The Apostle Paul tells us that we, as followers of our risen Lord, ought to “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). Another popular English translation of that verse tells us that we ought to shine like stars! And, in perhaps even a more familiar passage (Matthew 5:16), Jesus reminds us to let our light shine!

When we lived out in SoCal, we were consistently amazed by how just a slight change of elevation could completely transform everything in view. We would hop on State Route 73 (known to the north as the Corona del Mar Freeway), immediately leaving behind all traffic congestion in the O.C., and in just a couple of minutes be so far removed from the urban lights that the stars above seemed nearly touchable. From that new perspective, every hilltop vista was exquisitely beautiful, and we never grew tired of those “ooh” and “aah” moments around every bend.

It seems to me that the Scriptures are calling us to take on a new perspective, in Christ. Paul connects our practical “shining” with our call to humility. It is not about us. God has graced us with the gift of salvation, so we love Him and others in response. We are the grateful recipients, and so we simply share the love that we have received. Specifically, Paul reminds us not to grumble and complain. I know that you and I sometimes attempt to minimize the sin of grumbling, but I don’t think the Bible supports our flimsy excuses. Grumbling is a mockery of the sovereign provision of God. And our ungrateful attitude can draw others into the same sin. It’s dangerously contagious.

The apostle describes the world in which we live as “a crooked and twisted generation.” That’s a mouthful of warning, and a powerful reminder to us of our call to live in sharp contrast to the pervasive culture and ideology. Thus, the shining. The backdrop of spiritual darkness sets the stage for our lives to really count, and to count for eternity.

Paul places this new perspective under the umbrella of our “working out our own salvation with fear and trembling.” Notice that we’re not working for our salvation. That would be legalism, which is deadly. But we’re working out our salvation. A life of humble sacrifice is our heartfelt response to the great love which has been lavished upon us in Christ. We’re reminded that it’s the “good pleasure” of God which is motivating us to, and empowering us for, faithful living.

As you read this today, I don’t know what you’re up against. But I do know that God’s desire is that you rejoice in both good times and bad. That reality in Christ is your unique privilege, because you are His. You are the apple of His eye. You are His beloved. You are His distinct light in this dark world. So you and I must rise above the fray and give Him praise.

Jesus tells us why all of this matters, and it’s because He desires that many others come under the influence of the light that emanates from you and me … “that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Shine!

Pastor Charles

I hate to see this series come to a close, but I want to express my sincere thanks to all of you for making it such a success. Everyone contributed to the robust conversation. Everyone taught something. Everyone learned something. Last night was no exception, as the barbecue dinner set the stage for our final opportunity in this series to sharpen each other in the timeless truth of the gospel of Jesus.

I began the presentation by highlighting some of the key themes which we’ve established in previous weeks. When you and I look at the contemporary landscape of gender ideology, it’s easy to get depressed. The subject matter is nearly overwhelming, and it’s changing so rapidly that it’s hard to keep up – try as we may. Some specific areas of “bad news” come to my mind immediately …

Sexual desires have become the definition of personhood. Time and again in this series I’ve tried to point out just how inherently flawed this thinking really is – and yet it permeates our culture. “He is gay.” “She is trans.” They are bi.” As if the totality of a person’s being  – not to mention their worth or their value – can be reduced and minimized like that.

Sexual and gender ambiguity is considered a virtue. The terminology and the distinctions are kept fluid – and intentionally so it seems – and the definitions keep morphing. Instead of well-intentioned energy being focused on helping young people successfully resolve their issues of gender dysphoria, the goal seems to be something akin to a complete social revolution (and one that will never be satisfied).

Sexual freedom has been elevated to the point of idolatry. Last night I shared with the church family a recent statement from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) warning of the long-term consequences of “gender reassignment” procedures. I’ll share here a portion of that statement: “Conflicting motivations have led to a growing industry dedicated to providing ‘gender-affirming’ procedures that are generally irreversible and have a high probability of causing sterilization. These include puberty ‘blockers,’ sex hormones, and surgery, such as castration, penectomy, and mastectomy. They commit a patient to a lifelong need for medical, surgical, and psychological care. ‘Gender-affirming care” in minors is medically and ethically contraindicated because of a lack of informed consent. There are inherently unknown and unknowable long-term risks, and the consequences of removing normal, healthy organs are irreversible.”

