Should Christians Bake the Cake?

2 Kings 5:18-19, "Yet in this thing may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes in to the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord please pardon your servant in this thing. Then he(Elisha) said to him(Naaman), 'Go in peace.' So he departed from him a short distance."

Anyone who has watched the news over the last few days has heard of the controversy now occurring in Indiana over a state law known as RFRA(Religious Freedom Restoration Act). This sort of law, also present in 20 other states including right here in South Carolina, builds on a federal law passed by a bipartisan congress in 1993 which allows for among other things the right of a business or individual the legal standing to refuse a service to someone on the basis of the right to practice freedom of religion. These state laws allow for a judicial principle known as "strict scrutiny" in regards to state laws not covered by the federal bill. In other words, if charged with something like discrimination, the person charged has a right to have the case reviewed in light of their religious beliefs.

Many times over the years these laws have prevented religious discrimination against individuals in regards to practicing the tenants of their faith, and have been applied to many faiths, not just Christianity. The most famous case in regards to these laws was the Hobby Lobby case where that Christian company was arguing they could choose not to provide some forms of post-conception birth control based upon their religious faith and view that life begins at conception, and to terminate the baby was in fact terminating a child, albeit unborn. The Supreme Court ruled that such closely-held corporations as Hobby Lobby did in fact have the right based upon faith based beliefs to limit forms of birth control issued through the insurance they provided for employees.

But now, the challenge to RFRA's has moved in to the ever intensifying battleground over same sex marriage. In several instances across our nation private businesses owned by Christians have been held guilty of discrimination when refusing to bake a cake for a same sex wedding. These state RFRA's are a response to such judicial decisions to protect the rights of faith based businesses. But is this the wisest way to proceed in such circumstances?

Understand, I believe that a Christian's first duty is to God, even if this means violating the laws of the land. Scripture such as Acts 5:29 clearly instructs us we are to "obey God" and His commands over the laws of man, and when they conflict, we choose God. I certainly understand the reluctance of these Christian bakers to bake these cakes for fear of endorsing a same sex union which we believe scripture clearly teaches is against nature and called sin by God. But is there a better way, and a way in which God approves of our actions, apart from defying a law against discrimination? Does the bible provide another path? I believe so.

In the scripture that begins this blog we see the wonderful story of the Syrian commander Naaman and his healing from leprosy. Leprosy is a stark symbol for sin in the bible. Just as leprosy disfigures the body making one unrecognizable, so sin does to us in the eyes of God. We are disfigured by sin and unrecognizable in regards to humanity which was created in the image of God. While a true account of a miracle from God through Elisha the prophet, the story illustrates the magnificent power of God to cleanse us of our sin, which has made us unrecognizable and an outcast before God, just as the leper was an outcast from the society in which they dwelt in biblical times. The leper was unclean, just as we are in our sin apart from Christ.

Here, after his miraculous healing, Naaman approaches Elisha and asks an interesting question. Being a Syrian and a Gentile, and also a servant to the king of Syria, when Naaman returned to his native land, he would be required to accompany the king to worship of the pagan god Rimmon. With his king at his side, Naaman would be required to bow down to a god he now knew was false(v.15). Being a Syrian there was no way for him to avoid this. Knowing this was against the law of the God of Israel, and the first of the Ten Commandments, to have no other God before Him, Naaman asks Elisha, and in effect God, if God would pardon him for having to bow down to this idol. I think we should pay close attention to the response of Elisha for Naaman to "Go in peace" in verse 19. God here, has basically said, I understand your situation Naaman, and I know your heart, while your body may be bowed to the useless idol, I know your heart is not. I believe this is a scriptural principle that may be the best way to handle the situations these Christian bakers, and surely others, are facing and will face in the future.

As the Supreme Court will take up the gay marriage issue in earnest late this spring, I believe we are on the verge of the issue being declared legal nationwide. While the court may not issue a direct ruling, I personally believe what comes from the court will basically make gay marriage the law of the land, meaning all states would be forced to recognize these unions as legal. Should this happen, businesses such as these bakeries, even though their objection would be based upon their faith, would be legally guilty of discrimination and subject to punishment under the law. I wish the future held something different, but honestly cannot foresee it.

