the life of the believer. Absolutely the work of God!? A. Tonight, TETH? ט? – the 9th? letter of the Hebrew alphabet.? 1. TETH is an interesting letter as it is another one of those with a double meaning.? 2. It is what is called a paradoxical letter or, in our day, an oxymoron: two conflicting terms used together to convey a truth.? TETH can mean bad or good at the same time.? The letter looks somewhat like a woman great with child and the oxymoron is that pain is used to bring forth a beautiful child.? John 16:20-22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (21) A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. (22) And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.? A sweet sorrow. A fine mess. A deafening silence. Clearly confused. Pretty ugly. Same difference. One of my favorites: jumbo shrimp. The list could go indefinitely but now we have an idea of what the Hebrew letter TETH does. It conveys conflicting thoughts that bring about a truth.? 3. TETH is the least used of the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Therefore, it will be easier to define using Scripture.? 4. Example: The first use of the letter TETH is found in Genesis 4:1. In this verse, we find light that is good and darkness which is not that is not good. God divided the light from the darkness, thereby making a distinction.? Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.? 5. Example: Though God is good, He ultimately controls both good and evil through potential and allowance He made both men and angels free moral agents, having the potential for both good and evil along with allowing them to make the choice.? Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.? B. The key word in this 9th? stanza is “afflicted,” found in these two verses: 67 and 71. In these two verses, we find that affliction is the result of chastisement! The oxymoron is that affliction brings about chastisement, which is not viewed as good, but brings about a desired end-result of restoration to God which is good.? C. A right relationship to the Word of God brings about acceptance and spiritual growth through chastisement.? 1. Verse 65. The Psalmist commends God for doing both right and well in His dealing with sinfulness in the saint. This chastisement is according to Scripture and is both right and necessary. The New Testament example is this:? Hebrews 12:6-13 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (10) (11) (12) Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (13) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.? 2. Verse 66. Chastisement is a “teaching moment” for the child of God. As our loving parents corrected us so as to make us good people and citizens, so our heavenly Father corrects us and is a sign of love.? Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.? 3. Verse 67. The Psalmist went astray before God chastised him but the chastening brought him back to obedience to the Word of God.? Hebrews 6:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.? 4. Verse 68. The declaration that the parent who chastises his children is both good and doing a good thing.? Hebrews 6:11? Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.? 5. Verses 69-70. When the unsaved saw the saint do according to the sinful, they denounced him by saying, “We knew his religion would not last. You see, he is just like us.” But the backslidden saint was not like them though his actions may have looked to be so. The chastening hand of the Lord was upon the sinful saint and turned him back to both obedience to and delight of God's commandments.? 6. Verse 71. Chastening, which seems bad was a good thing in the eyes of the saint. I thank God for a Dad and Mom who loved me enough to make me do right and developed within me what character that I have today.? Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.? 7. Verse 72. The chastened now fully understood the importance of obedience and the love of a loving God. The end result of chastening is to fully establish God's Word and to mold the child of God in a godly manner.? Conclusion: I thank God for His chastening hand which brings about holiness and restoration to a place of fellowship!

? Temple Baptist Church - 2-18-2024Genesis 4:1-7; Hebrews 6:1? Introduction:? A.? I have been preaching on the subject “Remove Not The Ancient Landmark, Which Thy Fathers Have Set” over the past three weeks.? ? 1.? Spiritual “landmarks” define boundaries and are points of reference from which all our doctrines are measured with the Bible being our Benchmark.? 2.? We are not as many who corrupt the Word of God by making it conform to our doctrine, but we are those few who continually mold our doctrines to the Word of God.? B.? This morning, I want to look at the “Landmark of Salvation.”? ? 1.? This may sound strange to many as we live in the Belt Buckle of the Bible Belt.? Churches all over this county, both in the cities and also the rural areas.? As you go into the crossroad settlement of Hickory Tavern, a sign greets you with the list of app. 20 local churches in that one rural area.? On every country road, at every stop sign, you will find diverse church signs pointed in all directions.? ? 2.? Yet most people here do not know how to get to heaven!? Many go to churches who preached a perverted form of salvation that will not save.? Paul spoke of this perversion of the gospel in Galatians 1 and the gospel and Jesus Christ in 2 Corinthians 11.? 2 Corinthians 11:2-4? For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.? (3)? But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.? (4)? For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.? A salvation that is by grace through faith alone with no mixture of personal merit or good works.? Good work to be saved or good works to remain saved.? Many teach a salvation that cannot secure but only place one on probation.? If you are saved and sin, you still get to go to hell.? 3.? They are dishonest!? If I remotely thought that you could be lost after you are saved, when I witnessed to someone, I would tell them that once saved, they can still be lost and go to hell.? 4.? In the Bible belt, Christianity is the best hidden truth in the Bible.? NO ONE EVER witnesses to me, hands me a Gospel Tract, or invites me to church.? I will ask you this morning, “How many of you have received the Gospel this week from someone else in the county?”? C.? Genesis 3 and 4 declare that salvation is through the coming of the “seed of the woman” and requires the shedding of blood.? Genesis 4 shows both the acceptance and rejection of a blood bought salvation.? The account of Cain and Abel is profound:? 1.? It Refutes Works for Salvation – God rejected Cain's offering!? 2.? It Refutes Ways for Salvation – God accepted only His Way!? 3.? It Refutes Self-Righteousness for Salvation – God required blood!? 4.? It Refutes Pre-destination for Salvation – God gave Cain a second chance and would have accepted him.? Cain's problem was not election, it was rejection and, therefore, a sin problem!? D.? Then there are so many people who do not have full assurance of their salvation.? The problem is ignorance of what the bible teaches and or the teaching of self-merit!? People actually get saved and then, because they still have an old nature to go along with their new nature, doubt their salvation because they still commit sin!? ? E.? ? This morning, my message will be simple because salvation is simple!? 1.? The Bible says, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”? Our Lord said that the only way to heaven is through the new birth.? ? 2.? In these last days, the New Birth is looked down upon and its recipients are maligned and mocked.? The “Landmark of Salvation” is still Repentance and Faith!? Now, let us allow the Bible to define these two terms.? F.? Salvation defined:? ? Hebrews 6:1? Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,? G.? The context of this verse is found in chapter 5, one of the 5 warning sections of the Book of Hebrews.? Let us read Hebrews 5:11-6:1.? ? 1.? These verses are not written to the unsaved but to those who saved who refuse to plant their salvation in the Word of God and go one to spiritual growth.? If you are saved but doubt your salvation, you will never be fully functionable or useable.? GET IT SETTLED AND GET IT SETTLED IN THE BIBLE, not in your feelings or emotions.? a.? In chapter 5:12, we find these words: “ye have need that one teach you again which? be? the first principles of the oracles of God.”? 1.? “Oracles” simply means utterance of what God has said.? Christ Jesus spoke a pure gospel and how to be saved in John, chapter 3.? 2.? “The principles” means foundational or fundamental with the phrase using the definite article “the” which means one and only one of a kind.? ? Precedent or? commencement, or (concrete)? chief? (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank): - beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.? 3.? “First” means FIRST!? ? Coming? before all others in time or order; earliest; first.? as it establishes salvation as the one and only first step for the unsaved!? ? Foremost? in position, rank, or importance.? 4.? These saved believers chose to remain willfully ignorant as they were taught again and again the truth of salvation coupled with blessed assurance!? b.? Again, in chapter 6:1a, we find these words: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ.”? 1.? The word “Therefore” shows the continuation of context as chapter 6:1 is tied to the former verses.? 2.? “Leaving” means to walk on or to move forward; to not remain spiritual doubters.? 3.? “Principles” we have explained: the first fundamental of salvation.? Get it settled, then MOVE ON!? 4.? “Of the doctrine” means a topic,? tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.? ? A? belief or set of beliefs held and taught by? the Bible.? 5.? “Of Christ” means that these fundamentals of the faith dealing with salvation come through the Bible, the Inscribed Word of God that were taught by the Incarnate Word of God, the LORD Jesus.? 2.? Now, for the later part of Hebrews 6:1b? “leaving the principles … let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.”? a.? “Let us go on unto perfection” or spiritual maturity.? It does not mean sinless perfection because we will always, in this life, live in a sinful body and fail God.? It means get your salvation SETTLED AND GROW UP!? b.? “Not laying again the foundation” means to repeatedly try to get saved over again.? This is settled in verses 6:2-6.? Christ Jesus died once for all, and He will never be re-crucified.? He is not perpetually hanging on a cross.? He is a resurrected, ascended Saviour!? 3.? Now, look once again at the word “principles.”? The word is plural as the foundation or salvation through Christ Jesus alone is found in multiple principles which are given in these words, “the foundation of (1) repentance from dead works, AND (2) faith in God!”? 4.? I want to look at these two “principles” that make up the “foundation” upon which our salvation is established:? a.? ? Repentance FROM Dead Works.? Romans 3:28? Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.? Romans 5:1? Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:? Galatians 2:16? Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.? Ephesians 2:8-9? For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:? (9)? Not of works, lest any man should boast.? b.? ? Faith TOWARD God.? Direction – Salvation is an act of God, not of man,? and Salvation is ALL of God.? John 14:6? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4? Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;? (2)? By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.? (3)? For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;? (4)? And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:? 5.? Biblical Salvation:? a.? It Is A Singular Salvation -? Proverbs 16:25? There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.? ? Isaiah 43:11? I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.? Acts 4:12? Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.? John 10:9? I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.? John 14:6? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.? ? b.? It Is An Eternal Salvation -? John 10:27-28? My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:? And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.? John 3:14-16? And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:? That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have? eternal life.? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.? John 5:24? Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and? shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.? Romans 8:35-39? ? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,? Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,? shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.? ? 1 Peter 1:3-5? ? Blessed be the God? and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,? To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,? ? Who are kept by the power of God? through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.?

