When it comes to the approaching holidays, C.S. Lewis wasn’t much on the frenzied consumerism of Christmas, but he called the birth of Jesus Christ “the central event in the history of the earth.” That’s quite a statement. I share it with you now that December has knocked on our door, and my hope is simply this: that you and I not miss the moment.

You see, friends, we can miss the moment while trying to find the moment. This time of year has a habit of deflecting our vision in such a way that the twinkling lights seem brighter than the Light of the world.

I urge you to notice the spectacular change of seasons. If we lived in Miami, we might not be able to take in as much of God’s December artwork, but you and I have no excuse to miss it here. The migrating birds. The icicles protruding from the rock formations. The soon-coming snow.

I urge you to notice the places of needed grace. All around us are neighbors who are struggling and suffering. I always say that there’s pain in every pew. Christmas may feel like a time of indulgence for some, but for many it’s a painful reminder of what they’re missing: a loved one, a job, or a happier day gone by. For those of us in the body of Christ, this ought to be a time of intentional and incarnational ministry (we’re privileged to serve as Christ’s hands and feet).

I urge you to notice the sunsets. Simple but profound. Last night’s was extraordinary in fact, with its billowy pastel cloud formations, as Lone Oak Road appeared to be wandering off into colorful Narnia. All you have to do is open your eyes.

And, while you’re at it, I urge you to notice the smiles on the faces of the children with whom we’re privileged to share the season. For the little ones in our midst, these are special moments indeed. Show up. Be present. Give eagerly of yourself. We will blink, and they will be grown.

And early December means that winter will soon prevail. Just today I added a heavy coat to the supplies in the trunk of my car. We might have to bundle up, but let’s not miss a single opportunity to behold the glory of God. Of winter’s unique display of God’s grandeur and majesty, and also His providential care for us, Nichole Nordeman sings:

Everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice You
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter …

Here’s the thing: strangely but surely, buried beneath the coldest and starkest landscape, is the certain promise of spring. “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’!” The glories of resurrection are as real now as ever.

So while we wait on all things to be made new (Revelation 21:5), savor these moments of beautiful December. They are spectacular moments, as is the God who grants them to us, one by one. And savor the Savior who has come to earth: HE IS CHRIST THE LORD.

Pastor Charles

This week we’re all mindful of the attitude of gratitude. We know something of how important it is to be thankful, and we know something of our natural propensity to be anything but.

When the returned exiles of Israel began rebuilding the temple, many of the older people wept. They still remembered the glory days of Solomon’s temple, and the newer temple project seemed like it was going to prove itself to be utterly disappointing by comparison (Ezra 3:10-13). They wanted to hang on to Jerusalem’s former glory, but they realized that those days were not to be relived. Zechariah’s response to the people’s widespread disappointment (4:10) is powerful: “Whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice!”

That gets me thinking about my own nearsightedness when it comes to matters of faith. I can talk up a storm about trusting God, you see, but it’s an entirely different thing when I actually have to trust Him. Perhaps you can relate.

So this holiday season I’m making it my aim to focus on “the little things.” By God’s grace and for His glory, I’m going to notice God’s goodness in the more hidden corners of my world, and in the places of my life that look less like a big splash and more like a subtle whisper.

I’m thankful for old friends. You know who you are. You’ve always been there for me. I know I can count on you, no matter what. Simply remembering what we’ve been through together, over many years now, warms my heart. (I’m not crying. You’re crying.)

I’m thankful for my quirky and beautiful little family of three. Some days we’re a trip, but every day we’re a treasure. We can complete each other’s sentences, and sing each other’s songs. We’ve got each other’s back. We’re on each other’s team. We’re not giving up on each other, but we’re choosing to cheer each other on until we cross the finish line.

I’m thankful for the work that I’m privileged to do. It’s hard work, and it drives me nearly crazy at times, but it’s a high privilege to be called to it. I’m even thankful for the multifaceted frustrations of pastoral ministry, for I know that in my Lord’s good providence they shape and sanctify me. No tear is wasted. No sleepless night is ultimately unprofitable.

I’m thankful for closed doors. (Yes, you read that right.) I’m thankful to know a God who knows better than I. I’m choosing to believe what I’ve always said I believe: His ways are not my ways. I’m choosing to savor the sweetness of a Savior who loves me too much to always give me what I want.