If this happens, Christians may feel the need to act upon the words of the bible such as cited in Acts 5:29, to obey God rather than man. But is baking a cake for a same sex marriage actually condoning the union? In 2 Kings, Naaman was allowed to participate in something that scripture does prohibit as he had no choice. God knew that Naaman was now a true convert in his faith, and allowed for him to bow down to the pagan idol. Naaman in no way was endorsing Rimmon as god in doing so, as his faith now resided in the God of Israel. He was simply following the law of his land.

So how should Christians handle these situations as they most certainly arise in the future? Personally, I'd bake the cake. God knows our heart and knows we in no way condone or endorse something He has called sin, but if this does indeed become law, we would have no choice. I believe we should bake the cake, and witness of Jesus. Tell the couple who desires the cake of God's love for them and His desire to cleanse them of their sin, just as He cleansed Naaman of his leprosy. Reveal the scripture that identifies their lifestyle as sin and share the gospel that through faith and by God's grace, they to can be forgiven, saved and changed. They can be a Holy Spirit indwelt, born again, new creation in Christ with the power to overcome their sin, just as we overcome ours, through Jesus.

The outcome will likely be one of two things: either they will rebuff the word and leave of their own accord, or they will hear the truth of how they can be delivered from their sin and the certain judgment and wrath of God that will greet all apart from the cleansing power of Jesus. While refusing service to someone with a lifestyle we feel violates our faith may become illegal, sharing our faith is still perfectly legal, especially if we own the business. No law can prohibit me from sharing Jesus in a business I own, at least not yet.

Now if the government does one day prohibit sharing the gospel as the Pharisees attempted to do with the disciples in Acts 5:29, we may be required to choose God over man. Until then, is the example of Naaman in 2 Kings a better, biblical choice? I'll leave that up to the individual. I do feel we do have the right under freedom of religion to refuse. But personally, I'd use the opportunity to share with them the only thing that can deliver them from the bondage of their sin, the gospel of Jesus Christ. In my bakery, for my cake, they are a captive audience. If they don't like it, they are free to leave. If they want the cake I will bake, they will hear of Jesus and His love for them He showed on the cross. That they can be delivered from their sin, just as you and I have been.

These are perilous times we live in when it comes to living out our faith, and things are almost certain to grow more troublesome. But we can still share our faith! Just maybe, situations such as these bakers have encountered are an opportunity to proclaim Jesus, and know that God knows our heart and situation. Just as he did with Naaman in 2 Kings.

A Friend I've Never Met, or; A Really Great Thing About Social Media

I have a friend I've never met. Several years ago, through the six degrees of Facebook, I was introduced to Joe McKeever. Joe is a retired Baptist preacher and Director of Missions who has had about as active a retirement as anyone I know.

Joe regularly travels across the nation speaking to churches, local Baptist associations, senior groups, youth groups, you name it, and I've heard is available for about anything else except possibly a briss. He started drawing cartoons earlier in life and is now a regular contributor to many publications with his whimsical, sometimes pointed observations, in regards to everyday life and the church. He writes a regular blog that has been picked up and republished by such nationally known publications as Christianity Today. He's a fixture on social media such as Facebook where his "One Minute Bible Studies" are a daily feature and he otherwise engages regularly as most on Facebook do. I just pray one day I'm as productive as Joe is in retirement, heck sometimes, even in the day today.

Being a former pastor Joe has a heart for those of us serving in our unique callings. Many times you will read where a pastor with troubles in their church has contacted Joe and sought advice. Joe never mentions a name, but will use these situations to help edify those of us who any day could face such a challenge. I myself have sought out his wisdom a few times, and he has always been there with honest feedback in a timely manner, in spite of his hectic schedule.

I honestly marvel at Joe's still burning fire to serve God, grace and love for people.

But last Friday, tragedy struck Joe and his family. Joe's wife of around fifty years, Margaret, suffered a massive heart attack while out of the home. Over the last week as he sat patiently in a waiting room, as all pastors have done countless times with their flock, Joe lived out before the world on Facebook what it is to deal with the coming death of one we dearly love. It is something all of us face, but like most things in life, how we face these seasons in our life reveals things about us.