Whom should we blame for the confusing state of American politics? Christians. But not for the reasons you might think.

Jeymes Samuel's anachronistic biblical epic nods to classics like “Ben-Hur” and “Life of Brian”—and ends with a surprisingly earnest view of Christ.

Jeymes Samuel's anachronistic biblical epic nods to classics like “Ben-Hur” and “Life of Brian”—and ends with a surprisingly earnest view of Christ.

Members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked a Coptic Christian monastery in Wad Madani, Gezira State, Sudan, on 16 December and have subsequently been using it as a military base.

What Is the State of Your Foundation? Tim RasmussenTue, 12/19/2023 - 01:17 Due to a population explosion in Southern California in the early 1920s, plans were made to create a large reservoir to help meet the region's growing water needs. Engineer William Mulholland had achieved a great deal of recognition and respect among members of the engineering community when he supervised the design and construction of the longest aqueduct in the world at that time—the Los Angeles Aqueduct, and he was chosen as the chief engineer for the new project.After conducting a thorough study of the topography and geological features of the area, Mulholland was convinced that San Francisquito Canyon, about forty miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, was the ideal site. Design and construction began in 1924, and at its completion on May 4, 1926, the magnificent St. Francis dam rose to a height of 185 feet above the canyon floor. The dam was an engineering marvel—the crown jewel of Mulholland's career.But there was a problem. Although Mulholland wrote of the unstable nature of the face of the schist on the eastern side of the canyon, he either misjudged or ignored it. As water began to fill the reservoir, several temperature and contraction cracks appeared in the dam, and seepage began to flow from under the abatements.Mulholland and his assistant chief engineer Harvey Van Norman inspected the cracks and judged them to be within expectation for a concrete dam the size of St. Francis. Workers were ordered to seal off the leaks, but they were not entirely successful. Late in 1927, a fracture appeared that ran diagonally across the dam. Mulholland inspected the cleft, judged it to be another inconsequential contraction crack, and left it alone.On March 7, 1928, yet another leak was discovered by a dam employee. He was concerned not only because there was a new leak but also because the water in this runoff was muddy, indicating possible erosion of the dam's foundation.Mulholland and Van Norman inspected the dam and its various leaks and seepages, finding “nothing out of the ordinary or of concern for a large dam.” Both Mulholland and Van Norman made it clear that there just wasn't anything to worry about. Mulholland had a reputation to uphold. Surely there couldn't be any critical issues with his masterpiece. Acknowledging major engineering shortcomings would have jeopardized his hard-earned position and reputation.Two and half minutes before midnight on March 12, 1928, the St. Francis dam catastrophically failed. Within 70 minutes of the collapse, the reservoir was virtually empty as 12.4 billion gallons of water began surging down San Francisquito Canyon becoming a 140-foot high flood wave traveling eighteen miles per hour. Countless workmen and their families were never found. The flood left an appalling record of death and destruction, with hundreds of lives claimed. The St. Francis Dam disaster, which effectively ended the career of William Mulholland, remains the second greatest loss of life in California's history, after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.Cracks in any foundation can have catastrophic effects, and the most catastrophic tragedies of all are the results of cracks in the foundations of lives. These cracks affect not only us but also those we know and love. In the busyness of life and with all the responsibilities of family and ministry, we need to ask ourselves if we are ignoring foundational issues of the heart that could lead to disaster.These cracks may not be visible yet to our family and friends, but the cracks are there nonetheless and have the potential to cause irreparable harm if not properly addressed. This is why Paul warned Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16).A wise man will faithfully and conscientiously inspect his foundation and will be honest with himself and God when cracks are discovered.We would demonstrate great wisdom to inspect our lives for the following cracks, all indicators of a deeper spiritual need:We no longer have a vibrant and growing walk with the Lord.We have stopped guarding our hearts from temptation.We have allowed our thought lives to wander.We rationalize thoughts and behaviors that previously would have convicted our conscience.We put a priority on temporal things such as money, position, or recognition over essentials like holiness, godliness and integrity.We emphasize the public over the private.We dismiss “small” sins in order to protect our reputation.We stop seeking counsel from others and discourage others from requiring accountability of us.We begin to pridefully look to ourselves rather than focusing on Jesus.If we continue to ignore cracks in our integrity, we are positioning ourselves for an inevitable and monumental collapse, bringing great reproach—to our families, to our congregations, and to the cause of Christ. We are in grave danger of not finishing the race God has given us to complete.My oldest brother, Mark, has often challenged me with the following statement: “People remember how you start, and they remember how you finish.”Paul wrote of his daily decision to inspect his foundation and prevent cracks in his life: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27).Are there cracks forming in your life—cracks that reveal deeper foundational issues? Let us take whatever steps necessary to shore up our foundation and seal up the cracks so that our lives will bring honor and glory to our Lord who saved us.How can we take steps to strengthen the foundation of our lives?By acknowledging cracks and sincerely seeking God in repentance: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).By determining to live according to the Word of God: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).By attending church and exhorting others: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).By seeking God in prayer: John R. Rice said, “All of our failures are prayer failures.” “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17).By reading God's Word daily and committing it to memory: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11).By sharing our testimony with a lost and dying world and pointing them to Jesus Christ: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).By intentionally meditating on God's standards: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2).By guarding our thought life: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).By loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves: We desperately need a great commitment to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-38).Paul admonished us to build properly, from the ground up: “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon” (1 Corinthians 3:10).When we lay a proper foundation and continually build on it, we can look forward to one day hearing Christ say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Category Christian Living Tags Pastoral Leadership Integrity Christian Living Spiritual Growth

