If you know me at all, you have come to understand that I am not driven by denominationalism. Christian denominations are necessary and good, but you and I are already citizens of a land where denominations will be no more.

First and foremost, we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ! I am serving a Southern Baptist congregation for Christ’s glory, and I am happy to serve in kingdom work alongside a Methodist, a Presbyterian, an Anglican, or a “non-denom” for the expansion of Christ’s glorious gospel. In a profound and eternal sense, every follower of Christ – regardless of denominational heritage or practice – is “in it” with every other follower of Christ. It is not about us, or about our individual traditions. It is only about Jesus.

That is why I often speak about us as “evangelicals” or “evangelical Christians” or “evangelical believers.” I have always liked the word “evangelical” because it reminds me of the multidenominational environment in which I came to know Christ. By that I mean that God used men and women from several denominational stripes to plant the seeds of the gospel in my heart.

In recent days, I have been disturbed by the widespread cultural (and media) use of the term “evangelical” to refer to anyone (and everyone) who self-identifies as such. That careless use of language is very dangerous and wrong-headed in my humble opinion. “Evangelical” means something. “Evangelical” does not mean whatever anyone wants it to mean. “Evangelical” rightly refers only to a person who “contends for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

“Evangelical” has nothing to do with being American. “Evangelical” has nothing to do with political affiliation. “Evangelical” is not a social classification. “Evangelical” is not a cultural trend.

If you would allow me, I would like to do something that I’ve never done before. I would like to define “evangelical,” which as a word is traced to the Greek for “good news.”

An evangelical is someone who believes that Christianity is a matter of whole-life transformation. It is more than a creed. It is an agreement with Jesus that we must be born again (converted to Christ). That we need, as a free gift from God (that’s why we call it “amazing grace”), a new heart and a new mind. That we must be spiritually regenerated. And that, following that born-again experience (whether or not one remembers the moment), the life which follows is radically changed (and radically being changed between now and heaven).

An evangelical believes the Bible. He or she has a high view of Scripture, and regards all Scripture as our ultimate authority. No other authority or opinion even comes close.

An evangelical is centered on the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. Christ’s life, death, and resurrection are matters of historical fact and eternal significance. No redemption of humanity is possible without, or apart from, the cross. (By definition, then, any person who denies that Jesus is God – and this includes all the pseudo-Christian cults – cannot possibly be an evangelical.)

An evangelical is committed to the gospel as a lifestyle. If we belong to Christ, we live for Christ. His power in us motivates us to love and serve a lost and dying world. In the pursuit of Christ’s glory – in and through radically transformed lives, families, churches, communities, and nations – we are undaunted in passionate joy.

We are evangelicals. This is entirely good news.

Pastor Charles

Is it me, or is this the strangest chapter ever in American politics? I could cite example after example, but I won’t waste your time.

Last night in our study of Islam we took a look at the Apostle Paul’s term “futile thinking” in Romans 1:21. I tried to make the point that, since all knowledge is grounded in God, any Christ-less belief system (worldview, lifestyle, or religion) is doomed as far as eternal reality is concerned.

Romans 1 is, in fact, utterly fascinating. Paul explains that unbelievers, by nature, suppress the truth. Even what they know about God – which they’ve discovered simply by observing His created order – they choose to deny. They choose to believe lies instead. So the unbeliever swings back and forth, as necessary for his or her personal comfort, between rationalism and irrationalism. Whatever it takes to hold back the real truth of the gospel. Whatever it takes to deny Christ. So unbelieving philosophies borrow from Christian truth claims, and then use those same claims in an attempt to undermine Christianity. (It takes a whole lot of energy to deny the obvious!)

So how does this impact our analysis of the happenings on the current political stage? In this way I think: You and I are called to make certain that our thinking, no matter how pessimistic we’re tempted to become in the moment, does not become futile.

I believe that it all starts in the heart. Jesus said (Mathew 15:19) that all evil thoughts (from which speech and actions inevitably follow) begin in the human heart.

