Things have gotten a little weird lately.  Whenever we bring up the topic of “God & Country,” I have to wince a little.  Being a “patriotic American” carries so much more baggage these days than it did when I was young.  Let me explain.  My love for this nation has never dimmed.  I am as committed to the well-being of America as I have ever been.  America is still the land of opportunity and freedom.  But let us not be naïve and deny that there are real, substantive issues that need to be addressed.  We can’t wrap ourselves in the flag and pretend that we live in some type of euphoric state where everyone shares in the prosperity of the land and that all are treated with equality and fairness.

First, a word about God and country.  For many years, patriotic, conservative Christians have been weaving a national narrative using the threads of religion and patriotism in a way that has led to a new branding of faith known as “Nationalism.”  We have so joined together the ideas of God and country that we often forget the order of those words and pledge allegiance to both as though they are inextricably intertwined, and somehow equally important.  We sometimes forget in our patriotic zeal that our commitment is first and foremost to a Kingdom not of this world.  We were placed on the planet to bring Him glory and to represent Him well in thought, attitude, and action.  Whenever we fill our sanctuaries with American flags and sing songs that pledge to make America great again, we have lost sight of the true object of our worship.  If we want America to be a “Christian nation,” then first and foremost, it will require that those of us who claim the Christian faith actually live the demands of the Gospel.  Our citizenship will have to reflect attributes like civility, respect, and authentic love for our neighbors… ALL of our neighbors, even those whose ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality, and politics don’t reflect our particular version of righteousness.  And by the way… if this nation does someday reflect the love, grace, forgiveness, and morality of our Lord, it will be a first.  We will not be returning to an earlier day when America was Christian in thought and attitude.  We will be leaning into a dream that has not yet been realized in our history.  Liberty and justice for all is an inclusive ideal and pursuit.  Until we all feel included, accepted, protected, and free, then our motto is still a dream and not a reality.

When I was young, growing up in the deep south, the Fourth of July was really something special.  Communities gathered in ways that no other holiday would allow.  There were city-wide picnics, parades, concerts and firework shows.  People laughed and prayed and celebrated the noble characteristics of our land.  For at least that single day, lines of division drawn by race, economics, and political party were all erased.  We were Americans and proud of the ideals that held us together.  We could wave the flag and sing patriotic songs without ever once blurring the lines of God and country, or drawing lines that excluded the immigrants, the minorities, or the poor.  We were all Americans.  But somewhere along the way we have altered the definition of patriotism.  We wave the flag with a prejudiced view of race, religion, and politics.  We act as though this is OUR America, not to be shared with anyone who doesn’t share every single value we hold.  We have become more divisive, more bigoted, more exclusionary, and dare I say, even more fearful of each other.  We live with injustice and do nothing about it.  We live in violence and think that more guns is the answer.  We live in fear of people who look different from ourselves and never extend a hand of friendship.  We live with prosperity but forget to gladly share with those who have so little.

Maybe the problem with America is not “those people.”  Maybe it’s us.  May God forgive our skewed version of patriotism and help us to truly carve out a nation where everyone is valued, welcomed, needed, and treated fairly.

-Dr. Jon R Roebuck, Executive Director

There was a time, decades ago, when homes were built with large front porches.  It’s where family life and neighborhood conversation all convened.  You could drive up and down any street in any small town and find people sitting on the porch, maybe an iced tea on the table next to the chair in which they sat, a paper fan in their hands, a newspaper on their laps, and a smile on their faces.  Kids would drop their bikes in the front yard and sit on the front steps for a while to listen to the grown-ups talk.  Every car that passed down the street got a friendly wave, no matter if the occupants were known or not.  It’s how community was forged among neighbors.  It’s how life was shared among friends.  It’s how relationships deepened and life-long connections were made.

And then it happened… newer homes were designed in a different way.  People opted for patios and decks off the back of the house rather than in the front.  And the culture shifted.  Grills appeared on the deck along with fancy porch furniture, piped-in sound, and fire pits.  Landscaping gave privacy and families tended to cloister around themselves.  Streets that were once filled with neighbors talking and swapping stories, laughing, and even sharing home baked goodies, soon became barren.  Garage doors opened, cars slide inside, and quickly the door slammed shut again.  Life wasn’t bad on the back porch, mind you… it was just different… more privacy, less interference, and fewer relationships.  And interestingly enough, those neighbors who once stood in the front yard soon dissipated to backyards of their own.  The occasional invitation to join another family on the back porch was rare… good when it happened, but rare.