Our sexual obsession is on a collision course with the truth. We could go on and on with examples of (what I labeled last night) the “house of cards phenomenon,” but the point has been well made: much of the current gender mantra is directly at odds with God’s Word – from Creation onward. As a bit of a “state of the union,” each one of these current trends represents some version of “exchanging the truth for a lie” (Romans 1:25). That’s the bad news.

But, when it comes to navigating this current cultural crisis, you and I are trusting in a power that isn’t us! Resurrection power! Holy Spirit power! Our gospel hope reminds us daily that we can’t rely on ourselves to change anyone – or to change anyone’s mind. We watched a portion of a video testimony by Professor Christopher Yuan of Moody Bible Institute. Dr. Yuan reminded us, in a personal and compelling way, that God can change within us things that no one else can change. When it comes to our sin, He is the overcomer. When it comes to our national sins, only He can be the overcomer. That’s why Emily prayed for us – that you and I might have “holy courage” for such a time as this.

Before our friend so graciously shared with us her personal “pronoun story” from her workplace – a global corporation with a sizable presence right here in Nashville – I presented one final thought: when confusion marks the land, grace is the sweetest language that can be spoken. Grace. I believe it’s our only path forward. It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), and we desperately need His kindness in us. After all, you and I have been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). We are counting on the fact that our Lord Jesus will live through us a life that would be otherwise impossible. Hallelujah!

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this series as much as I’ve enjoyed spending the time with you. Our Midweek Spring Series will begin on Wednesday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m. The topic will be publicized soon. Dinner and childcare will be provided.

You make my joy complete.

Pastor Charles

Last night we explored the role of the body of Christ in an environment where the culture seems to be shifting so quickly that we can barely stay on top of it. This is certainly true in the land of gender ideology. I shared with the participants my theory that because LGBTQIA+ advocacy forces have managed to control much of the public narrative, it’s going to get harder and harder for the church to speak the truth in regard to these matters. I believe that this will be the reality both from the pulpit and in the public square.

Today I’ll share three of the popular narratives that are most concerning to me. They seem to have captured the hearts of millions of Americans, and yet they are substantively untrue when held up against the light of God’s Word. We carefully considered each one of these last evening …

1. Matters of sexual orientation (and all the gender-related subcategories therein) are the hallmark of human personhood and human identity. False. This may even be close to the truth, but it falls short. Yes, we are created in God’s image with a sexual identity that is central to the core of who we are. But the summation of a person’s identity is neither their sexual behavior nor their sexual desires. We’re living in a time when many want to identify themselves and each other (right down to the pronouns) based on wildly subjective interpretations of “gender,” as if “sex” and “gender” were completely interchangeable terms. And I’m noticing in contemporary literature that “gender” is rarely clearly defined. In contrast, the Bible grounds us in the undeniable reality of biological sex, and reveals many other human characteristics which fall under the umbrella of our being God’s image bearers (intellect, emotion, volition, etc.). Though our fallen world is marked by gender dysphoria and some rare chromosomal abnormalities, these do not negate God’s created order. So the question is not “Who do I believe myself to be?” but “Who has God purposefully designed and created me to be?” When we answer that question correctly, we are a whole lot more (and a whole lot more valuable) than that which can be captured by popular (and seemingly ever-shifting) labels.

2. Matters of sexual orientation (et al) are matters of basic equity and civil rights. Again, I have to respectfully disagree. I understand the desire to frame gender-related issues in this manner, and it seems to be working, but I don’t think it’s valid because we’re not talking about immutable characteristics like the color of a person’s skin. We moved to California right after the famous Proposition 8 became law (2008). Liberal California moved in a conservative direction and defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman. People were stunned. How did this happen the same year that political liberals enjoyed so many victories? When the studies were done, it was the African American community which had most strongly supported traditional marriage at the polls. In fact, I’ll go as far as saying that we cheapen the gains made by the civil rights movement when we attach “civil rights” to matters of personal choice. (I know that some will not like my use of the phrase “personal choice,” but please just hear me out … it is the LGBTQIA+ community that is most convincing me of this … please keep reading …)