So you and I must never – in an election year or otherwise – allow our heart to become cold toward the ultimate sovereignty and goodness of our God! Politicians, even those whom we respect, will sometimes (if not often) say (and do) things that make little (if any) sense to us. That consistent disappointment can impact us in the form of general pessimism or even outright disgust. But we who know Christ must never forget who is seated on the throne of the Universe! The Lord Jesus is alive and well, and He rules over all things with a righteous plan – as well as an unstoppable order – in which we must always find refuge when things here seem downright crazy.

For the glory of Christ, you and I will guard our heart so that our mind (our thinking) will not be led down a path of doom and gloom. After all, we know who wins in the end.

There is a time for patriotism. There is a time for national repentance. There is a time for celebration. There is a time for private and corporate prayer. But it’s always time to trust the only one who can be trusted. “FUTILE: incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.” How futile it would be for us to fail to trust Christ now!

Suzanne See, an administrator for 7600feet.com, nails it: “As any Christian in Jordan or China or Saudi Arabia could teach us, we still have much to learn about how to cherish our earthly country while prioritizing our citizenship in a heavenly one.” That pretty much sums it up, friends.

Cheers!

Pastor Charles

As we prepare to wrap up this blog series focused on the work of the Holy Spirit, we’ll review just a tad. If this is old hat to you, please indulge me as I seek to help all of us get this right. We need a sound understanding of the work of the Spirit in our lives, and in our world. In fact, He has been at work from the very beginning (Genesis 1:2).

The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and rebellion. It is by the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts that we first come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer. He illuminates, and makes real and relevant, our spiritual understanding. He witnesses with our human spirits that we belong to God the Father, as His deeply loved children. Religion says “slave,” but the Gospel says “son.”

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. He enables and empowers our unique witness as Christ’s church, and He strengthens us to move forward with holy boldness – even in the face of intense opposition – as heralds of Christ’s magnificent truth. And God the Holy Spirit is fully accomplishing the work of sanctification within (and in spite of) each and every one of us who follows Christ.

You and I should be most grateful for what Charles Spurgeon called “a miracle of miracles, that ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish’ … surely that precious word, ‘Whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely’ and that solemn promise, ‘Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out,’ are better than signs and wonders.”

Easter 2016 lies on the immediate horizon. As we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s glorious resurrection from the dead, we must never hold back from affirming that the main thing is still the main thing. Because we know Christ and are eternally safe in Him, the resurrection of Jesus – the greatest sign and wonder of all time – puts all of our “signs and wonders” in their proper perspective. The absolutely amazing reality is this (Romans 8:11): If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you!

There are valid reasons why you and I should be cautious whenever people credit “the Holy Spirit” with various seemingly supernatural phenomena. Some of us have been disenchanted with movements and trends which were high on emotion and low on doctrine. We should be skeptical of any experience being sought, or advocated, just for the sake of experience. You and I should be seeking experiences which motivate us toward Christlikeness, and toward a more fervent witness for Christ. All within the bounds of Scripture.

We are not free to cook up our own doctrine of the Spirit, nor are we free to ingest someone’s tasty but noxious version of “truth.” We’re never to give up our reason, or our Biblical anchor, and simply “let ourselves go.” We’re to test all things by God’s Word (Second Timothy 4:1-5; First John 4:1-6), and we’re to remember that a blank mind is never advocated in the Scriptures.

But with all of that having been clarified, we still need the Holy Spirit! I’ll close with an old quote from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “It is better to be credulous than to be carnal and smug and dead.”

Here’s to life – resurrection life – in the Holy Spirit!

Pastor Charles

It’s almost time for Palm Sunday. We remember Christ’s “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem … and the people’s cries of “Hosanna!” “Lord, save us!” The phrase erupted over and over from the passionate Passover crowds.

Since joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), we might assume that a joyful crowd – especially an ecstatic crowd shouting out to Jesus as “Lord” – is a crowd filled with the Spirit of God. After all, God’s Spirit witnesses with our spirits that we belong to Him – what could produce more joy than knowing that?