Atlantic writer Tim Alberta grew up in the evangelical church, the son of a pastor. His book, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, examines why so many evangelicals are ardent Trump supporters.The post How support for Trump is causing a rift in the evangelical church appeared first on Baptist News Global.

Observations using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continue to amaze astronomers.

The more I ponder this aspect of our Lord’s agony on the Cross, the more I realize how ineffable our Subject really is! (“Ineffable” means, using Latin as its base, “not” plus “utterable!” Beyond words!) But I sure am thankful that Matthew, under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, tells us this much: Jesus’ Soul […]

The Woke Agenda and Its Influence on Churches and CollegesDr. Paul ChappellWed, 03/29/2023 - 13:30 Over the past several years, the term woke has been used to describe people who have been awakened to the injustices of society, particularly in regards to racism. Many Christians, committed to displaying God's heart for the oppressed, have eagerly embraced the term.The “woke movement,” however, has grown much larger than the early definition of the term. There is an agenda driving it that is anti-Christian and steeped in anti-God philosophies.A working definition of wokism is impossible since even its strongest proponents apply the word in fluid settings. As defined by Merriam-Webster, to be woke means to be “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).”1 In a broader, more practical sense, however, author Owen Strachan pointed out,Wokeness is first and foremost a mindset and posture. The term itself means that one is “awake” to the true nature of the world when so many are asleep. In the most specific terms, this means one sees the comprehensive inequity of our social order and strives to highlight power structures in society that stem from racial privilege.2Conversations and ideas with people who subscribe to woke philosophies have reached far beyond racism to involve any topics related to inequality including social justice, sexism, economic philosophies, and LGBTQ acceptance.The way in which Christians address these issues relates directly to their view of Scripture. Second Timothy 3:16–17 asserts, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”A Christian with a high view of the accuracy, sufficiency, and authority of Scripture sees every social topic in light of the relative theological positions and practical instructions of God's Word. A mature Christian is discerning of the underlying philosophies that drive these discussions and holds each up to Scripture.Christians with a weak view of Scripture are more likely to allow the culture to both describe the problem and prescribe the solution. These Christians are more likely to suggest that basic Bible truths don't apply in particular settings or that the biblical writers did not fully understand such modern issues. Often, Christians who don't use the plainly-stated truths of Scripture as their compass will instead build subjective arguments based on “God's heart for ” or how they believe Jesus would respond to various areas of need.This undiscerning attitude is furthered by prominent Christian leaders who have jumped on the woke bandwagon. They may have been drifting from previously-held positions, but their recent statements clearly identify with the woke movement. For example,Andy Stanley, pastor of a nondenominational, multi-campus megachurch in Atlanta, recently spoke positively of gay Christians who attend church as “having more faith than I do.”3Rick Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback Church, a Southern Baptist, multi-campus megachurch in Anaheim, recently ordained women as pastors and, more recently, defended this position as something more churches should do.4A recent article pointed to three Christian leaders who have become outspoken on woke-related issues and commented, “The direction [Russell] Moore, [David] French, and [Beth] Moore are walking is not simply traditional evangelicalism, but a form of cultural accommodation dressed as convictional religion. The result is a religious respectability that promotes national unity, liberalism, and wokeism under the rhetorical guise of love for neighbor.”5These unrelated examples point out the pervasiveness of woke philosophies in the church today.Biblical leaders must develop the spiritual discernment to cut through the woke rhetoric to understand the philosophies behind current issues and allow Scripture to shape their response. I hope this article is an aid to that end.In the next few pages, we will look at six woke-related issues, briefly describing each and bringing scriptural truths to bear. Additionally, I have included questions to help form discussions on each topic.Most of these topics employ terms not directly used in Scripture (e.g. “social justice” or “intersectionality”). My desire here is not to split hairs over terms or to insinuate that everything touching a given term is ungodly. My goal is simply to hold up the underlying philosophies to Scripture and encourage you to stand on thoroughly-biblical convictions.With that background, let's get started.Social JusticeEvery Bible-believing Christian desires justice for the oppressed (Deuteronomy 24:14–21, Micah 6:8). But the social justice movement of today has more to do with insisting that categories of people, as opposed to individuals, have not received justice over time and thus should be treated differently today—even when there are not immediate instances of injustice in an individual's life.Additionally, some of the categories commonly cited for need in social justice are drawn from the whole or subsegments of LGBT identities, effectively equating different convictions regarding same-sex marriage or transgender inclusion with racism or other forms of discrimination over immutable characteristics, such as ethnicity. There is a real push through the social justice movement of today to undermine the basic definitions of male and female as well as the institution of marriage. Many who are driving the social justice agenda have openly-stated goals for the destruction of the nuclear family and the promotion of an LBGT agenda.One example is from the leaders of the Black Lives Matter organization that came to prominence after the death of George Floyd.6 These leaders not only sought the demise of the nuclear family, but they openly shared their Marxist ideals.7 That woke-leaning Christians don't see through to the anti-Christian agendas at play is deeply concerning.An additional area of concern to the social justice movement is the way in which it conflates helping marginalized people with the sharing of the gospel. There is value to serving one's community, and there is definitely value to reaching out to people who are oppressed or marginalized in a community. But we must not equate these types of care with sharing the gospel. The Bible is clear that faith for salvation comes through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Yet, Timothy Keller, a pastor and author seems to equate the two. (Interestingly, Keller, a Christian apologist holds that God may have created the world through the evolutionary process.8) In Keller's church philosophy book Center Church, he writes, “Ministry in which Christians sacrificially serve the common good of the city is not only biblical but a necessary context for any convincing call to believe in Jesus.”9 In the same section he says that we cannot change culture simply “through lots of conversions.”10 This is simply not true. Scripture teaches that the truly converted become “a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). As someone grows in their faith, everything about their life will change, including developing biblical viewpoints on moral and social issues. Those who insist that a focus on social justice must accompany the gospel actually do the gospel itself an injustice by seemingly suggesting that conversion is not the answer.