And those blessings are just for starters. By the way, if you’re reading this, I’m inviting you to join me on my simple journey of gratitude.

I have a hunch that one day we just may look up and realize that the little things were really the big things.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Pastor Charles

No, it’s not a picture of Santa Claus. Far from it.

The Acton Institute reports that about a third of all young adults in America have a favorable view of Marxism. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s hard to believe, but true. Someone, somewhere, is successfully propping up a whopper of a lie. And the recent statistics confirm for us the unfortunate news: it’s working.

And here is the problem with rewriting history so that Karl Marx comes out smelling like a rose: every form of Marxism works against the inherent dignity of every person. Because Marxism demands fascism, you see. It is a worldview guided by the following cardinal rule: “If we like it, it must be made mandatory. If we dislike it, it must be banned.” It is the end of freedom. So, for example, commonsense gun legislation isn’t enough – all guns must be banned. Legalizing same-sex marriage isn’t enough – everyone must be a proponent of it. Respectful tolerance in the public square isn’t enough, because – if you disagree with me on any point – you must be shouted down, silenced, and canceled entirely. Those are the rules of the game, but it’s no game.

My guess is that Marxism looks attractive to the historically naïve because – at first glance – it feels like a viable way in which all people can be treated “equally.” But nothing could be further from the truth. Where Marxism really takes root, there always arises incredible inequality in the form of an elite class of government authorities who speak the language of equality, but who enshrine the mechanisms to ensure a ruling dictatorial class. How do they justify this? Well, simply put, they are so self-deceived that they are firmly convinced that they know better than the unenlightened populace beneath them. So the state gets bigger and bigger and bigger, all in the name of progress, while personal liberties fly out the window – until sophisticated thugs rule the roost. This tragic pattern has repeated itself in history over and over again, under the influence of many different people who thought their version of it was right. You’d think that we’d know better by now, but apparently, we do not.

And we must never forget that Marxism is a jealous god. It will never tolerate any notion of the one true and living God! We must never forget that Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong made certain that they be regarded as God. If you disagreed with that idolatrous assessment, then you deserved death – the ultimate cancellation. Sadly and catastrophically, Marxism is the end of reason, the end of critical thinking, and the end of cultural flourishing. As a philosophical, political, and moral system, it is entirely anti-God. The utopian dream of Karl Marx has become nothing short of a global nightmare, as regimes built in his image have killed more than a hundred million people in the last century, while misguided ideological tyrants led the way.

I don’t have to tell you that anti-God is never the right way. Marxism, and all of the belief systems which flow from it, elevate man. Humanism becomes the be-all-end-all. It’s absolutely morally bankrupt. In fact, Marxist forms of government have failed miserably in every single part of the world in which they’ve ever been tried, and yet – somehow, strangely – Marxism still beguiles leading intellectuals, academics, politicians, and religious leaders here in our corner of the world.

Marxism is a false religion. Someone needs to be elevated, but it’s not us. You see, it is only the gospel of Christ which elevates God to His rightful position: JESUS IS LORD OF ALL!

Prejudice exists. Racism exists. Oppression exists. Indeed, all of these awful realities are realities indeed, because this planet is fallen to the core. But the solution is not Marxism of any stripe.

In his famous essay, Vladimir Lenin called religion “opium for the people … spiritual booze in which the slaves of capital drown their human image.” I would submit to you friends, the precise opposite: it is only the knowledge of God that can deliver us from our present cultural crisis. It is only the truth of Christ’s gospel that can promote any sense of human dignity within our current cancel culture. And it is only the love of God that can speak peace to our profoundly troubled world.

When I think of our young people being robbed of their right mind, and being cunningly convinced to believe a deadly lie, it breaks my heart. Just like in Jeremiah’s day, people are choosing to put their hope in “broken cisterns that can hold no water” (2:13), and leading many others toward the same place of spiritual bankruptcy. But you and I have the weapon of prayer, and that’s a powerful weapon! So arm yourself for this pivotal moment … draw upon the evidence of history … love with resurrection passion those who are trapped in deceit … and wait joyfully upon the Lord who does marvelous things …

Pastor Charles

You might have missed it, but it happened at the Forty-Third Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C.