But here’s the rub. What looks like joy to us is not always the joy of the Lord. After that first Palm Sunday came Monday morning. The better-known account of Jesus’ cleansing the Temple – one of Christ’s most significant works – is recorded in Luke 19:45-46. That was the day after Palm Sunday.

The temple area – about a 10-acre space – had become an animal market. We know from Josephus and others that the family of the high priest was running a commercial operation: a cattle and banking business. Animals (needed for sacrifices) were sold at high prices, plus heavy transaction fees for currency exchange were tacked on to drive up the profits. What was supposed to be a place of prayer and quiet reflection was now a place of shouting, bickering, bartering, and utter chaos. So Jesus was moved to anger, and He violently – we deduce that from the force of the original language – turned over the tables.

Jesus displayed His righteousness. His strength. His zeal for truth and justice. By His own announcement (see Mark 11:17), Christ also opened the door of His kingdom to Gentiles. This was no ordinary day by any estimation. We know from Luke 19:47 (one verse after the temple cleansing in Luke’s account) that Jesus went on to teach “daily in the temple.” That’s why the temple had needed to be cleansed in the first place – so that it might be used for Christ’s holy purposes.

Daily Christ taught. But not for long. Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion would come at the end of that very same week. As you likely already know, the unbelieving priests, scribes, elders, and the populace in general did not (and would not) tolerate what Jesus taught. They questioned Christ’s authority and stirred up trouble. Within just a few days the tide of popular opinion would turn entirely against our precious Lord, and Jesus would choose to lay down His life for us.

We must come to terms with the fact that the Palm Sunday “joyful” exuberance was but a blip on the radar screen of human history. In large measure, it was nothing but short-lived religious, nationalistic, and patriotic emotionalism … which transitioned within hours to hateful shouts of “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

If we are to serve Christ faithfully, we must be anchored in more than emotion. We need a new heart, and then – again and again – we need a renewed heart. That’s why we need the Holy Spirit! Surely you and I who are Christ’s temple (First Corinthians 6:19) need a thorough temple-cleansing from time to time. That, my friends, is the marvelous work of the Spirit of grace (Titus 3:5) on which we desperately depend.

For not entirely giving up on you and me – who are far, far more spiritually half-hearted than we prefer ever to admit – we give Christ all our thanks and praise! Hosanna!

Pastor Charles

One of the greatest works of the Holy Spirit in us is His gift of the assurance of our salvation. Like David, who cried out to the Lord from the depth of his own depravity, you and I cry out to God for the joy of His salvation (Psalm 51:12). Our souls long to KNOW that we truly belong to Christ. Somehow – and I can’t fully explain something as marvelous and wondrous as this – God’s Spirit accomplishes this “blessed assurance” in the hearts of those of us who are God’s children.

That is not to say that we will never again face a subtle, or even a momentarily paralyzing, doubt. But it is to say that we can live with an abiding assurance that we are in Christ. Safely in Christ. Eternally in Christ. Paul explained it to the church at Rome like this (Romans 8:16): The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

What happens when the Holy Spirit does this in us? We can’t know all of the particulars, of course, but we can observe some of the amazing results. For starters, there is a personal awareness of God’s presence and power, such as we have not known before. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote of being “carried not only from doubt to belief but to certainty, to awareness of the presence and the glory of God.”

It’s kind of like being married. If you were ever the bride or the groom, that was not an experience that escaped your attention. You were there. It was real. It was life-changing. It was powerful. Nothing would ever be exactly the same. What Dr. Lloyd-Jones was attempting to describe, in my estimation, was an awareness of Christ even more vivid and striking than every one of our lesser joys combined.

How wonderful it would be if First Baptist Paducah were known as a people who displayed such joy! And, as a result, such power! We should pray for nothing less, friends. Such gospel power will cause people around here to take notice, and then we can point them to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. And to His empty tomb! There is rampant hopelessness all around us, so we want to exhibit a sincere and persevering hope in Christ.