“Social justicians” often speak of redeeming the culture. Yet the Son of man came “to seek and to save” lost people (Luke 19:10). The “woke gospel” is another gospel, not the gospel of the New Testament. Instead of leading unsaved people to Christ, it leads people to social causes, some of which are anti-biblical. I have seen church buildings from Charlotte to San Fransisco displaying Black Lives Matter signs and rainbow flags, but those same churches are not sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and calling sinners to repentance. I am reminded of Paul's warning in Galatians 1:6, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.”Biblically defined, the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1–5). It is the satisfaction of the justice of God in the person of Christ paying for our sin, and it is the best news we can give to anyone who is not saved. We must not trivialize the actual gospel by hitching every social issue or injustice to it.Social justice, similar to the “social gospel” of the previous generation, is really a repackaging of liberal theology being presented as a substitute for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20).Questions:Why is it important to distinguish between the gospel and social issues?Is salvation through Christ enough? Or does preaching the gospel require preaching social, racial, economic, etc. redemption as well?In what ways would a Christian with a biblically-shaped worldview differ from a woke agenda on social justice? Gender Distinction, Sexual Orientation, and Same-Sex MarriageThe front line of the anti-God agenda in the West today is being waged on the battleground of LGBT issues. There is clearly a concentrated effort in secular society to overturn the cultural norms concerning gender, sexuality, and marriage. From the state recognition of same-sex marriage, to the drag queen “story hours” taking place in public libraries,11 to the inclusion of biological males who identify as females in women's sports,12 the LGBT movement is rolling full-steam ahead, even if it means crushing children, women, and society as a whole in its agenda.In his book The Gathering Storm, Albert Mohler insightfully wrote,The church of Jesus Christ faces an unprecedented challenge: the collision between it and a new sexual ethic, a collision between revelation and revolution. The evolution is a sexual one, and it is indeed a revolution, demanding a complete reordering of society and civilization.13What is most surprising to me in all of this is that woke Christians are buying into it. In an effort to be accepting of people who struggle they have become affirming of sin. Some go so far as to deny that Scripture addresses these issues at all. They suggest that Jesus and Paul didn't really understand or address the modern understandings of sexual orientation or transgenderism.14 In recently-surfaced comments, Pastor Andy Stanley called the clear passages on this issue “clobber passages.”15But the Bible is clear here. In Genesis 1, God created human life in His image and designated male and female. In Genesis 2, He ordained marriage. In the New Testament, Jesus referred to both of these chapters as He said, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matthew 19:4–5). Romans 1:24–28 condemns homosexuality in the clearest terms. In 1 Corinthians 6:9, Paul includes such acts in a list of sins. Furthermore, the Bible teaches that true conversion leads to turning away from sin. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (1 John 2:4–5).Yet, Christians who profess to believe and preach the Bible struggle to take a clear position on these issues.For example, the senior associate pastor of First Baptist Orlando in Florida read in a public church service a list of the variety of people attending and serving in the church. In these comments he said, “We have transgender, LGBTQ, straight, single, married, divorced, and cohabitating people. These same people attend, listen, serve, grow, and give.”16 I can appreciate the desire to let unsaved people with sinful lives know that the gospel is for them, but to indicate that people openly practicing—and even identifying themselves according to—unrepentant sin should become or continue as faithful congregants is, according to 1 Corinthians 5, a position that is foreign to the New Testament.Not only does First Baptist Orlando allow people living in open sexual sin to be members in good standing, however, it also allows these members to baptize new converts. Recent social media posts show Joe Mills, an openly gay man, currently “married” to another man, performing baptisms at First Baptist Church Orlando.17The problem is not ambiguity in Scripture. The problem is that Bible-believing Christians are either too cowardly or too confused to clearly state what the Bible actually says. In an effort to not offend, woke-leaning Christians take a position that these topics call for a more “nuanced” view.18Christians must study and come to firm convictions on what the Bible says about these issues. It is not unloving to say the truth to a world in need of a Savior.Questions:Do you believe Scripture is clear on its commands concerning sexual sins? Do you believe it addresses homosexuality and gender distinction clearly?Should a church welcome members who are engaged in any sexual activity outside of marriage?What is the most loving approach for a Christian in regards to someone who deals with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria? Egalitarianism and Women Being Ordained for MinistryIn the 1970s Gloria Steinem used the phrase “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle” to encapsulate and popularize the philosophy behind feminism. In an attempt to counter the unbiblical ideas embedded in feminism, biblical Christians coined the term complementarianism in the 1980s.19 The idea was to encapsulate the equality of men and women while differentiating their God-given roles in particular settings. The term was new, but the truths behind it are as old as Scripture.The New Testament is clear on the intrinsic value and spiritual worth of women. Both men and women are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and both are equal in Christ through salvation: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).But the New Testament is also clear that God gave men and women different roles in marriage (1 Peter 3:7) and in the church. Regarding the church, the Bible gives straightforward directions in both 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:35: “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” “And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” My wife Terrie is an avid student of God's Word and a capable Bible teacher. She has spoken to ladies over the years and has occasionally given a testimony of thanksgiving in our church assembly. But scripturally, neither she nor I believe it is a woman's place to teach or preach the Word of God in a mixed congregation.These views are not new and have been held by biblical Christians since the first century. In more recent years, however, woke or woke-leaning Christians are using the term egalitarian to describe a position that insists that men and women not only have equal value but also hold equal or interchangeable roles in all settings, including the home and church.This egalitarian position has set the stage for woke pastors whose previous theological convictions were complimentarian to ordain women to pastoral roles in ministry.20 Rick Warren, who was one of the leaders of the “seeker-sensitive movement” of the '90s, has been one of the most vocal to recently ordain women,21 even though this was not his position for his previous decades of ministry. After being disfellowshipped from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) over his new position, Warren was interviewed by Russell Moore, editor in chief of Christianity Today and previous president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the interview, Warren used poor exegesis to defend his culturally-popular views22 and stated he intends to seek to have the SBC decision overturned.23 But it's not just Warren. Other woke-leaning pastors have been quite willing to virtue signal their egalitarian views by inviting their wives to preach on occasion and making little or no distinction between themselves and their wives as pastors.Throughout the New Testament, we see women engaged in meaningful roles of ministry within the church. (See, for example, Acts 16:40, Acts 18:2, and Romans 16:1–2, 7.) When Christians cave to the accommodating stance of egalitarianism, they minimize the significant aspects of ministry God has given to women in the church.Questions:Do you believe Scripture differentiates between the roles of men and women in marriage and ministry? Do you believe women can biblically hold the title of “pastor”? Racism and Critical Race Theory Closely tied to woke philosophies is an adherence to Critical Race Theory (CRT). To once again quote Merriam-Webster, CRT refers to “the idea that race is a sociological rather than biological designation, and that racism pervades society and is fostered and perpetuated by the legal system.”24Racism is an ugly sin. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God made every person in His image, and Acts 17:25–26 affirms that we all have equal value in His sight. We are all of the same race—a fallen human race in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23–26). All of us come to God the same way—through Christ. Thus, the ground is level at the foot of the cross, and within the body of Christ, there is to be no favoritism (Colossians 3:11). The New Testament strongly condemns prejudice (James 2:8–9).The premise of CRT, however, is that “the very concept of race was constructed in order to benefit whites at the expense of people of color.”25 A result of this approach is that “Even if a white person has never had a genuinely racist thought or he has repented of past racism, he is still a racist, white supremacist, because he is white and belongs to the majority.”26This philosophy distorts the meaning of racism, redefining it from a sin of the heart to a result of one's skin color. Furthermore, this philosophy makes reconciliation with other believers and unity within a church impossible because it suggests that white church members will always be guilty of racism, not to mention the fact that non-white members cannot be guilty of racism. This is not only ridiculous, but it is actually sinister. It is ripping a real sin apart from its moral definition and making it responsible for all the ills of society.For a real-life example of how this