3. Matters of sexual orientation (et al) are personal and fluid. Really? It gets interesting, doesn’t it? We’re being told, on the one hand, “Let me be me. Don’t tread on my civil rights.” And we’re being told, on the other hand, “I may identify one way today and a different way tomorrow, and you must grant me the freedom to self-identity in any way that I want, and to change my self-identity at any time that I want.” Friends, how can it be presented (and believed) both ways? I’ll tell you how. Moral relativism. As a culture, we’re drowning in it. I believe that, at this point, most Americans believe that we can simultaneously hold competing truth claims with neither of them being untrue. Sadly, widespread confusion about the nature (the “knowability”) of truth has invaded many segments of the professing church. (For more on the subject of moral relativism, see Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Francis Beckwith and Gregory Koukl.)

So that was much of our substance last night. I touched briefly on the terms “heterosexual privilege,” “heterosexism,” and “heteronormativity,” just because I want us to be conversant in these things when the opportunity arises to shine the light of Christ. (If you weren’t able to attend, we have copies of all the handouts in the office.) Many of you expressed your appreciation for the video clip that I shared from the Oxford Union. We watched a stirring speech given by Calvin Robinson urging the Church of England not to jettison Biblical orthodoxy under the weight of cultural pressure.

I ended the night with an appeal for love. We must love God. We must love each other. We must love a lost and dying world. Jesus didn’t use His toughest words with trans boys and trans girls and others who were longing to be recognized and valued. Quite the opposite, in fact. Our Lord used his harshest language with the religious hypocrites. “Lord, I don’t want to be in that number!” There’s only one place where you and I can look to see the truth about ourselves – the truth about who we really are – and that’s the mirror which is the Word of the living God. Commenting on James 1:25, Adelynn Spiecker says it like this: “As we stoop down on our hands and knees to look intently at Jesus, He raises Himself up powerfully within us, as He is seated at God’s righteous right hand, interceding for us. Hallelujah, what a Savior!”

Hallelujah, indeed!

Pastor Charles

Last night we enjoyed a delicious Italian dinner followed by another robust discussion on the subject at hand. We focused our attention on our need to have the right heart posture in order to share Christ in such confusing times. Everyone “out there” is struggling with something, as are we. We reminded ourselves that what we all long for is this: to be fully known and fully loved!

Many people struggle with shame, so we discussed the distinctions between guilt and shame. One participant shared a valuable insight on the distinctions between conviction and condemnation, a point of clarification for which we were all grateful. Then we had a brainstorming session centered on the kinds of life events which cause shame. I shared some insights from a book that I’ve been reading called The Soul of Shame, written by Curt Thompson, M.D., and we discussed how shame becomes deeply associated with a person’s sense of self. In other words, shame becomes internalized, and makes its way into the core of who we are.

We then discussed how shame impacts our thinking, feeling, and sensing in powerful ways. Shame can make us emotionally numb or emotionally “nauseous,” for example. And our negative thoughts can recycle and feed on each other. When we are crippled by shame, even our cognition can become fuzzy. Dr. Thompson makes the point that shame sets us up for what he calls “disintegration,” which can drive us into isolation from others.

In a world where technology has not served to cure our isolation, but rather to enhance it, we discussed how communities which promise freedom from identity issues can appear quite attractive. Young people in particular are drawn to places of acceptance and affirmation, and will seek that nearly anywhere. So if the LGBTQ community promises such heartfelt acceptance, you have a recipe for gender confusion.

Last night we underscored just how important it is for the church to be strong right now – strong doctrinally, relationally, and missionally. We want to be a refuge for everyone. We want to be a place of grace for everyone. We want the world to see us with our arms open wide (because our arms are indeed open wide). Only God can make us such a place, and such a people.