With every post you could literally feel his pain and see his tears. Joe's family is spread out across our fair nation, so it took time for all of them to arrive in New Orleans where Joe and Margaret live, and you could feel the relief when they finally did. Every now and then the vulnerability we all face in these type situations would be seen, the spectre of loss, the reality of "what now?" His humble memories of his wife in a blog brought joy, and tears, and an understanding of their journey together. It was heart wrenching, and inspiring, all at the same time.

During this time, on Facebook, and I am sure in many other areas, the outpouring of prayer, love and support for Joe and his family was overwhelming. You could tell it buoyed him in this hurricane of life, and the true love shown, by many such as me who have never even met Joe, spoke volumes of the type of man he is. You see, for all of the pain, and tears, and doubt that gripped Joe throughout this past week, the one thing that shown through more than anything else was his faith in Jesus Christ. It revealed exactly why he has such a positive influence on so many he's never even met. Like any of us would, I am sure he prayed for a miraculous recovery for his beloved. But I also know with certainty his faith allowed him to never have lost sight of where Margaret would eventually be, in glory with Jesus.

Yesterday, Margaret went to be with her Lord. The storm has finally passed, and the recovery begins. In this snippet of personal tragedy we can learn a few things. One is our faith never shines more brightly before others than when engulfed by the waves of personal trial. I've read the words of Joe McKeever for years now, but in this past week, I saw the man behind the words, and the faith he has preached for many years now came alive before our eyes.

Another is the power of social media. As with any endeavor in life, social media has its good and bad sides. Here we saw the good in vibrant colors. A man's positive influence on others, the response of those across our nation to his time of trouble, the way our world is connected as it never has been before, and the good that can come from that, such as a friend I've never met.

Joe has family in Charlotte, and comes to South Carolina on occasion. One day I hope to meet my friend. But even now, knowing only his words, I can say he's my friend. If you would say a prayer for brother Joe and his family as they prepare for Margaret's funeral on Monday. And in our own lives, as that inevitable storm approaches, let us all seek to live by the faith we profess. In the connected world of today, you never know who it may impact.

What Exactly are Biblical Signs and Wonders?

Recently I've had several people in our church come to me in regards to some prophesy teachings that have become very popular recently. They stem from two books by a Messianic Rabbi named Jonathan Cahn, one from a few years ago named "The Harbinger," and another just released called "The Mystery of the Shemitah." In them Cahn claims new revelation of mysteries revealed to him by God that shed new light on a coming judgment of America. These extraordinarily popular books are coming at a time when there is another current frenzy over the "4 Blood Moons." There is a frenzy as these blood moons will all fall on Jewish feast days over the next year, known as the Blood Moon Tetrad. Many are speculating these events are significant in regards to the rapture of the church, and this has led to an avalanche of prophetical prognostications that has captivated many.

I have to admit I am immediately skeptical when I hear anyone saying they have received a new revelation from God. Hebrews 1:1-2 clearly teaches us that in this age God speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and not through present day prophets with foreknowledge of future events. I firmly believe we are not in a time of direct revelation from God as we have His completed word. In times past God did indeed speak through the prophets and look down the passage of time, and in the tribulation period of seven years I believe scripture teaches us in Joel 2 and Acts 2 He will once again directly reveal things to people. It makes sense then as under the rule of Antichrist we can be assured that copies of the bible will be very rare, but it does not make sense now in an age where the word of God is more prolifically available than it has been at any time in history.

As I thought of these prophesy propositions that are so prevalent right now, many things just didn't make sense. Scriptures such as Isaiah 9 and Leviticus 25, which were written specifically in regards to the Jewish people, were being ripped from there context and applied to times and places they had no application to. Now understand me here, I'm not saying the Old Testament has no application to us in this day and age, it most surely does! 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us "all" of God's word is profitable, and we are commanded to teach the whole counsel of God's word. There is much of prophetic relevance in the Old Testament; the Old Testament pictures Jesus for us in many, many places; the lessons of Israel are something we are told we are to learn from(1 Cor 10). But we simply cannot take scripture like Leviticus 25:1-10, which is part of the Mosaic Law given expressly to Israel, and apply it to America, a nation that is not in covenant with God and was never under the law. The so called "mystery" of the Shemitah, which is in regards to the Sabbath year(every seventh year the people of Israel were commanded not to plant as God would provide enough to sustain them) has no application to America as we have never honored a Sabbath year or lived under Mosaic Law. We can't take scripture like Isaiah 9:10, which is in regards to Israel in a time of defiance of God, and say it has application to the United States and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Context is king in the bible and we simply cannot rip scripture from context and make it fit our presuppositions.