plays out, here is a transcript from Matthew Hall, the former dean of Boyce College at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary from 2016-2019, as well as the former provost and senior vice president of academic administration at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary from 2019-2022, and also a former research fellow for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission from 2014-2022. In comments made as the guest of the Coffee and Cream podcast in 2018, Hall spoke to racial issues:I am a racist, okay, so if that freaks you out, if you think the worst thing somebody can call you is a racist, then you're not thinking biblically, because guess what, like, I'm gonna struggle with racism and white supremacy until the day I die and get my glorified body and in a completely renewed and sanctified mind. Because I am immersed in a culture where I benefit from racism all the time.27A few years ago, a pastor prayed at Baylor University's commencement exercises and denounced “a planet with too many straight, white men like me behind the steering wheel.”28 This type of virtue signaling is becoming more common even in evangelical circles.No one—especially no Christian—should think less of or despairingly toward someone because of their ethnicity, skin color, or background. And no one—especially no Christian—should assume they know the condition of another's heart based on his or her skin color.Questions:Does racism necessarily coincide with ethnicity or skin color? How did the churches of the New Testament experience and address racism and prejudice? (See Acts 10, Acts 15, and James 2.) Is their approach sufficient today?Intersectionality The idea behind intersectionality is something like a CRT-based point system in which you receive more points for the greater number of minority groups to which you belong. Or you could think of it as a Venn diagram with circles representing various oppressed or minority groups overlapping, creating an “intersectional” center that represents the most highly-oppressed. For instance, according to intersectionality, a straight white male would be considered to belong to three groups with no oppression (straight, white, and male) whereas a lesbian African-American female would be a highly-oppressed person belonging to three groups that experience oppression.Intersectionality divides the world into oppressors and victims. These divisions are built around group identities rather than personal experiences. And because there is no real way to right the wrongs of each group, intersectionality tends toward noisy virtue signaling without encouraging leaders to roll up their sleeves to discern and resolve underlying issues at play, preferring instead to perpetuate a sense of ongoing victimhood.Additionally, intersectionality gives victim groups the moral high ground based simply on the oppression they have suffered. This obliterates right and wrong in the biblical or moral sense, replacing it with victimization or oppression.One author described it this way:In the worldview of ideological social justice, authority is conferred, not by wisdom, age, position, or experience—but by victim status. Claims of oppression and victimization based on a subjective “lived experience” must be believed without question. The more intersectional victim-boxes one can check, the greater the moral authority. The greater the authority, the greater the power.29Concerning victimization, the Bible tells us that God personally cares for the oppressed (Psalm 9:9, 146:7). Jesus Himself “was oppressed, and he was afflicted” (Isaiah 53:7). In the Old Testament, God gave laws to Israel to prohibit taking advantage of vulnerable people such as foreigners, widows, fatherless, and the poor (Exodus 22:21–27). The Old Testament instructs, “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17). Likewise, the New Testament commands Christians to care for those in need and specifically to “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27).The contrast between intersectionality and a biblical approach to oppression is threefold: First, the categories for concern are specific to personal experience rather than to a broad group (e.g. being a widow versus being a woman or being fatherless versus having a particular skin color). Second, the biblical instructions are given to protect against actual crimes and to relieve actual suffering rather than to perpetuate labels of victimhood. And finally, Scripture—not categories of victimization—provides the moral authority for what is right or wrong. There are real victims in our fallen world. There are countless hearts shattered by sin (their own or others) and suffering who are in need of God's love. Biblical Christians care to relieve their suffering. That relief does not come through faulty philosophies of victimhood but through the forgiveness offered through the glorious gospel of Christ and the grace given through the precious promises of His Word. For those who are in bondage to sin, Christ promises, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). To those who know Christ, He promises overcoming power in a trouble-filled world: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).Questions:From a biblical standpoint, what concerns arise by including the LGBT community in groups of oppression? In what ways might people who struggle in these areas actually be oppressed, and what is a biblical approach to healing?In what ways does intersectionality create victimhood out of sinful practices?Do you believe the gospel and God's Word are sufficient to address the needs of the oppressed?Anti-Capitalism and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) For reasons that seem more philosophical than practical, those who are woke are against free-market capitalism. This hatred for capitalism and the free market is part of what has given rise to Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) in financial sectors. ESG investing firms, banks, and government policies require those with whom they do business to support environmental causes, affirm anti-christian social stances, and maintain hiring quotas that are LGBT affirming.Not only are these philosophies unbiblical, but they are economically dangerous, as was seen in the recent collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). It wasn't until the aftermath of this bank's collapse that customers learned how ESG partially led to its demise. Due to woke hiring practices, only one member of the board of directors held previous experience in investment banking.30 And while the bank was tanking, its head of risk assessment was launching and leading LGBTQ programs instead of righting the ship.31 Additionally, before its shutdown, the bank “dropped an ESG report that outlined the company's focus on climate change.”32The dangers of ESG, however, are larger than the failure of a single bank or company. There is an underlying agenda to use ESG policies to strong-arm ordinary citizens into woke causes. For instance, during Covid lockdowns, those who protested against government policies in Canada had their bank accounts frozen.33 Already some Christian institutions are finding a need to switch banks because their accounts have been canceled for unexplained reasons.34 I believe that in the future, companies and churches that don't cooperate with ESG values will have their accounts canceled in greater number. It's possible that the ESG agreements will become a “mark or brand” businesses will be forced to take if they will get contracts and rates amenable to their success.Proponents of ESG dislike capitalism, claiming that it is systemically racist. If these claims were true, there would be good reason to look for another system. But these claims are not true, as author Owen Strachan points out: “Though woke leaders seek to replace the free market with state-controlled systems that will yield ‘equity' as they see it, the free market is actually a tremendous engine for good for all peoples. While not impervious to manipulation…the free market has fundamentally changed the world, lifting people across the world out of serfdom into freedom.”35 He continues with helpful statistics and details explaining how racism, such as slavery in the United States, actually hurts rather than helps capitalism wherever it is or has been practiced.36Scripture makes a direct connection between labor and provision: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The Bible instructs us to labor so that we might have and be able to give to others: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). The New Testament strongly condemns men who do not provide for their household: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8). Economic systems that reward diligent labor with personal ownership of the fruits of that labor are to be commended. Christians who care for those in need should be discerning to see the woke hatred of capitalism for the pro-socialism agenda that is driving it. Although socialism promises to help the poor, it proposes this help based on other people's money and by building a larger government that will ultimately crush the poor. In reality, socialism has devastated the people and the economy of every country where it has been thoroughly implemented.37Questions:How does Scripture inform our view of money and economies? Every