Then I introduced the group to Rosaria Butterfield (via video), who once chaired the Feminist Studies department at Syracuse University. Rosaria has abandoned her former identity as a lesbian and is helping the evangelical church understand some of the critical issues which are raised by the subject of gender ideology. We took a look at her second book, Openness Unhindered, and I focused our attention on a few of her key points there. I’ll share just three via blog this morning …

“Adam’s fall rendered my deep and primal feelings untrustworthy and untrue.”

“I was converted not out of homosexuality, but out of unbelief.”

“God’s revealed purpose for my identity always nails me to his cross.”

Wow! That’s some powerful truth! In a feeling-driven culture, you and I can be guided by something much more steady and stable. By way of example, gender dysphoria is a legitimate medical issue, but we must be very careful how we treat it. And we must be very careful about who is making those decisions. And we must be very careful about the motivations of the people who are making those decisions.

As we reviewed the simple gospel of Jesus, including the truth about our sinful nature, we reminded ourselves that we all experience a very real struggle when it comes to living out the identity that matters most: we are sons and daughters of God. That’s not always easy, is it? “Through many dangers, toils, and snares …” And yet the lover of our souls has gone before us to lead us home. His grace is, even when we can’t see how things will work out, strangely sufficient.

So, as we “glorify God and enjoy him forever” (Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1647), we want to love others – all others – with the completely undeserved love which we have so freely received in Christ.

The tomb is empty!

Pastor Charles

Last night proved to be another important installment of our ongoing midweek series. We focused our energy on learning what it means to be “fearfully and wonderfully made,” as we took in the text of Psalm 139 verse-by-verse.

We made a number of important observations from the text, including the fact that only Christ can satisfy our deep need to be fully known. It may sound obvious, but it’s worth remembering: God knows us better than we know ourselves! To think that God knows everything about me causes me to marvel, like David – “This is too wonderful for me!” I made the point that God’s knowledge is a searchlight into the deepest recesses of my being, even those “thought closets” that I don’t want Him to know anything about. But who am I kidding? We considered a quote from Matthew Henry: “God has perfect knowledge of us, and all our thoughts and actions are open before him.”

Then we talked about the love of God for us. Only God can satisfy our deep need to be fully loved. Our Creator’s own invisible hand leads and guides and protects and sustains us. We see this in the miracle of the conception of a child. God brings together something from the man … and something from the woman … and they must come together at precisely the right moment … and under precisely the right circumstances … and a human being is created! Marvelous! God’s little image bearers just keep coming into the world, and each one is not just a human body, but a human soul. Who can create a soul? Not you. Not I. We, like David, just stand in awe.

There are no mistakes: God chose gladly to give us life, and – when the time was perfect – He deliberately brought each one of us into being! And only Christ can satisfy our deep need to be valued. A true sense of self-worth must start with the recognition that we have been purposefully designed – including our gender. There is no such thing as an “accident” or a “mistake.” Last night we talked again about the importance of acknowledging  and respecting the image of God that has been stamped upon every person, and we considered how certain societal evils – like human trafficking – seek to erase that powerful and personal image. We considered a couple of laws in California which, though purportedly designed to support people struggling with gender identity, end up empowering perpetrators of sexual abuse.

We talked about David, Israel’s second king and the psalm writer, who did not have a microscope of any kind. But David could see. Not only could his eyes survey their surroundings, but his ears could detect the sounds of wildlife in the woods … his tongue could speak to other people and communicate with them … his hands could grip a sword for battle … his arm muscles could guide a horse or a plow … his carefully crafted fingers could strum a harp beautifully and skillfully … and David was intelligent enough to recognize that the inanimate matter all around him could do none of those things. Far surpassing everything else, David’s God-given mind could meditate and contemplate and plan his next weighty move. No other kind of living thing could compose songs in praise of its Maker … but David could.

Much, much later in human history … in 1828, the German chemist Friedrich Wöhler rocked the world by shattering the distinction that science had made between life and nonlife. And if life is made of chemicals, then chemists could study it. Biochemistry would teach us that a cell is made up of immensely complex, discrete chemical substances – enzymes, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, and more … all with myriad, specific, critical roles to play. The foundation of life consists of enormously complicated, working molecules. That would lead eventually to the electron microscope, and eventually to our understanding of DNA. As human beings, our design is breathtakingly elegant … wondrous … complex … precision-engineered … and multiplied every day in the billions of God’s deeply loved image bearers on Planet Earth.