The same thing has happened in church life.  Churches once went to great lengths to have people join in the front-porch conversations.  Neighbors were welcomed to come.  People were warm, friendly, and engaging.  Needs were met.  Hearts were shared.  Lives were intertwined.  But somewhere along the way, the back porch became more important.  The “family” became a little too exclusive.  Those on the front porch were kept at arms-length and never really invited to the back porch.  Churches lost the vision of being in community with the people who lived all around them.  An insistence on doctrinal purity, Biblical correctness, church rules, and historically cemented mindsets kept new people, new thought, and new spirit away.  Oh, it’s nice on the back porch.  Everyone believes the same way, looks the same way, and judges others with the same contempt.  Closed groups and closed minds like the privacy that the well-protected back porch offers.  Enjoy it while it lasts.  By 2030, 1/3 of all the churches that now exist in America will be closed.  Neighbors will drive past the house and wonder where they will go to find community.

It’s not too late for the church.  But it does require a new mindset.  To be the neighbor on the front porch means churches will constantly remind themselves, “It’s not about what we want, but what they (outside world) need.”  It will require flexibility, a willingness to be Spirit led, tolerance, grace, and a willingness to act like Christ in words, attitudes, and action.  It will mean giving up the insistence of conformity so that a spirit of neighborliness takes root.  Churches don’t have to abandon Biblical principles, core values, or healthy traditions… they just have to abandon intolerance, judgment, and caustic attitudes.

I’m not planning on building or buying another house anytime soon… but if I do, I’m going insist on a front porch.  Community trumps privacy, neighbors are important, and life is too short to live exclusively on the back porch.

-Dr. Jon R Roebuck, Executive Director

A few days ago, this painting sold at auction to a Japanese businessman for $110.5 million dollars.  It is by the American artist, Jean-Michael Basquiat who died at the age of 28 back in 1998.  He painted this work when he was 21 years-old.  The auction price was historic in two ways.  First, it was the highest price ever paid for a painting by an American artist.  And second, it was the highest price ever paid in history for an African-American artist.  The new owner, Yusaku Maczawa is going to exhibit the work around the world at various institutions and exhibitions until it is permanently housed in a museum to be built for such a purpose.

Such a large sum of money is a staggering amount.  Obviously, the painting is of enormous worth and value.  My mind started to consider how such a work of art could be safely transported.  It’s not the kind of thing you can run down to the local UPS store and ask them to ship.  I am certain that elaborate plans will be in place anytime that it is moved from one location to another.  Most assuredly, ground transportation will include an armored vehicle.  So, I did a little research into the cost of an armored truck… the kind the Brinks people use to haul around a lot of cash.  With thick plating, bullet-proof glass, and run-flat tires, an armored truck costs just north of $50,000.  Here’s my point.  A priceless masterpiece will, at some point, be placed in a vehicle that is worth less than 1/10^th of 1% of the treasure it holds.  Crazy, right?  But when the treasure is contained within the truck, suddenly the value of the truck is elevated.  The treasure within, gives enormous worth to that which holds it.

The Apostle Paul once wrote, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves’ (2 Cor. 4:7).  Paul was talking about the treasure of the Gospel.  Embedded within each of us as believers, is the truth of the Good News that Jesus brought.  We know what it takes to gain eternal life.  We have the answer to how anyone can live forever in the Kingdom of God.  What a curious thing… the greatest treasure of all time is carried about inside the hearts of flawed and fragile human beings.  God has “invested” the treasure in us.  We are the keepers… the guardians… the ambassadors.  And the more we tell others about the treasure, the more safely guarded it becomes as the treasure gets stored again and again the hearts of millions of “earthen vessels.”

Years ago, I had a pilot friend who flew corporate jets for the Humana Health Organization.  From time to time, he was sent to transport a heart from a donor to a recipient.  For example, once he flew to Atlanta and then back to Louisville to bring a heart from Georgia to someone awaiting as a recipient in Kentucky.  He was always a little dumbstruck by the way in which those human hearts were transported.  As soon as they were harvested, they were placed on ice in an Igloo cooler, just like the ones you buy at Walmart to keep your picnic sandwiches cool.  Something so critically important was carried around in a plastic cooler.

If you are feeling a little defeated today, or maybe a little undervalued at work, or just a little worn out and worthless… you need to take a moment to consider the treasure that you carry around in your heart and life.  The treasure within gives great worth and value to that which holds it.  So, to the best of your ability, carry it well.  Guard it carefully.  Represent the King.  Live unselfishly.  And tell folks along the way about the treasure you hold.