human system has weaknesses. What do you see as the greatest weaknesses in capitalism and socialism? ConclusionThere is a real need in our day for biblical Christians to be alert to worldly philosophies that masquerade as truth. I am concerned for the future orthodoxy of Christians who seek influence and ideas from those who are swayed by woke ideas. The practice of churches that exemplify woke and social justice philosophies today reveal their consumption of the “philosophy and vain deceit” spoken of in Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”John Adams, second president of the United States, pointed out, “It is the duty of the clergy to accommodate their discourses to the times, to preach against such sins as are most prevalent, and recommend such virtues as are most wanted.”38Christian leaders today must be willing to clearly and unapologetically state what the Bible says. They must be willing to call sin what it is and must be clear in proclaiming the gospel through Jesus Christ.Scripture commands us that we are to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). As I have attempted to point out in these pages, the modern woke agenda is significant to “the faith” because it undermines the biblical understanding of such central truths as sin, forgiveness, and the gospel itself.If we are to make a difference in our world today, we must, like the apostle Paul, be willing to stand for truth under the stigma of the cross even when it seems strange to the world.“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).Dr. Paul Chappell has served as the pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, California, for thirty-seven years. He and his wife Terrie have been married for forty-two years and have four married children serving the Lord in ministry.lancasterbaptist.orgEndnotesMerriam-Webster, s.v. “woke,” accessed March 22, 2023, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woke.Owen Strachan, Christianity and Wokeness (Washington DC: Salem Books, 2021), 8.Adam Page, “What on earth…,” Twitter, January 23, 2023, https://twitter.com/AdamPage85/status/1617522150499577856.Russell Moore, “Rick Warren Reflects on His Legacy,” Christianity Today, March 8, 2023, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/russell-moore-show/rick-warren-legacy-saddleback-sbc-purpose-driven-life.html.Kylee Griswold, “Russell Moore Won't Celebrate Dobbs Because He'd Have To Admit Pro-Trump Christians Are Good At Loving Their Neighbors,” The Federalist, June 29, 2022, “https://thefederalist.com/2022/06/29/russell-moore-wont-celebrate-dobbs-because-hed-have-to-admit-pro-trump-christians-are-good-at-loving-their-neighbors/.Early in the wake of Floyd's death, blacklivesmatter.com included stated objectives on their homepage to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure,” “foster a queer‐affirming network,” and “do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege.” I detailed this in an article titled “Counter-Cultural Christians Needed,” published July 2, 2020 (https://paulchappell.com/2020/07/02/counter-culturalchristians-needed/). The statements were still on blacklivesmatter.com at that time.The group was founded by Patrisse Khan-Callours, Alisha Garza, and Opal Tometi, who are self-described Marxists. Answering an interviewer's question about BLM's ability to organize, Callours said, “We actually do have an ideological frame. Myself and Alicia in particular, were trained organizers. We are trained Marxists. We are super versed on ideological theories.” Patrisse's book When They Call You a Terrorist also references this as she described how she developed her current ideas: “I read, I study, adding Mao, Marx and Lenin to my knowledge of hooks . . . .” See Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele, When They Call You a Terrorist (New York: Saint Martin's Griffin, 2017), Kindle edition.Tim Keller, “Creation, Evolution, and Christian Laypeople,” BioLogos, February 23, 2012, https://biologos.org/articles/creation-evolution-and-christian-laypeople.Timothy Keller, Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 291.Ibid.Charles Creitz, “Drag queen story hour slammed as ‘sexualizing children' after Maryland library hosts interactive event: Drag queen story time events for children are part of a growing trend across the country,” Fox News, October 28, 2022, https://www.foxnews.com/media/drag-queen-story-hour-slammed-sexualizing-children-maryland-library-hosts-interactive-event.David Gortler, “Allowing Biological Males in Women's Sports is Scientifically Unsound,” Newsweek, October 6, 2022, https://www.newsweek.com/allowing-biological-males-womens-sports-scientifically-unsound-opinion-1748900.R. Albert Mohler Jr., The Gathering Storm (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2020), 87.“Revisionist Gay Theology: Did God Really Say..?” Focus on the Family, July 29, 2019, https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/revisionist-gay-theology-did-god-really-say/.Adam Page, “What on earth…,” Twitter, January 23, 2023, https://twitter.com/AdamPage85/status/1617522150499577856.“Prominent Southern Baptist Church Brags That Transgenders and Abortionists Serve in Their Church,” YouTube video, 00:37, posted by “The Dissenter,” February 7, 2022,Open, “Gay-Married” Homosexual Man Baptizes Other People at First Baptist Orlando, Disntr, March 13, 2023, https://disntr.com/2023/03/13/open-gay-married-homosexual-man-baptizes-other-people-at-first-baptist-orlando/.Jared Kennedy, “What do I do if my child doesn't seem to fit with typical gender norms?” Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, May 17, 2021, https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/what-do-i-do-if-my-child-doesnt-seem-to-fit-with-typical-gender-norms/?fbclid=IwAR0sXHMpztssG8iua4M24uwxcYic7x_kO_yfUc-cDG1z5fjaHkHaWRfS6Vk.Denny Burk, What's in a name? The meaning and origin of ‘complementarianism,'” The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, August 1, 2019, https://cbmw.org/2019/08/01/whats-in-a-name/.Nate Schlomann, NAMB and SBC Egalitarrianism, Servants and Heralds, February 8, 2021, https://www.servantsandheralds.com/namb-and-sbc-egalitarianism/.Saddleback Church, “Yesterday was a historic night…” Facebook, May 7, 2021, https://www.facebook.com/saddlebackchurch/posts/-yesterday-was-a-historic-night-for-saddleback-church-in-many-wayswe-ordained-ou/10159190549013544/.Russell Moore, “Rick Warren Reflects on His Legacy,” Christianity Today, March 8, 2023, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/russell-moore-show/rick-warren-legacy-saddleback-sbc-purpose-driven-life.html.Denny Burk, “Rick Warren Has Done the SBC a Great Service,” Denny Burk, March 14, 2023, https://www.dennyburk.com/rick-warren-has-done-the-sbc-a-great-service/.Merriam-Webster, s.v. “Critical Race Theory,” accessed March 22, 2023, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20race%20theory.Shannon Craigo-Snell and Christopher Doucot, No Innocent Bystanders (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017), 67.Ronnie W. Rogers, Understanding the Terms of Cultural Marxism (Social Justice): A Christian Response, Ronnie W. Rogers, June 29, 2020, https://ronniewrogers.com/2020/06/understanding-the-terms-of-cultural-marxism- social-justice-a-christian- response/.Jake Cannon and Matt Bryant, “Epidode 13: Seminaries And Radical Reconciliation With Matthew Hall,” YouTube video, 49:45, posted by “Coffee and Cream”, Jul 15, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwI82hKUTgI. Reference clip starts at 49:45.Todd Starnes, “Baylor University Prayer Denounces ‘Straight White Men,'” ToddStarnes.com, May 2, 2019, https://www.toddstarnes.com/faith/baylor-university-denounces-straight-white-men-in-graduation-prayer/.Scott D. Allen, Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice, (Grand Rapids, MI: Credo House Publishers, 2020), 67.“More ‘woke' companies are going to fail, former CEO warns: SVB collapse was ‘perfect storm,'” Fox News, March 15, 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/media/woke-companies-going-fail-former-ceo-warns-svb-collapse-perfect-stormAubrie Spady, “Head of risk assessment at Silicon Valley Bank invested in LGBTQ programs in months leading up to shutdown,” Fox News, March 13, 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/head-risk-assessment-silicon-valley-bank-invested-lgbtq-programs-months-leading-shutdownIbid.Siladitya Ray, “Canada Begins To Release Frozen Bank Accounts Of ‘Freedom Convoy' Protestors,” Forbes, February 23, 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/02/23/canada-begins-to-release-frozen-bank-accounts-of-freedom-convoy-protestors/.Dale Hurd, “Account Closed: Banks and Businesses Cancel Christians,” CBN News, January 3, 2023, https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2022/november/account-closed-banks-and-businesses-cancel-christians.Owen Strachan, Christianity and Wokeness (Washington DC: Salem Books, 2021), 124.Ibid.Benjamin Powell, “Hey, Millennials: Socialism Creates Poverty and Limits Freedom. So Stop Romanticizing It!,” Independent Institute, November 27, 2017, https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=9206.Charles Francis Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Volume IV (Boston, MA: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1851), 56. Category Current Events