Garth Brooks, one of this year’s honorees, was looking on intently as Kelly Clarkson sang “The Dance.” If you’re not a fan of country music, you might not know that “The Dance” is Garth Brooks’ song, released in 1989 and a chart-topper in 1990.

Kelly and Garth are close friends, having encouraged each other through a number of the storms of life. As it turns out, this particular song helped Kelly make it through one of the toughest seasons in her life, and it inspired one of her own albums. Apparently, she was thrilled to be asked to perform it in honor of her faithful friend … “Oh, our lives are better left to chance. I could have missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss the dance.”

The audience grew pin-drop quiet as Garth Brooks was visibly moved to tears.

There’s something inherently human about seeking to avoid pain. Believe me, when I go to the doctor’s office, I’ll choose the oral medication over the shot every time. I don’t do pain well.

And there are the much more painful pains. The pains of a broken heart. The pains of a shattered dream. The pains with a sting worse than death. That’s why all of us can relate to those simple song lyrics. We know what it’s like to be hurt. We know what it’s like to be disappointed. We know what it’s like to be betrayed. And we know what it’s like to do everything in our power not to be hurt again. But the point of the song is that real love is worth the risk.

In The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis writes: “Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

Jesus wept (John 11:35). Jesus wept because Jesus loved, and His love cost Him everything. Let that sink in! The Sovereign of the universe so identified with the painful plight of humankind that He entered into our grief to the nth degree. So you and I must not imagine for one second that it will cost us nothing to love as we’ve been loved. We have to remember in whose footsteps we’re following, and that we’re walking the way of the Cross. The way of love can be a painful way – a way of suffering.

I believe that Garth Brooks cried because God has blessed him with a warm and authentically human spirit. That gift envelopes his artistry, and so it’s no surprise that Brooks has expanded the profile of the country genre perhaps more than any other singer-songwriter in the world. Looking back over the course of his life and his successful career, I’ll quote directly from Mr. Brooks: “The hope is to have contributed to humanity like my heroes have, to inspire us to be the most we can be as individuals, global citizens, and a part of human history. But most of all, to simply laugh, cry, love, and dream through music … I have been blessed to do just that.”

“Vocation” comes from the Latin for “calling.” So, dear friends, what God has given you to do, do it with all your heart! Do it for an audience of One! Do it for the glory of God! Don’t miss your moment.

Your mission will cost you if it is our Lord’s mission. You can count on that. Like Brooks, you will shed some tears along the way. Not only the tears of suffering but also the tears of recognizing the frailty of your humanity … recognizing the painful journey that you’ve shared with another person … recognizing the painful task to which you’ve been commissioned by God … or simply acknowledging the tenderness of your own heart. But would you really want it any other way?

So don’t miss the dance. It will hurt, sometimes, when you dance for Jesus. But please don’t miss the dance.

Pastor Charles

With his two-run homer, Dansby Swanson helped the Atlanta Braves win their first World Series in 26 years. We can learn a lot from a shortstop.

“God’s always got a plan,” says Swanson with a reassuring tone in a major media interview. I think you’ll agree with me that there aren’t many wiser words to live by, friends: God’s always got a plan. In fact, that is the wisdom of God Himself (Proverbs 16:9): The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

I take great comfort in that great truth, because – whenever I make my plans – my sin gets in the way. I’m a mixed bag, you see – a mixture of pure motives and selfish impulses. This side of heaven, that’s likely to be an accurate descriptor of what you get when you get me: a mixed bag. But not so with God! The Lord is unending in His perfections, and in His perfect knowledge of what ought to happen, so my ultimate trust must be in Him. Yours too. And here’s the deal: it is the Lord alone who ultimately governs my path. Yours too.

God is not just a predictor. God is a doer. God is not just a knower. God is a Sovereign. To understand those important – and heartening – distinctions about God is the difference between being a deist and a theist. Nowhere in the entire universe is there even one random baseball soaring through the air.

Is there any uncertainty about tomorrow? With me, yes. But not with God. He’s never surprised or caught off guard by any unexpected change. That’s so unlike me that it’s not even funny. Can you relate? Like the Israelites who walked before us, you and I often completely forget the faithfulness of God, especially when a new surprise comes our way. And it will be no surprise when I tell you that life sometimes feels like surprise after surprise. We don’t mind surprises like baseball-victory surprises, but you know those other kinds of surprises of which I speak.