With the frenzy over the "4 Blood Moons," I got to thinking, what exactly do miraculous signs of God look like in the bible? Were they something, like these four eclipses, that we could predict to the very second when they would occur? No! There is nothing miraculous in a naturally occurring event. The signs in the heavens in scripture were true miracles that could not be explained or predicted by science. Think of the flood of Noah, could that event have occurred naturally? What of some of the plagues of Egypt, were they naturally occurring? What of when God stopped the sun in the sky for Joshua so that the day would last longer and Israel could win the battle, can that be explained? Or when God moved the sun back several hours and lengthened the day for Hezekiah as a sign, is that something that naturally occurs? Perhaps the most famous sign in the heavens from scripture is the "star of Bethlehem" that led the Magi to Christ. They followed this "star" from the far east and it settled directly over where Jesus was. When was the last time that happened?

Sadly, there are many who devour these wild speculations regarding prophesy that simply cannot be backed up by consistent exegesis of the word of God. We are told to study the scriptures in regards to everything that pertains to God, but when we do so with these type teachings, they simply cannot be reconciled to the bible without wildly twisting scripture to fit our preconceived views. Do I believe there will be miraculous signs in the heavens one day? You bet I do, the bible says there will be. But they won't be something I can mark on my calendar. Do I believe America is ripe for judgment? You better believe it, but I don't need a misapplied view of Leviticus to tell me this. My eyes do every day.

In Acts 17:11, a group from the town of Berea is commended for there diligence in "searching the scriptures" to examine what Paul had told them in regards to Jesus. Friends, this is still the way we need to examine claims that people are saying are from God. If we cannot reconcile them to the consistent teachings of the bible, they are not from God. In my research in these topics I found post after post after post on Google regurgitating these teachings as if they were the gospel themselves. We must have better discernment. I'm not saying that these folks are disingenuous in their faith, but I do believe they are naive. They are looking for signs as the Pharisees were, and they were roundly condemned by Jesus for this. Friends, we're not to be looking for signs, we're to be "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13) For those of us who do believe in the rapture, we believe it is imminent. There is nothing that must occur in order for Jesus to return for His bride, and that includes signs.

For those who would like to read on these things further I'd like to recommend a website I found that carefully examined these teachings and many other things by diligently comparing them to the bible. Take a look at www.biblicalintegrity.org and some of the things they say in regards to these prohetic opinions. But most of all, look to God's word. It is there where God has spoken to us, not the New York Times best seller list.

A Pastor Looks at Fifty

In my early 20's, those of you who know me, know that Jesus was the farthest thing from my mind. Instead of Jesus, my thoughts and desires steered a different course, seeking pleasures in the world and the things of it. A life of bong hits and beer chasers; bars and bros; a good time was the objective, and it was found, or so I believed, most of the time. During this time I became a huge fan of Jimmy Buffett. His songs of the ocean, the lifestyle, the romance and hedonistic indulgences of the "pirate" life struck a chord in rebellious youth. When you listened you could see yourself living that way forever. A relentless pursuit of self that would make Solomon blush.

One of Buffett's iconic songs is entitled "A Pirate Looks at Forty." In this "Parrothead" favorite, Buffett looks back at a youth filled with the adventure and "high times" that define a life in pursuit of the pleasures of the world, and in a day when the age 40 was considered getting older, declares that while some wisdom has been accrued, life still holds much for the pirate on the seas of self indulgence. It paints the picture well that one need not grow old when it comes to life's party. In my 20's, that was the goal, to live like that forever.

As my 20's passed and I entered my 30's, I still lived that life with a pirate's zeal. But the older I got, the less pleasure I found. Heart wrenching relationships that brought much pain were covered by alcohol and drugs, and the more money I made, the more I spent, with nothing in life to show for it but loneliness and wondering is this really all there is. As I approached age 40 I looked back and found nothing of the pleasure and romance that pirate of Buffett's ballad saw. I saw a wasted life. I was lonely, depressed, hoping for something to fill the void that a life in pursuit of self had left. Then my dad died.