We talked about how misguided gender ideology undermines the truth of God. Particularly, it endangers young people, who are so hungry for affirmation and acceptance. We looked at examples from sports, advertising, and even preschool education. We considered the unique opportunity that the church has right now to breathe hope into an incredibly confused culture. In fact, in the gospel of Jesus, we have the hope that the world most needs.

And we talked about how, in God’s economy, you and I are not replaceable. Like Moses, we may think that God can find a more qualified candidate to do the job to which we’ve been called – but it’s simply not true. We are fearfully and wonderfully made! Last night we remembered the words of Ephesians, and Paul’s reminder that we were loved “before the foundation of the world.”

You and I have neither the smarts nor the ability to fix everything that’s broken about our world, but we can share the love of Christ with those who long to be loved. That includes everyone. I closed our night with this simple thought: “Our message is not, ‘Get your gender straight!’ Our message is, ‘Come to Jesus! His arms are open wide.’ May our Lord enlarge our heart to be bold but humble ambassadors of grace for such a time as this.

Pastor Charles

Since the icy weather derailed our Midweek Winter Series this week, I thought that I would share with you a few more highlights from our first session. We started with a close look at Genesis 1:26-31, focusing on the nature of our “first parents” as we see that nature revealed in God’s original design. We made multiple observations from the text, and we landed on four key truths which will serve us well for the remainder of the series …

1. Adam, the original human being, was created in the image of God. This makes humankind a unique species.

2. Sexual distinction (difference) is undeniable.

3. The maleness and femaleness enable us to produce new image bearers: bearing the likeness of the parents and the likeness of God. Thus, the unique identity which marks humanity is passed down to successive generations.

4. Human beings are granted a positional and vocational honor expressed in their unique authority on the earth. This reflects the ultimate rule of God.

After briefly touching on what theologians often refer to as God’s “creation mandate” (what Adam and Eve, as well as their posterity, were commissioned by God to do), we turned a page and looked closely at Genesis 2:18-25. We asked ourselves some questions: What further insights into human nature do we gain by the nuanced Creation account of the Bible’s second chapter? What additional light is shed? What would Adam have noticed as he named all the animals, and how would this have contributed to his profound appreciation for – and intense delight in – Eve? Why was it important for our first parents to be “naked and unashamed”? (By the way, we’ll deal specifically with the problem of shame later in this series.)

Here were some of our primary takeaways after considering Chapter 2 …

1. More light is shed on maleness and femaleness. When it comes to “being fruitful” and “exercising dominion,” both sexes participate in both tasks – but not in exactly the same ways. The distinctions are necessary, and reflective of the nature of God.

2. There is every indication in the text that God loves both Adam and Eve – He cares for and provides for them both – but He does not create them in the exact same way. Built into the first “not good” in the Bible is the need for a complementarity of relationship which marriage will provide.

3. The marriage bond is intended to supersede other human relationships, and to be inviolable.

4. The marital love and commitment will be celebrated in sexual intercourse, surely including a transparency with each other and a vulnerability to each other. (The rest of Scripture will shed further light on this.)

5. Though they need each other, both Eve and Adam have a higher need for God Himself.

6. These foundations reflect not only the character of God, and our relationship to Him, but they are the very underpinning of human civilization – and human flourishing.

Speaking of human flourishing, that’s what this series is all about! We have no desire to point our fingers at others and shame them for not living up to God’s perfect standards. Rather, we – deeply aware of our own need for a Savior – want to share with our fellow image bearers the way of Jesus. We believe that His way is the way that will lead to their ultimate satisfaction and joy. So we seek to be humble proclaimers of life, light, and love. We are but dust. Christ is everything.

I look forward to seeing all of you for Session 2 on Wednesday, February 8 at 5:30 p.m. Don’t forget that dinner and childcare are included.