That’s right where some of us are living. Right now. We’re just not so sure what God is doing. When it comes to matters of faith, sometimes a season of not knowing can drive us to want to throw in the proverbial towel. Every Christ-follower I know has experienced at least one of those dark seasons. But don’t you dare give up on God, as He has certainly not given up on you! I wish that I could have met Corrie ten Boom because I think that it was Corrie who expressed it best: “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”

Are we hapless victims of life’s whimsical twists and turns? It may feel like it at times, but the answer is a thousand times “no!” Nor are we driven along by some impersonal and haphazard force. Nor are we battered by circumstances beyond all control. And here’s why: God remains fully in control. There is not a single moment in history when that statement is untrue, and that includes now.

Even now, Christ’s gracious hand guides us. His gracious hand protects us. His gracious hand provides for us. This is true when we win a game, and this is true when we lose a game. Because the tomb is empty, win or lose, we win!

This is a bright season for the Braves, and I hope that they – and their fans – savor every moment. And, at a moment when the tone could be braggadocious – and who would even question it? – we hear nothing from Dansby but the words of a humble servant: “The good Lord – He’s blessed me so much. I wouldn’t be here without Him. Just the peace that He gives me is remarkable, especially in moments like this. You can never go wrong in trusting in that … I’m just so thankful to be here.” Those are nothing short of (pun fully intended) words of grateful praise.

May his tribe increase. God, give us such grateful hearts.

Pastor Charles

I’m sending you some pics from Manomet Point, just south of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Eileen and I have been literally in the bullseye of the Nor’Easter that just barreled through this part of the world. Our house is on the ocean. We have no electricity. Sustained winds have been 60 miles per hour, with gusts up to 102. And this has been a 36-hour event. Meteorologists are calling it a “bomb cyclone.”

I apologize that the photos have such little definition, but that’s what we’ve been seeing: a near-whiteout of water, fog, and loud mystery. Last night our house felt and sounded like we were riding on a train. Unbelievable.

I won’t write much except to say that the God who commands these tumultuous waves and hurricane-force winds must be an awesome God! He is to be feared, and revered, by His creatures. He is absolutely unfathomable in His power and greatness.

But I must also tell you that this omnipotent Lord of the universe is more than great: He is good. The seals out there are frolicking without concern, as are the seagulls above and the whales below. In fact, the few birds I can spot seem to be soaring effortlessly.

Wind or no wind, I can rest in God’s goodness too. Christ has come to this troubled planet, shown us the infinite love of our Father, and ravaged death forever by a bloody cross and an empty tomb. What else have we to fear? Hallelujah! He’s the real Bomb of history.

This Jesus demonstrated His sovereignty over the stormy sea with three simple words: “Peace! Be still!” That’s more than enough for me. I am simply undone in the glorious presence of One that wonderful.

So today I choose to stand with King David: “The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made” (Psalm 145:9). I hope you’ll stand with me.

Because you and I are safer than seals.

Pastor Charles

I’m having a hard time believing that I’m typing these words, but Mike Stone has sued Russell Moore in federal court. Just when you thought politics and tribalism couldn’t get any uglier in the Southern Baptist Convention, here we go. If you’re unfamiliar with these names, Pastor Stone is the former chairman of the SBC Executive Committee, who failed this year in a run for the SBC presidency; Dr. Moore is the former president of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, who left that post in May.

The lawsuit filed Monday comes on the heels of the resignation of Dr. Ronnie Floyd, who had served as the president of the Executive Committee, and who had become embroiled in controversy over investigations of sexual abuse within the denomination. For purposes of this blog posting, I am not going to report or comment on the specific allegations raised by these men, but in general, they range from damaged reputations to “psychological terror.”

Floyd’s resignation was accompanied by a wave of departures by other top leaders, indicating deep fissures in the denomination. Our public witness for Christ is suffering. Our people, including our leaders, are struggling with discouragement and depression. Our statistical vital signs are steadily weakening. In short, we are in trouble.

There is no doubt that our God has called us to unite around the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! But our enemy’s greatest tactic is a spirit of incessant strife. Satan’s perversion of our identity and our mission causes us to ostracize and shame one another. When we distance ourselves from one another and disparage one another, evil can flourish in our most sacred spaces. The mutual ministry of encouragement, which ought to permeate our shared life together, can be eclipsed by our foolish pride. Factions breed factions, and there will never be united hearts where there are not forgiving hearts.