Last night Randy Kent shared with us about life in France. In a post-Christian culture, where overt hostility to Christianity abounds, the only “success” of the church is in the demonstration of Christlike love. Why is that love so attractive in an era of agnosticism and atheism? Because life without God is life without hope.

Back on this side of the pond, our own culture is hardening quickly. We are following in Europe’s footsteps. But let’s lean into all of that materialism, worldliness, callousness, coldness, and spiritual hardness with the unmerited love of God (Romans 5:5) “poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” As our own Paul and Tina reported, when they returned from ministry in the Pacific Northwest, the love of Christ is our only hope in a barren land.

I suppose that I’m asking you to pray with me for revival. A revival of hope, assurance, and power. The hope, assurance, and power of Christ. First in us. Then in others. Let’s pray for Spirit-generated revival among the peoples of every nation on Earth.

All for the glory of our great God. (Remember: The Spirit can do in an instant what we can’t do in a lifetime.)

And what is the result of such Spirit-empowering assurance? You and I can live without fear. Doesn’t that sound absolutely fantastic? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Pastor Charles

How does God work?

When it’s all said and done, this may be the most important question facing us in this series. After all, when we speak of “signs and wonders,” our attention ought to be arrested only by the thought of God’s glory being expanded by the visible display of His power and glory. Said another way: It’s not really about the sign. It’s about the One to whom the sign points! Jesus made it very clear that lost people can get caught up in signs (Matthew 12:39; 16:4). In and of itself, a good case of “goosebumps” might not be worth the proverbial hill of beans.

My friends, Scripture continues to be God’s primary instrument for the work of transformation that is most needed in our lives. It is the Word of God that changes us, more and more each day, into the likeness of the Son of God – into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Regardless of our particular doctrine of miracles, we can know that we have lost our way if we no longer hunger and thirst to know the power of the Bible unleashed in and through us.

From the majesty of the opening lines of Genesis, to the impassioned poetry of the Psalms, to the fiery proclamations of the Hebrew prophets, to the breathtaking accounts of Christ in the Gospels, and all the way to the apocalyptic mysteries recorded in Revelation, the Bible is God’s Word. It’s in a league of its own! It has the power to mold and shape us like nothing else (Hebrews 4:12).

Is God demanding, or is He merciful?

Yes.

Is God concerned with the justice of the Old Testament, or with the “turn the other cheek” of the New?

Yes.

It is only when we read the Bible through the lens of Christ that the apparent dichotomies begin to make sense. Then we discover that the Bible is not a book of rules, but a book of life. Therein lies our only hope! The gospel. And hope for sinners like you and me is nothing short of a miracle.

I did not want to let this series pass without calling us, again, to love God’s Word.

Pastor Charles

The events of the past few days have somewhat dulled my senses. I’m trying to do the “pastor thing,” but I find myself in a bit of mental and emotional fog.

If I may briefly return to my thoughts on our Lord’s signs and wonders, I’ll simply say this: When we take up our Bibles and read the Book of Acts, it would hardly be right for us to categorically set artificial boundaries where God’s miraculous power is concerned. In my opinion, there is nothing in Scripture suggesting that God can’t do anything He wants to do in order to build Christ’s church and enlarge His own glory. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

I for one have no desire to secretly capitulate to a brand of cold determinism that leaves God uninterested in the cries of our heart. That’s not the Jesus I see in the Bible, the Christ who “had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Such human desperation seemed to be the most fertile soil for Christ’s miraculous intervention and healing.

While affirming that ours is a Savior of such amazing love and willingness to do the “impossible” on our behalf, we must also come to terms with the fact that the Christian experience trajectory post-Pentecost has taken a more natural (and explainable) course. That is not to say that miracles ever ceased entirely, but it is simply an observation that miracles are now more the exception than the rule.