Pastor Charles

We enjoyed a full Fellowship Hall last evening for the opening session of our Midweek Winter Series: “The Gospel and Gender Ideology.” For those of you who are unable to attend, I will publish a summary of each session today and for the next five weeks, so the blog will be posted on Thursday (instead of Wednesday) for the duration of this series.

My primary goal last night was to outline a solid Biblical and theological framework for our study. When we as Christ followers approach a subject as critical as this in our contemporary culture, it’s vitally important that we do so with the humility to which we have been called. The world doesn’t need any more judgmental finger-pointing, so (to quote from Kyle Dunbar’s closing prayer): “God, please help us remove the log from our own eye.”

Specifically, we discussed the similarities and differences between “sex” and “gender,” just to get us all on the same page in terms of terminology and approach. Then we explored the Bible’s earliest and most foundational teaching on gender from the Creation account in Genesis 1 and 2.

And I’ll share with you here the “starting points” which I shared with the attendees, which spring from my heart’s desire to simply let you know why I believe that all of this truly matters …

1. The message that young people need to stay pure until marriage, and then after that to enjoy the gift of sex “‘til death do us part” – but not really talk about it on church property – is a woefully inadequate view of sexuality from which we must repent. We, as the body of Christ, can do much better than that.

2. As long as sexuality remains a taboo subject in the church, we can’t expect people to understand the deceptions – and outright lies – surrounding it. And there are many. Especially in our contemporary culture, silence is deadly.

3. The void that we create because of topics which we prefer to shy away from, other forces will be happy to fill. Where we as the church fail to disciple, others will gladly do it for us. When the church begins to speak honestly and truthfully about these issues, we’re not reacting to “the world” – we’re embracing what always belonged to God.

4. Because it is intrinsically connected to our personhood, sexuality is linked to spirituality. As our understanding of sexuality is blurred, so will be our understanding of God. So, our goal is to develop a vision of sexuality that is as close to THE truth as possible. Thus, the Bible – God’s Word – will be our highest source of authority for this series (as in all matters of faith and practice).

5. Sexual desires are ultimately a desire for closeness and acceptance. Sexual intimacy is a physical experience that God uses to show us that we have a longing for closeness that only He can fill. This makes all issues which fall under the umbrella of sexuality, ultimately, nothing less than gospel issues. (See Ephesians 5:32.)

6. We are all broken, sexually and otherwise. As sinners one and all, we all stand in need of a perfect Savior.

7. The Cross is the only place in the universe where wholeness can be found. As such, the gospel always lies at the center of our conversation.

8. Jesus died and rose again to make us whole in every way. This includes our sexual wholeness. Christ is deeply invested in this journey, in fact more than we could ever imagine.

9. Both the single and the married are, by nature, sexual creatures. This is a reflection of the image of God which has been imprinted upon us. We share a deep longing for intimacy: to be truly known and yet truly loved.

10. Our sexual wholeness will not be one and done, but will be a continual and gracious work of the Holy Spirit in us.

11. All of my deepest desires were never meant to be met in another person. As I am awakened to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ as the greatest joy I can ever know, I realize that the delights of sexual intimacy are lesser pleasures pointing me heavenward. Sex was never designed to be ultimate end.

12. Two guardrails will aid us on the way: 1) that we seek to be “full of grace and truth”; and 2) that we speak the truth in love.

I explained last evening that I intentionally changed the pronouns from plural to singular as we moved from #10 to #11, as I want each one of us to deeply personalize “the main thing,” and the main thing is always knowing God. All in all, it was a wonderful night. Thanks to all of you who prayed fervently to that end.

If you’re in the Nashville area, you are most welcome to join us for any or all of the remaining sessions. Dinner and childcare will be provided each Wednesday night. I’m finding that Green Hills Community Church offers the sweetest fellowship around, and I don’t want any of you to miss the great things that the Lord is doing in our midst.

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Pastor Charles

Yesterday it took me twenty minutes to drive less than a mile on Hillsboro Pike. That might sound like a complaint, but it’s certainly not. I enjoyed every minute – taking in all the hustle and bustle of a city on the move. That is Nashville, and that is Green Hills, right now!