Here’s the reality: a divided church is an oxymoron, for we are the very body of Christ. We are saints. And we are sanctified. That means that we are “set apart” for God’s own holy purposes. Take a close look at First Corinthians 1:10. It is the Apostle Paul’s remedy for a divided church: in essence, stop dividing! Corinth had more than its share of relational troubles among the people, but Jesus offers more than enough hope for an overriding unity in Himself.

Friends, the courts ought not to have to be settling among us what has already been settled by the blood of the Lamb. He is more than enough!

The out-and-out spiritual warfare that is engulfing our churches right now is nothing short of unbelievably intense. So please do your part as a prayer warrior and as a gospel peacemaker. And I will strive to do mine. Let’s not mimic the national trends, but in a totally countercultural way let’s lead by love. The world is watching. And so is the Lord.

Pastor Charles

We may never know all of the facts, but corporate vaccine mandates were at least part of the issue leading to scores of canceled Southwest flights over the last few days. There’s too much from their own pilots on social media to deny this. Some in our own church family felt the sting of this last round of travel woes, as folks who’d flown far and wide had their fall breaks extended unintentionally. Grounded.

And, as of just this morning, both Southwest and American Airlines seem to be at war with Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott has banned vaccine mandates throughout the state. But the Dallas- and Fort Worth-based air carriers say they’ll defy the governor, claiming the protection of President Joe Biden’s September directive that all private companies with more than 100 workers must require their employees to be vaccinated or take weekly COVID-19 tests. Let’s face it: there’s just nothing quite like 2021.

Now, obviously, I’m not going to take up or solve all of the controversial issues surrounding the coronavirus vaccines. I am not an anti-vaxxer by any stretch, though I respect everyone’s right to their own medical opinion. I am grateful for vaccines, and for modern medicine in general, but I am also very concerned about the preservation of individual liberties – especially when it comes to matters as personal as one’s own healthcare choices. I don’t think that public health and the preservation of freedom have to be at incessant war with each other. In terms of practical application, there may be tension between the two values at times – that’s both inevitable and okay – but I think that we can get through this. And, quite frankly, your personal decision about the vaccine is none of my business.

That being said, I’d like to offer a few thoughts that might help us contribute positively to the conversation. Lord knows we need some positive voices right now. Let’s be among that number, however small it may be if we can. What I’m going to share here is applicable to Christ-followers. I do not expect all citizens to analyze matters as I have here, and that is not my concern. I’m simply trying to shepherd well and to give you a few insights which arise from the Scriptures. (And maybe these principles extend well beyond COVID.) I’ve devised an acrostic in case that’s helpful for anybody.

Grace.

The very essence of the Christian life is that we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24). We’re to be motivated more by love for neighbor than love for self. In that regard, you and I are exceptionally countercultural. At a bare minimum, loving another person involves wanting and seeking their good. As we seek the common good, we become willing to lay down our personal preferences for God’s glory. This heart-set has to underly all of our decision-making, all of our conversations, and all of our interactions in the public square. It’s simply who we are.

Responsibility.

We do not live in a spiritual vacuum, but we live in the light of our responsibility to God. So a profound and abiding sense of our personal responsibility marks our every thought, motive, decision, and action. We are far more concerned about what we ought to do than what our neighbor ought to do – at least that’s who we’re supposed to be. Feeling the weight of who I’m supposed to be is a far better place to start a healthy conversation than a sense of annoyed agitation over the poor choices of another.

Order.

Pandemic or no pandemic, vaccine or no vaccine, mandate or no mandate … God’s got this. The whole enchilada. I don’t have to fix the world. Lol.

Unconditional Respect.

We ought to be setting the tone for tolerance (and I’m not talking about the kind of “tolerance” that the world tries to pass off as tolerance). Since we believe that people are transformed by personal faith and that faith comes by God’s Word, we ought to want everyone to have the opportunity to communicate freely – so that Christ can be made known among all peoples. We should exemplify respect for others.

No Name-Calling.

People – all of whom share with us God’s image – are more complicated than demographics. When we carelessly label each other, we generate more heat than light. That’s not our job or our high calling in Christ. No corrupting talk (Ephesians 4:29).