Dr. Jon R Roebuck, Executive Director

Dr. Jon R. Roebuck, Exec. Director

If someone once told you that becoming a Christian would lead to an easy life, they lied.  To be sure, the access point of faith is simple… it takes belief and trust.  And then you begin to live the life.  That’s where things start to become a little more difficult.  It’s like standing on the bank of a rushing, white-water river.  Taking the plunge is easy.  You just step off the muddy bank and splash into the water.  But within seconds you are caught in the churning, twisting, relentless flow.  Faith is like that.  The invitation to walk with Jesus is not an invitation to an easy stroll.  It is a call to follow a Savior down a path that will radically alter your life, shift your priorities, make you see the world with different eyes, and give away your heart in ways you never dreamed possible.

The Gospel message makes its demands of us.  We are commanded to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, uplift the downtrodden, give sight to the blind, preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives.  It’s a call to see the world through the eyes of a compassionate Savior who cares about everyone, who values each life, who longs for brokenness to be mended, and who gives away His life so that we might know the joy of being included in God’s family.  It’s a call to turn the world upside down like the early disciples were once accused of doing (Acts 17:6).  It’s a call to be different, to be radical, to be unstained by our culture, yet fully immersed in it.  If you think you can follow Christ in the privacy of your prayer closest and never attempt to change the world around you, then you are sadly mistaken.  The Gospel demands that we become the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13).  The Gospel demands movement, involvement, investment, and sacrifice.  New Testament writer James went so far as to say that unless our faith produces results in the lives of others, it’s worthless (James 2:14-26).

Perhaps the hardest demand of the Gospel is that of forgiveness.  The world demands revenge, payback, an eye for an eye, whenever we have been wronged.  But in contrast, Jesus said, “Forgive.”  Forgiveness is not a denial of the pain and injury caused by someone’s anger or abuse… it is the offering of a gentle, healing grace even in the midst of such pain.  I told you earlier, the Christian life is not easy.  Jesus offered these words, “If you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matthew 6:14-15).  We are called to forgive friends when they have betrayed us, spouses when they have angered us, children when they have disobeyed us, merchants when they have exploited us, leaders when they have disappointed us, co-workers when they have backstabbed us, strangers when they have harmed us.

I have often thought that our forgiveness should be expressed verbally.  As soon as someone says “I’m sorry,” we must respond by saying “You’re forgiven.”  That’s how we want God to respond when we confess ours sins to Him.  Why would He expect us to act any differently towards others?  Brokenness remains whenever our forgiveness goes unspoken.  Healing in relationships can only be completed when we verbally express our grace.  It is not always sufficient to forgive someone in our hearts and minds without letting them know of our willingness to move forward.  And by the way, if you are always waiting for someone to say “I’m sorry,” before you forgive them, you have missed part of the message of grace.  We must forgive, even when others have sought no forgiveness from us, nor verbalized their sinfulness against us.  It is the only way to live.  And it’s hard sometimes.

I want to close this thought with some song lyrics.  The song is called “Forgiveness,” and it is written and performed by Pat Terry and can be found on his album entitled, “Laugh for a Million Years.”  Here are the lyrics…

“In that dark, swift river called love, down on the bottom so deep and cold,

There lies a healing stone, worn smooth by the river’s flow.

It’s a beautiful thing to behold.  It took years for the river to make.

God even gave it a name… forgiveness.

If you swim that river of life, you’d better find it.

It will heal a lot of hurt along the way.  It can take a grievous wound and bind it.

It can dry your tears and soothe away your pain… forgiveness.”

 

And you thought this was going to be easy…

 

Dr. Jon R Roebuck, Exec. Director

Quick… tell me what comes to mind when you think of the word, “Angel.”  For most of us, the image is one of a beautiful, winged creature, dressed in white, that floats effortlessly in the sky like those who once appeared in Bethlehem to welcome the Savior’s birth.  Though most of us have never seen one, still most of us believe in their reality.  The Scriptures certainly mention them enough to get noticed.  Angels are mentioned over 200 times in the pages of the Bible.  There are even passages that give a nod to our notion of guardian angels.  Jesus said in Matthew 18:10 when speaking of children, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”  Notice the pronoun… “their,” as in the ones that are assigned to each child.