Church Planting in a Metro AreaChris ChadwickFri, 05/19/2023 - 17:08 “You want me to go where?” Who says that—a rebellious teenager? a timid employee? How about a young man from Amarillo, Texas, who God is calling to plant a church in San Diego, California?Yes, those were my words in December of 2001, as I was overwhelmed that God would allow my family and me the privilege of starting a church in San Diego. But it wasn't all about the joy of the opportunity—I also knew my weaknesses, and that knowledge frightened me.San Diego is the eighth largest city in the nation, with 1.4 million people. In 2001, there were two independent Baptist churches and few non-Baptist, gospel-preaching churches in the entire city. And, although more conservative than Los Angeles or San Francisco, San Diego isn't exactly a bastion of Christendom.By God's grace, we followed His call. Fast-forward more than twenty years: I'm overwhelmed to say God has built and sustained Canyon Ridge Baptist Church. He's done more than I ever thought He would and grown us in ways I never thought possible. We're blessed with a fantastic team of servants dedicated to sharing the gospel in our city. God has blessed us with a permanent location in the heart of San Diego.Through my office window, I can see low-income, transient, and primarily immigrant housing. Our neighborhood is a thriving international community with over seventeen mother tongues spoken. It's a community where you can rent a 350-square-foot studio for $1,950.00 a month and find yourself serenaded every night by a chorus of homeless folks singing. I wouldn't trade it for the world.I want to share five simple thoughts that have helped me over the past two decades of church planting in a metropolitan/urban area. If you are a church planter or praying about planting a church in one of the needy cities of our nation, I pray these will help you as well. People Come FirstPersonal evangelism is a must when building a church in an urban environment. Guests won't run through your doors because you put up a sign and design a snazzy website. In the early days of Canyon Ridge, I spent a minimum of twenty-five hours a week knocking doors, meeting people, and participating in outreach and community events. Why? People only came to church after I engaged, encouraged, and shared the gospel. Over twenty years later, we still have an aggressive outreach plan. This year, we will hand-deliver through door-knocking and canvassing over 250,000 invitations to church—all to meet more people and introduce them to Jesus.Commit to Learning a New CultureAs I've mentioned, I came to San Diego from Texas. Texans drive differently, dress differently, eat differently, enjoy different hobbies, and think differently from San Diegans. Are there similarities? Sure! But my family and I still had to make a huge adjustment when we moved here. The more you're with the folks of your community, the more you will understand the culture. Learn and embrace the culture; it's a worthy pursuit that will help you build gospel influence. Understand You Will Say “Goodbye” RegularlyOf the many things metropolitan areas are known for, longevity is not one of them. You'll say “goodbye” to folks who change jobs, college students who graduate and move away, people who leave for a more comfortable community, and interns who get full-time jobs elsewhere. If you live in a military city like ours, you'll have the added burden and blessing of service members joining and moving.Church planter, I pray that God will bring people who will live as “missionaries” in your area—folks who will serve in your church not because it is home or comfortable but because God has called them. They'll give up the American dream of a house and being close to family for an eternal reward. They, like you, will live in a smaller house or apartment and pay exorbitant prices for the privilege of ministering in your community. And they will encourage you more than words can say.In reality, you'll say goodbye a lot, but you'll also be constantly surprised by all the hellos and by how the Lord encourages and sustains you and His church.Accept That Your Church May Never Own a BuildingFor the first five years of Canyon Ridge, we met in a 1,200-square-foot community center. We spent the next two years in a school auditorium on Sundays and the next year and a half in the multi-purpose room at our current location. We've met in hotels, Navy chapels, literally under a tree, and in our house.In 2009, the Lord miraculously provided a building. It was in disrepair, a blight in our community, and looked like a cross between a bundt cake pan and a spaceship, but it was ours! Even after extensive remodeling, it doesn't look like a “normal church.” But to me, it's cooler! I'm thankful for God's provision.My point is this: People might visit your church because of a cool or permanent building; but it won't be enough to keep them there. People came to both a recreation center and a school cafeteria and planted their lives in this local church because they were loved, discipled, and encouraged to walk with Jesus. A building is a means to an end, not the sign of success or failure. Your church may never own a building—that's okay! You may never have a permanent location—that's okay! You're not called into the commercial real estate business; you're called to reach people with the gospel. Don't make excuses. Simply do your best with what you have, and trust Christ to build His church.You Can Trust HimPastoring in a metropolitan/urban area is fantastic. It's electric when people from different parts of the country and world gather in the church they were saved in for one purpose: to glorify God and be edified for the work to which God has called them. I think back to when I asked God, “You want me to go where?” I'm so glad God called me, and I'm glad I went. Could it be that God wants you to go there? If God is calling, go. For Christ has promised, “. . . upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). You can trust in Him! Category Church Planting Tags Church Planting