Diligence.

We should study the relevant issues for ourselves. We should seek information from multiple sources, and from different political angles. We should stay prayerful before the Lord. We should season our speech, including our electronic speech, with humility. Our light-and-salt responsibilities require that we work hard and that we stay at it.

Excitement.

Yes, I said “excitement!” And I mean it. You and I already know how our story ends, and it’s an absolutely fantastic ending! We must not allow our primary identity to be found in the politics of vaccines – or in any other kind of politics. We’re gospel people, and it’s our great privilege to champion the best news in the entire world. Hallelujah!

Determination.

By our very nature in Christ, believers are “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17). Firmly established. Steadfast. Firm. Grace is who we are, and grace is where we stand. NO. MATTER. WHAT.

G.R.O.U.N.D.E.D.

Let’s try to support each other, even through real-life differing opinions and disagreements. Our positive Christian witness requires it. In his book Secret Power, D.L. Moody observed: “I have never known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord’s people were divided.” So, friends, in these turbulent times, let’s try to stay GROUNDED in grace and truth. I have a hunch that the more grounded we remain, the higher we’ll be able to soar.

Pastor Charles

I won’t write much today since I’m traveling home, but I did want to update you on the Texas abortion law, known as S.B. 8 or the “heartbeat bill,” which has become so incredibly controversial. Yesterday U.S. District Judge Robert L. Pitman granted the Justice Department a temporary injunction which blocks the enforcement of the law. This is not entirely surprising, of course, and it further signals that 2021 will shape up to be a monumental year when it comes to the sanctity of human life in America.

I’ll quote Judge Pitman directly: “From the moment S.B. 8 went into effect, women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution … this Court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right.” He went on to describe the law of the Lone Star State as “an unprecedented and aggressive scheme.” Today this ruling is being celebrated by pro-abortion advocates and many in our government, and some consider this an open rebuke of the Supreme Court.

Here’s why. The Supreme Court has already agreed to hear a case involving a Mississippi law that bans abortions at 15 weeks (the Texas law is six weeks). So we can expect critical developments surrounding the viability of Roe v. Wade (pun fully intended) in the near future. Between now and then, this ought to be a season of prayer for the body of Christ.

What I’d like to offer today is a little levelheadedness (I hope) when it comes to a topic that is clearly dividing an already divided nation. First of all, and I say this as a pastor who tries to help people reassemble the broken pieces of their lives, we need to remember that abortion exacts a huge physical, emotional, and psychological toll on the women who choose it. It is no easy way out of a tough situation. I’m not meaning to condemn anyone by that comment, but I’m simply pointing out a pervasive reality that often gets overlooked by the media. Surely a general concern and compassion for women ought to be something which motivates us as God’s people, and which serves to unite people across the political spectrum.

Secondly, facts still matter. I’d like to point out an overuse of the term “extreme” in contemporary social rhetoric. We seem to be calling everything with which we disagree “extreme,” and this serves only to shut down helpful conversation. When it comes to abortion, 90% of the countries of the world place limits on abortion access. In fact, only four countries on earth permit abortion on demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy. Sadly, the U.S. is on that shortlist, along with China and North Korea. I mention those other two countries so that you can get the sense of the civil rights which have to be trampled on in order to champion unrestricted abortion.

Thirdly, and this really gnaws at me, what about the fundamental human rights of the unborn? Amidst the noisy clamor of our generation, who will care about the totally voiceless? Who will defend the most defenseless among us? Surely that point of basic civility and decency ought to extend at least a few arms across the aisle in Washington, D.C.

Just one more thing before I wrap this up: what we do about abortion in the U.S.A. has global repercussions. Like it or not, we tend to set the prevailing moral tone. That’s both an awesome opportunity and a grave responsibility. We live in perilous and sobering times, friends.

For the glory of Christ and His gospel of reconciliation, we need our great God to raise up reasonable and sensible pro-life voices in the public square. Leaders resembling the winsome and trusted statesmen of earlier chapters of our history seem few and far between these days, but our Lord can enlarge the platform of whomever He wishes. Until then, we’re called to knock on heaven’s door. We must intercede, for our nation and for the high court, before the highest throne. You and I, as personal agents of reconciliation, must do our part as well. Don’t lose heart. Keep the faith!