We wanted a miracle for our friend Mason. We sought that miracle with all of the faith that was in us, knowing that our God could do it. I like what Wayne “Mac” McElroy says about “unanswered” prayer: “God isn’t saying ‘no’ to our prayers, but He’s saying, ‘I have a better idea.’” For now, I’m holding tightly to that perspective with both hands.

The English poet and hymnodist, William Cowper, penned these words in 1774:

“God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.”

William Cowper faced many of his own emotional, psychological, spiritual, and physical “dangers, toils, and snares” – to rob a few lyrics from his good friend, John Newton – but each trial served only to convince Cowper of the manifold mercies of God.

Such knowledge of God’s mercy, right when we need it, is nothing short of miraculous. I am still persuaded. God is good.

Take courage, my dear friends, for the clouds will soon break.

Pastor Charles

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

That account is taken directly from Acts 19:1-2. Generally speaking, we do not build entire ecclesiological doctrines (doctrinal tenets regarding church life and practice) from Acts alone – as the Book of Acts records a unique period of redemptive history. But this text is illustrative for us, at the very least, of our need for the Spirit of God!

We were created for worship that is alive

of a God who is alive

based on a Word that is alive

empowered by a Christ who is alive!

It is my contention that none of this can happen, or will happen, without the Holy Spirit.

What will happen if we – in theology or practice (what we think, say, or do) – abandon any concern for, or dependence upon, God’s Spirit? We will inevitably spiral down toward lifeless, institutional intellectualism.

What will happen if we – in theology or practice (what we think, say, or do) – leave behind a deep love and commitment to the truths of Scripture? We will surely fall into superficial, entertainment-oriented, self-driven, self-absorbed emotionalism.

Neither of those options keeps Christ at the center. But I’ll bet you know professing Christians who could be described using those very terms.

Meanwhile, our world grows darker and darker. The last thing that we want to do as a church is to become more and more powerless to reach that world with the gospel. That’s where doctrinal compromise will lead us, even if it’s cleverly disguised as “spiritual power.” At the same time, the same fate awaits us if strain out intellectual gnats while swallowing the camels of religious pride.

The Holy Spirit was given to the church on the Day of Pentecost. Historical fact. We need His power in the church, and through the church, today. Present reality.

We have heard that there is a Holy Spirit. Let’s seek Him for the revival that our world needs, and that we need, for such a time as this. I’m honored beyond words that you’re on this journey with me.

Pastor Charles

Are there signs and wonders in our day?

The earliest Christian believers prayed in faith, even under persecution (Acts 4:29-30): “… grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

As a senior pastor, I really want to get this right. I have no desire to lead us on a wild goose chase – searching for some spiritual experience at the expense of Biblical truth – but neither do I want us to miss out on anything wonderful that God might desire to do among us here and now (simply because we were too afraid to humble ourselves before His power and majesty). I hope that makes sense.

Trendy and faddish, I’m not interested. Real and revolutionary, count me in. I’ll bet you agree.

If you’ll indulge me, I’d like to start a blog series on signs and wonders. I solicit your input, and your prayers, as we take up this topic before the Lord.

Today I’ll simply focus our attention on a delicate balance that – in my humble opinion – every believer ought to desire to consistently strike. That is the balance between setting proper experiential boundaries (for the preservation of sound doctrine) and passionately seeking God’s unquenchable glory in and through the church today.

Please allow me to say that another way: I always want the Bible to define my behavior (and even my expectations), but I also want to be stretched beyond my comfort zone in those areas of my life where I have been handicapped by tradition (those areas where I have wrongly equated my tradition with God’s truth).

So I invite you to take this journey with me. Even as we round a curve or two along this road – when we’ll try to slow down, and listen to the Spirit – we will trust our great and Sovereign God to do spectacular and exhilarating things.

For the glory of Christ.

Pastor Charles

As we continue our Sunday morning study of Nehemiah, we’re continuing to learn from Nehemiah’s consistent example of persevering faith. Nehemiah has faced enemies, obstacles, and discouragements from near and far, but he has kept his eye on the ball – both as a leader and as a follower of God.