In 1972, at the First Earth Summit in Stockholm, the issue of climate change was raised for the first time on the world stage, “warning governments to be mindful of activities that could lead to climate change and evaluate the likelihood and magnitude of climatic...

This is the fourth paper in a series with the goal to build a model of ancient history consistent with the biblical text using durations by ancient chroniclers.

Former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis seeks to issue an appeal to a jury ruling ordering her to pay $100,000 in damages for her refusal to sign a marriage license for a same-sex couple in 2015.

The life of American President Woodrow Wilson was reviewed, focusing on the influence of Darwinism and Wilson's acceptance of a racist-eugenics worldview.

My dear friend, Lucinda Sheth, who is politically active, but not a radical in any sense, has addressed the recent Tennessee issue of a “Special Session to push for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO)”, better known as Red Flag Law. 1, 2 This session...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Family Research Council today released a new report, titled "Exporting LGBT Ideology: The Biden Administration's Foreign Policy Priority." The report was authored by Arielle Del Turco, FRC's Director of the Center for Religious Liberty and Dr. Chris Gacek, JD, FRC's Senior Fellow for Regulatory Affairs. The authors argue: "Since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, his administration has systematically elevated the importance of LGBT ideology in American foreign policy, utilizing the resources and platform of the U.S. government to promote LGBT policies abroad...The Biden administration's ideological colonialism sometimes strains our relationships with other countries and diverts U.S. attention from focusing on human rights issues. LGBT-identifying persons are already (rightly) protected by international human rights treaties by virtue of their personhood, not their sexual orientation or gender identity. Pushing LGBT-specific policies around the world is a coercive attempt to change foreign cultures and laws from afar and displaces human rights like religious freedom."...

Evolutionary theory, with its Stuff Happens Law, makes nonsense more probable than sense.

Motivation is hard. And comfort food feels so good. But it's more important now than ever to stay healthy.Lately, it’s hard to remember what day it is.Without the usual markers, one blends into the other in a confusing emotional haze.My sleep is off, too. And with my sleep goes my ability to think and lead clearly.You too? Yes, me too.So how can we stay stable and sane in the middle of such uncertainty? Here are a few ideas that are especially helpful for pastors and other leaders:(This is a companion piece to an earlier article, When You’re Trying To Lead Others, But You’re Barely Holding On.)1. Talk to yourself the way you’d talk to othersIf a friend or church member told you they were mad at themselves for not being able to function at peak performance during this crisis, what would you tell them?To get over it? To work harder? To stop whining because people are depending on them?I sure hope not.I expect you’d go easy on them and help relieve their feelings of guilt. You’d sympathize. You’d emphasize their need to rest, emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually.That’s good advice. We need to talk to ourselves the same way.2. Be vulnerableThere’s nothing wrong with letting the people you lead know what you’re feeling. You’ll notice I started this article that way.“But won’t they have less respect for me if they see my weakness?” Not unless you’re in a completely toxic environment.Chances are, your cracks are already being seen by the people who know you best – even over a video chat. Being honest about your challenges instead of working so hard to hide them might provide a great deal of relief for them, too.It’s hard to believe we’re in this together when the leader seems invincible – or, even worse, when ...Continue reading...

If you're not sure, don't post it. You'll never regret the joke you don't tell.(Photo: Justin humorously explains social distancing, but laughs so hard that he and Manuel forget not to touch their faces.)Humor is gift from God.Truly.The ability to laugh, even (especially?) during a crisis is an important way to find relief and share community.But knowing the line between what’s funny and what’s distasteful can be hard.So, are there any guidelines we can follow to help us share humor in a responsible way during the current season of difficulty?Here are a few pointers:1. Run it by someone else, firstBefore posting or re-posting something on social media, ask a trusted friend if you should.If they cringe, quarantine the joke between the two of you.2. Laugh with, not atThere’s enough dividing us. Use laughter to unite.Social distancing is for geography, not humor.3. Keep it light-hearted, not edgyWhile insult comedy is a valid form of communication, it’s hard to do well. It should be left to the professionals. Especially when people are ill or at risk.Default to the light-hearted, not the edgy.4. Use it to instructHumor has a way of cutting through people’s defenses so they can hear something they might otherwise be closed off to.For a great example of using humor to instruct during this crisis, check out the Don’t Be A Spreader video from Max and Mel Brooks.5. If you're not sure, don't post itYou’ll never regret the joke you don’t tell.Continue reading...

A lot of people in positions of leadership are working hard to fight off feelings of helplessness right now.This is harder than I expected.No, I’m not sick. And none of my loved ones are. So, for those of you who are sick or who are dealing with the illness or (God forbid) the death of a loved one, I cannot imagine your burden.But even for those of us who are simply being asked to stay home, this is proving hard in some unexpected ways.If you’re in a position of leadership, your feelings may be very confusing right now. Even erratic.Not What We ExpectedI’m used to knowing what to do. And helping others know what to do.If you had told me a month ago that I’d be sitting at home for weeks without feeling sick or having anywhere to be, I’d have thought “Wow! I’m going to get so much done! I’ll have a rough draft of that new book knocked down! I’ll start a new podcast, and who knows what else!”But I’m not. Not to the degree I expected, that’s for sure.Barely Hanging OnSome days it feels like I’m barely hanging on, myself.But I feel a responsibility to lead. To help. To bless others.In fact, I don’t just feel that responsibility, I have that responsibility.And yet, how do I do that when each day feels like it runs past me in bits and pieces? Barely able to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes at a time?Give Yourself A BreakI know I’m not alone in feeling this.Right now there are a lot of people in positions of leadership with similar feelings of helplessness.So, in the few minutes I can concentrate long enough to write this, let me offer a short word of hope.Give yourself a break. I plan to.Slow down.Don’t push.Relax.Stay healthy first.It’s okay if you don’t have the answers right now. None of us have clear answers ...Continue reading...

One of my keen interests over the years has been computers. I got my first computer back in the days of DOS 1, and I have been using computers both in my