Let’s flip the coin.  Tell me what comes to mind when you think of the word, “demon.”  Maybe you think of little devils with pointed tails and pitchforks.  I have to admit that when I was growing up, we didn’t talk a lot about demons.  Maybe we were too scared to even bring up the topic.  Most of us used the “Exorcist” movie as a frame of reference when thinking about someone who was demon-possessed.  The mention of demons in the Bible is much less prevalent than that of angels.  In fact, demon-possession is only mentioned in the three Synoptic Gospel accounts.  There is no mention of demon-possession in the Old Testament, nor in John’s Gospel, nor in the writings of Paul.  Of course, the Book of Revelation has a lot of imagery concerning demonic forces.  And certainly, throughout the pages of Scriptures there is a very clear description of the force of evil upon the earth.  Paul reminds us that… “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:2). Jesus faced such evil in the wilderness, in the garden, and even in the words of His disciple Peter (Matthew 16:23).

Maybe it’s time to reframe both the imagery and definitions of angels and demons.  The word, “angel” actually is drawn from the Greek word, “angelos.”  It literally means, “messenger.”  Heavenly beings were referred to as angels because they always acted on behalf of God, bringing His “message” to the people who needed to hear it.  Pair that with this verse, “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ…” (2 Cor. 5:20 NLT).  Here’s the point.  Whenever we, as the people of God, act on God’s behalf, speaking hope, comfort, redemption, and grace, have we not become as His angels?  Whenever we bring healing to that which is broken, whenever we affirm the value and worth of every person, whenever we demonstrate agape love and not divisive hatred, are we not numbered among the angels (messengers) of God?

Let’s define demonic as anything that destroys or refuses to affirm, the Image of God in every person. Demonic elements could refer to anything that is, dehumanizing and contrary to the work of God. When defined in such a context, it is easy to see that the demonic work of evil is very prevalent in our world.  There are many forces that seek the dehumanization of people.  Let’s take a look at several.

Think in terms of human trafficking.  There are more people enslaved around the world today than at any other time in human history.  Estimates range as high as 20-30 million world-wide.  Human trafficking is the 3^rd largest international crime industry in the world behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking.  It reportedly generates $32 billion dollars in revenue each year.  Those trafficked are not viewed as individuals made in the image of God, but as commodities to be bought or sold.  Human trafficking is dehumanizing and contrary to the work of God.  It is demonic.

Want to take on the topic of pornography?  Here are some stats that should get your attention about the explosion of pornography in the United States.  Every second 28,258 users are watching pornography on the internet and every second $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography.  40 million American people regularly visit porn sites.  35% of all internet downloads are related to pornography.  25% of all search engine queries are related to pornography, or about 68 million search queries a day.  Search engines get 116,000 queries every day related to child pornography.  Every 39 minutes a new pornography video is being created in the United States.  (Statistics drawn from webroot.com.)  Both men and women are drawn into this web of darkness.  It exploits.  It tempts.  It distorts.  It victimizes.  It disrupts relationships.  Pornography is dehumanizing and contrary to the work of God.  (By the way, only 7% of all churches offer any programs in response to this epidemic.)

What about the subject of capital punishment?  Shane Claiborne, writer and human rights crusader, writes extensively about the ethical dilemma of “killing to show that killing is wrong.”  (His recent book, Executing Grace is all about this topic.) He is quick to point out that 85% of all death row executions happen in The Bible Belt.  He adds, “We don’t always execute the worst of the worst, but the poorest of the poor, who haven’t the means for adequate representation.” (Spoken at Q Conference – Nashville 2017)   I like his take on Jesus’ position on the death penalty when speaking about the woman caught in adultery who was about to be stoned to death… “The only One with the right to throw a stone has no desire to do it.”  I certainly understand that there is anger and well-articulated arguments on either side of this issue.  (I have a friend who is in his mid-20’s and who is on death row in Mississippi.)  But I have to ask, “Is it right to repay evil for evil?”  Does our practice of the use of capital punishment demonstrate that we have become a more “Christian Nation?”  Is it our place to enact revenge?  Have we dehumanized those on death row?

And what of the current debate around healthcare?  If we willfully deny coverage to the poor, to those with pre-existing conditions, and to those whose birth certificates may not have been stamped in the U.S., are we not dehumanizing such folks and declaring them to be of too little worth to have healthcare?  Are we not called to offer compassion and care to all?  Where is the Christ-ethic in our debate or have we become so segregated in our politics that we not only set party affiliation above country, but we also set our opinions over the authority of Scripture whose mandate has always been to “care for the least of these?”