Today and always, like our Savior, let’s be full of grace and truth.

Pastor Charles

Strange as it may sound to those of us who are just downriver, that’s a direct quote from NBC News: Louisville is “a city under siege.” Personally, I find this very unsettling, as Louisville is as near to my heart as any place on earth. We lived in the area for several years. Close members of my family have lived there my entire life. Some of my closest friends in the world make their home in the Derby City.

The attention of the media is focused on Louisville because of the surging homicide rate there. The trend is so alarming that Louisville is giving Chicago a statistical run for its money. Deadly shootings are at record numbers in Louisville, and – this is hard to believe – nearly 70% of the shootings are unsolved crimes. This is unprecedented in Kentucky. Unfortunately, it mirrors some disturbing national trends. The COVID-19 pandemic has driven up rates of violent crime across the country. As the father of a son who has begun his senior year of college as a criminal justice major, I’m all ears.

I’m listening to the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government. Police officers are suffering from low morale. The Chicago consulting firm, Hillard Heintze, reported to local government in Louisville that officers feel little support from upper management in the community.

I’m listening to the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police. Shawn Butler, their executive director, calls low morale among police officers “an occupational hazard … it doesn’t help when we’ve had the civil unrest that we’ve had.” I’m sure you remember that in 2020 the Breonna Taylor incident made Louisville the epicenter of police-related controversy.

I’m listening to the FBI. Just this week in their annual report, their stats are unnerving: 21,500 murders in America last year! And surprising places like Louisiana are leading the trend. So we have an issue in our major cities, and we have an issue nearly everywhere else. Gang activity is expanding exponentially. Quite tragically, at the same time, police forces in 20 major cities have been reduced or weakened (resignations up by 18%, and retirements up by 45%), and police departments across the U.S.A. have seen budget cuts at about $840 million.

So, yes, Louisville is under siege, sadly. But so is the nation.

How are we, as the body of Christ, to respond to such a crisis? I’ll offer four general categories in which I believe that the Scriptures call us to precise faithfulness right now, and I invite you to share more with me from your own heart. I’ll draw these out of the wisdom of the Apostle Paul found in Second Corinthians 5:16-21 …

1. We must not join in on the national despair. From now on … we regard no one according to the flesh … if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. We can survey the cultural landscape right now and get really angry, or we can survey the cultural landscape and get really excited about the unique gospel moment that is now. It’s obstacle vs. opportunity, and I’m advocating for the latter. Every person out there – even my polar political opposite – stands in need of the grace of Christ. This world has seen dark chapters of history before, but the Lord has never failed to keep the light of the gospel shining in the background. You and I have been called to reach across every barrier with gospel hope for every person.

2. We must keep our ministry of reconciliation front and center. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. People are estranged from each other in America, right now, and the Bible speaks clearly to that dilemma. We need to be reconciled to God, first, and then we can be reconciled with each other. But you and I must consistently die to ourselves in order to be used by the Lord to that end. We must recognize the suffering of the people around us, and particularly the suffering of people groups who have been marginalized for many years. It’s a pain that many of us do not know firsthand, so we need on a daily basis the “gentle and lowly” disposition of our Savior. Only then can we love and serve as we ought.

3. We must not make enemies out of friends. We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. Both “law and order” and “every voice matters” should be shared national values in American life. From the Bible and from Reformation history, we understand the immense blessings of free speech within a free society. I suppose that my challenge in this regard today is for you to consider that perhaps the church must LEAD THE WAY toward the only kind of reconciliation which will bring to all of our neighbors the ultimate freedom – freedom in Christ – and that is the gospel of Jesus! Martin Luther King, Jr. said it like this: “If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl; but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

4. We must speak the truth in love in these darkening days. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. In a world of watered-down soundbites, you and I can’t shortchange the gospel. We have to tell it like it is: things are a mess … we’re all unsafe … we’re all both part of the problem and part of the solution. These times call for great humility on the part of the body of Christ, but we can’t shy away from the fact that there is only one way out of this mess – and the Way is Jesus! As much as you and I need the Prince of Peace, so do our neighbors. We ought to be praying fervently that the Lord will use even this surge in violent crime to remind us all that human strength is never enough to solve problems which are intrinsically spiritual.

I know you’re tired. We’re all tired. But don’t give up now.

Shine anyway!

Pastor Charles