In our pursuit as a church family to become a missional community more than an edifice or an institution, we likewise experience our ups and downs along the way. Sometimes it feels like two steps forward, and three back, but we’re learning that there is great joy to be found in the journey itself. Christ is with us! He is all we need.

I haven’t taken up the subject of Millennials in a couple of months, and I want to keep our heart for that generation alive – so please bear with me as I make a few observations and suggestions for life on mission in and beyond Paducah. First of all, make no mistake, the statistical trends are still clearly in the direction of fewer and fewer of our neighbors identifying with any religion at all. And Millennials specifically, by every indicator that I can get my hands on, are “leaving Christianity” in record numbers (compared to any previous generation). A psychology professor at San Diego State, Jean Twenge, connects this trend – at least in part – to a steady leftward drift among Millennials on key social issues. As an expert on America’s religious habits, Dr. Twenge bases this link on extensive research. Said another way (by me), evangelical Christianity feels more and more distant from most Millennials.

Is there any good news in all of this? Yes. Among those Millennials who do profess faith in Christ, around 96% claim that the Bible is the actual or inspired Word of God. This statistic is in fact considerably higher than the same measurement of the U.S. population at large. Please allow me to translate that: Millennials, once committed, tend to be all in! And Millennials rank Scripture reading as more important than other spiritual disciplines. Perhaps God is preparing Millennial Christians in our day to shake their own generation with Biblical truth. The thought of such a bright light shining among American Millennials in our day should bring gladness to our souls.

Now for some (graciously offered, I pray) suggestions for us as a church family …

1. We need to be careful that our political commentary does not overshadow our gospel hope.

If my research is on-target, today’s young adult Christians will track with us in terms of Scripture and even theology. But they have cut their teeth on liberal media, so they’re very unlikely to respond favorably to rhetoric that is more political than Christian in tone. This reality ought to be a very positive check for us, and should drive us back to the Bible, as we never want our main message to be anything other than Jesus Christ. After all, every political worldview has its strengths and its weaknesses – but the only Truth that counts for eternity is Christ. A 2014 Deloitte survey found that Millennials get easily frustrated by the paralysis of indecision that is often caused by outdated procedures and bureaucracies. Let’s show them a church that is less cold-hearted institution and more warm-hearted Christ!

2. We need to be honest about our own mistakes, and about our own brokenness.

The Millennial generation has been raised on “tolerance” – but tolerance has a huge downside. Today’s version of tolerance – though this never appears in the glossy brochure – is actually apathetic toward honesty. Let me explain what I mean. Politically correct tolerance demands that we “love people for who they are.” Let me ask you something. Is anyone really happy just being “who we are?” No, we’re not. We all recognize that we need to grow and change. Contemporary “tolerance” robs us of that opportunity. In sharp contrast, Christianity calls us to something higher and better: being conformed to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29)! If we want Millennials to tap with us into the only hope of real life-change, then we’ve got to be honest with them about how far we have to go as well. Honest about our own failures, weaknesses, and regrets. No one will ever admit their spiritual brokenness if the church feels like a museum full of proud people who always have their act together.

3. We need to pursue Christ’s kingdom even more passionately than we pursue cultural transformation.

Together in Christ, let’s call Millennials – and everyone else – to radical kingdom living! Jesus said (John 18:36): “My kingdom is not of this world.” As Christ’s life is lived in and through us, His light and salt will bring with it transformative real-world impact in a myriad of ways. But it’s Christ’s life, and not our revolution. As a strong believer in the sovereignty of God, I contend that God must choose us. But I also believe that we must choose Christ (Joshua 24:15). Brendan Carr, a Millennial Christian himself, offers this challenge: “In Jesus, we are free. He came to free us from sin and death … Try regularly praying for freedom from anything that holds you back from being your highest self. It is a powerful prayer, and in the end, it is the greatest motivation of the human heart.”

I’m choosing to see the glass half-full. I’m choosing to see these as gospel-hopeful times. I’m choosing to be all in.

What say you?

Pastor Charles