Maybe the strongest indication of the evil around us can be found in the evil within us.  Look at what social media has done to us.  We spew out vitriolic venom at anyone who dares to disagree with our opinions and biases.  Facebook has become Disgracebook.  Twitter doesn’t just inform others and allow us to tell our stories, it gives us an immediate audience to which we can voice our rants.  And what of the 24-hour news cycles that populate our television channels and fill-up our internet news feeds?  Do they draw us together in common cause against the ills of our society, or do they divide us even further?

Angels and demons.  Both are real.  Both are present in our culture.  The only way the demons win out, is when the “messengers of God” refuse to proclaim His redemptive plan for humanity that wraps well-being, worth, and love into the same conversation.  In his opus magnum entitled, Cry the Beloved Country, Alan Paton writes, “The tragedy is not that things are broken.  The tragedy is that they are not mended again.”

Angels and demons… which Kingdom do you represent?

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jon Roebuck, Exec. Director

It all seemed like a good idea at the time… carefully developed apps on our smart phones that were going to connect us to one another in ways that we never dreamed possible.  Social media programs like Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram promised to reunite us with old friends, connect us globally with family and co-workers, and fill our lives with meaningful content. And in all fairness, a lot of that has happened.  With just a few clicks of a mouse or taps on the screen, I can see wedding pics from a ceremony on the other side of the globe.  I can experience the joy of a parent holding their newborn through a video link.  I can see the places where friends spend their vacation money.  I can read prayer requests, learn of accomplishments in the lives of others, and even discover a great recipe for cooking ribs.  And of course, if you like animal videos… there is no end to the content.  There are a lot of positive aspects to the world we call social media.  But then again, there is a downside to it all and it’s my fear that the dark side is starting to win out.

I have discovered that social media is quickly becoming very un-social.  Anyone with a smartphone or laptop now has the ability to gain a world-wide audience.  It has become easy to give an opinion, offer an attitude, or attack others from comfort of an easy chair.  Social media has enormous power to do evil.  Social media is a critical tool in the world of politics.  People rant and rave and spew venom.   Real facts get lost in the confusing maze of “fake news.”  Anger, abuse, and hatred are spread on the web with wild abandonment.  Soft porn gets peddled, identities get stolen, and friendships get forsaken.

I know people, and you do too, who have to “block” former friends from their Facebook feeds because of the political opinions and intolerance that gets spread around.  Instead of finding old friends with whom to reconnect, many are trying to escape from lifelong friendships on-line because the divides are so deep and the hurtful opinions are so strong.  It seems that we have learned how to connect electronically, but have forgotten how to live relationally with a sense of civility, respect, and common decency.  I have friends who have deleted their on-line accounts because they can no longer tolerate the stress and anger that social media brings to their screens.

I attended a conference last week that focused on the intersection of faith, business, and culture.  One of the sessions dealt specifically with this whole problem of social media.  One enterprising start-up company has developed a new cell phone concept called “Lightphone.”  This cell phone can do only two things.  It can make and receive calls.  That’s it.  No email.  No web access.  No social media.  They pitch the idea of creating more light in your world by spending less time tethered to the smartphone.  In the first 3 days it was introduced, the company had orders from 17 different countries.  They are on to something.

The problem may well be one of timing.  We have let our development of technology outpace our moments to reflect on how we use technology to aid in human development rather than tear it apart.  Even this morning Facebook CEO and cofounder, Mark Zuckerberg, said that company will add 3,000 people to its global community operations to help “Review the millions of reports we get every week.”  That is in addition to the 4,500 people already on the team. “Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen people hurting themselves and others on Facebook – either live or in video posted later.  It’s heartbreaking, and I’ve been reflecting on how we can do better for our community.”  (CNN – 5/3/17)

If you’re like the average American, you will check your smartphone 160 times today and many of those times you will look at social media.  You will have to sift through both the good and the bad to glean what you want to glean from your experience.  Is it worth it?  As the late Dan Fogleberg once lyricized, “Is the knowledge gained, worth the price of the pain? Are the spoils worth the cost of the hunt?”  Can we be so connected to the on-line world that we have lost our connection with the real one?  I don’t know about you, but I’d give up a thousand Facebook friends to gain just one more face-to-face friend.  It’s time for us to get “smarter” with our phones and more social in places like our neighborhoods, homes, and offices.

If Jesus was right in saying that “where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also” (Matthew 6:21), then I want to invest in the lives of others, and not just in the technology I hold in my hand.