I could have chosen so many photographs to share with you of major developments within a stone’s throw of our church campus, but I picked the soon-to-open Eden House. It’s a 16-story building offering 111 luxury condos for sale, along with a creative mix of retail space. Apparently it will be similar to the Vertis next door. If you’re like me and think in terms of restaurants, think Char!

Then there’s the new hi-tech transit center in front of the high school, aimed at promoting mass transit to and from the mall area. And Hillsboro Pike itself is being transformed. Intersections are being redesigned. CVS just hopped across the street and that sidestreet will soon plow through what used to be CVS. New businesses are sprouting up on both sides of the throughway. I’m sure you’ve noticed the massive construction project next to the Bluebird Cafe. There is every indication that something gargantuan will soon tower over those few remaining businesses that have held on to their properties through the last couple of decades of growth and transition.

And I’ve barely scratched the surface. There are so many cranes operating downtown that you can’t even count them while sitting at a red light – because you run out of time.

The God of this city has called us here. All of us. That’s why we’re here. He has work for us to do, right here. And it’s a great adventure to be stationed at this post, here and now. You and I should embrace the moment with gusto.

I’m proposing that we pray together over our lovely community. Here are some ideas …

1. Let’s pray for the spiritual prosperity of our city. That we would hear and respond to the call of God in Jeremiah 29:7, and that God’s Word would give each one of us the heart perspective which we need: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you … and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

2. Let’s pray for those who are new to the Nashville area, and who are adjusting to the transition. Maybe there are language barriers, or financial hardships, or emotional struggles related to leaving their previous home (or homeland). That God would use this moment to reveal Christ as only He can.

3. Let’s pray for those neighbors who don’t know Christ. That God will open their hearts to the gospel, and that He will use us in that exciting enterprise.

4. Let’s pray that our part of Tennessee would be protected from racial strife. That the love of Jesus would prevail and bring diverse people together, as God’s people lead the way in exhibiting the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

5. Let’s pray for our neighbor churches. Each one faces its share of spiritual warfare, and each one has the potential to make a powerful kingdom impact. That the Lord would grant true gospel unity and mission to each and every congregation where Christ is exalted.

6. Let’s pray that churches could serve together in sharing Christ and meeting human needs. That pride and self-sufficiency would not prevent any of us from being able to lock arms with a brother or sister in Christ with whom we might minister effectively.

7. Let’s pray for our own church family, our very special family of faith at GHCC. That we would reflect the goodness of our Lord and Savior at every turn, with everyone, and with each other. That we would truly (and literally) be a light on a hill.

8. Let’s pray for singles in our area, including older adults who are single, and for the unique challenges that singles face. That God would build great friendships here in our city, and that He would minister to those who are lonely (and use us in such gracious ministry).

9. Let’s pray for the marriages and families all around us. That God would grant tremendous wisdom as people try to navigate these confusing cultural headwinds which seek to undermine family life. And that God would bring His peace and joy to every home.

10. Let’s pray that the Spirit of God will promote a culture where all human life is valued and protected. That God would use us to speak such words of life and light, with humility and winsomeness, within our local spheres of influence (including our own families).

11. Let’s pray for our government leaders and for all who are in authority over us. That God would grant divine wisdom to all who lead, and that His ultimate authority would be recognized and honored by all.

12. Let’s pray for a great spiritual awakening that extends well beyond Green Hills Community Church and Nashville! Everywhere, people need hope. Everywhere, people need Jesus.

The world is moving to Nashville. Are we ready? We should be … because you and I have the best news in the world!

Pastor Charles

If you’re in the Nashville area, I want to invite you to Green Hills Community Church for our Midweek Winter Series: THE GOSPEL AND GENDER IDEOLOGY. We’ll meet from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. for six weeks starting January 25. Dinner and childcare will be provided. Our primary goal will be to make sense of Scripture, history, and our current cultural crisis surrounding the issue of gender.

I’m putting this together as we speak, but here are some of my plans as of this blog posting …

1. We’ll talk about Creation, and how early Genesis informs our understanding of gender.

2. We’ll seek to understand the key Biblical texts which ought to shape a Christian understanding of sexuality.

3. We’ll take a look at the inherently subjective nature of transgenderism, and the problems created by such fluidity.

4. We’ll trace some of the key historical landmarks which have contributed to our present cultural confusion. 

5. We’ll explore critical sociological and philosophical underpinnings, like fatherlessness and moral relativism (and even transhumanism). 

6. We’ll consider some of the relevant medical issues, such as gender dysphoria and puberty blockers.

7. We’ll highlight a few of the larger legal issues currently in play, and specifically address the applicability of civil rights legislation to sexual orientation.

8. We’ll wade into the waters of “cancel culture” and free speech, as they relate to the topic at hand.

9. We’ll examine some of the resources currently being used to promote transgenderism in elementary schools.

10. We’ll discuss the unique problem of powerful ideological agendas in American higher education.

11. We’ll formulate a plan for ourselves as the body of Christ: how to live (and speak) graciously, winsomely, and with kingdom efficacy in the public square.

12. We’ll commit to humble ministry in Christ’s name, in a world of sexual brokenness, and we’ll affirm our calling to love those who are struggling with pain, confusion, and rejection.

Why do these things matter, friends? Because the gospel touches every sphere of our lives. In the words of Abraham Kuyper, Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1901 to 1905: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!'”

I hope that many of you will be able to attend most of these sessions. It’s always a treat to enjoy splendid fellowship with the people of God. And it is always my privilege and joy to serve as the senior pastor of Green Hills Community Church, a congregation firmly committed to the timeless good news of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Charles

For many years I’ve participated in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., and have found the experience to be exhilarating for my soul. This year I may be unable to attend because of family illness, but January always brings the issue of the sanctity of human life to the forefront of my thinking.

I must admit that I often doubted that Roe v. Wade would ever be overturned in my lifetime, though I knew that the landmark SCOTUS ruling was plagued by multiple reasons to collapse under its own weight. It was a terrible decision on multiple levels, but Roe enshrined a so-called constitutional right to abortion that I knew would be a difficult course correction for many Americans. Sure enough, I think that the last midterm elections signaled that substantial numbers of voters are concerned about abortion rights.

So how should we as the church proceed from here? How do we love our politically diverse neighbors while working diligently to create and preserve an ethic of life? How do we approach the issue of abortion in a post-Roe climate, and do so in a manner that is as effective and winsome as possible? Here are a few of my thoughts.

1. We can’t assume that legal or legislative wins change hearts. I’m in no way saying that we ought not strive for both, but I believe that the intensely more difficult part of the pro-life battle may be ahead of us instead of behind us. In fact, we’re already witnessing an amping up of pro-abortion momentum and energy, tragically. (See Tuesday’s “breaking news” on abortion pills in The New York Times.)

2. We can assume that people don’t really understand the issues. Most don’t. One thing the midterm exit polls clearly demonstrated is that voters had little understanding of Roe. Most had bought into sensationalized and misleading media soundbites, which is sadly no new national phenomenon.

3. We must broaden our understanding of the pro-life culture which we’re seeking to create. In our desire to see people truly embrace the value of human life, within a gospel-positive context, we must learn to love as our Savior loves. He loves the whole person. He loves the wayward rebel. He loves people who don’t love Him back. We ought to open our arms to embrace single moms and fatherless kids and older adults struggling with loneliness. We ought to be first in line to serve those who are suffering through divorce and substance abuse. As a local expression of the body of Christ, we ought to be a safe place for those enduring every shade of grief. We are extended a little more credibility to speak into the abortion issue when people see that we are ministers of grace among those who are hurting.

4. We must not lose heart (Galatians 6:9). Whenever we live as channels of positive change on this fallen planet, we can expect serious opposition. But the greatest threat to our real-life ministry as agents of salt and light is not hostile politics, or moral relativism, or the lack of widespread public approval. The greatest danger we face is losing our resolve to press on in the face of all of those realities. Today I simply want to urge you, beloved friends, to press on.

Life matters. Love matters. When I think about the woman at the well, I imagine her exclaiming to her friends: “He wasn’t really coming after water. He was coming after me!” As always, you and I need the wisdom and passion of Jesus.

Pastor Charles