When my father, Jim Phillips, the legendary voice of the Clemson Tigers, passed suddenly on September 9, 2003, I was actually a member of a local church. I had been for about a year and a half. After September 11, 2001, I began searching for answers, like many others after the tragedy of that day. I knew who Jesus was from my childhood. I believed everything that the bible taught of Him. I believed He died on the cross for my numerous sins and was raised from the dead. Intellectually, I had no doubt in my mind these things were true. But in my heart those desires of the flesh still lived and still ruled. I was an active church member. In the small church I attended, one which lacked younger people and leaders, I was so active I was elected a deacon, yet outside of church, I still lived in the world. I believed in my head but not in my heart. I was lost, and still struggling to find exactly what could fill that seemingly bottomless void I still had inside me.

Dad's death hit me hard, as we were close, and it was sudden and unexpected. But it was during that week following his death that God began to reveal Himself to me in ways I still to this day can't fully describe. As I look back on it now, I know this was His "drawing" me to Jesus. But at the time I was still focused on me, and while I knew He was the one doing these things, I still ran to the world instead of to Him. That all changed in December of that same year.

Those months following dad's death were filled with more money than I had ever made in my life. The small business I owned was thriving and I had to hire 3 additional people just to cover all the work coming in. I was in church, active and my business was exploding. Yet I was still miserable. I was miserable until one morning at my kitchen table I broke. I can remember as if it were yesterday the seemingly audible words that thundered in my spirit, "My Son died for you!" And as I wept bitterly that morning I received Jesus Christ as my Savior. In the twinkling of an eye, I suddenly knew a different path was ahead of me. I had purpose and I had zeal for it, but I didn't know a thing.

Those first few months after receiving Christ were what the bible clearly describes as "spiritual warfare." I honestly do not think Satan ever thought he would ever lose me, and to speed my growth God allowed the devil to come against me with vengeance. I remember distinctly one night standing in my living room arguing with demons who were trying to convince me to renounce my faith. The demons have that same faith I once had, they know God is real, but they do not have what I now had, God's Spirit inside of me. They brought great confusion and I really had no clue how to deal with them. I was on fire for God but was a bull in a china shop. I thought I could change the world beginning with the small church I was serving in, but actually caused more problems than anything else.

Thankfully I had a pastor who showed extraordinary patience and love, Scott Kiser, who somehow put up with my challenges to his authority and remained there for me. I don't think he fully understood all that was happening, but he never stopped trying to help me. For that patience I am eternally grateful. I also had a retired pastor, Gerald McKay, who was a fellow deacon with me. In a deacons meeting where I was enduring a needed chastening, he in his wisdom saw exactly what I was enduring, and pointed me to where I could find the answers on how to begin to follow Jesus. He said to me, "you're being sifted." I sat there bewildered, not knowing what he meant, but when I got home I sought the bible and read of where Jesus told Peter that the devil had sought permission to sift the disciple, and it had been granted. Just as Jesus foretold, Peter went on to deny Christ 3 times, and his pride was shattered like like an egg falling to the floor. It was messy, but Jesus was there to clean up the mess. He was there for me as well.

After that I began consuming God's word. I knew the things I needed the learn and know would be found there, and they indeed have been. I would soon leave Peniel Baptist Church in Timmonsville, SC with full confidence I had been called to preach, though not really knowing how that would happen. I joined a church I had spoken at for Father's Day earlier that year in October of 2004, East Pickens Baptist Church, in Pickens, SC, and set out with the same zeal and a little better direction than I had known a few months earlier. There I fell under the guidance of Pastor Carl Martin who generously opened doors for me to learn and preach, and I did so with gusto. I was still young in my walk and still managed to do my best Peter impersonation inserting my foot in my mouth many times, but once again God had provided a place where I could mature in my faith. East Pickens licensed and ordained me in September of 2005, and God continued to show his mighty hand and open doors I did not know how to.

In January of 2007 I was teaching on Wednesday nights at East Pickens and taking every other opportunity to do so that was provided. I was on fire and truly enjoying life, but then, a feeling awakened inside of me I had not felt for years. Like Adam, I realized I was alone, and my heart started yearning again for that helpmeet. Although East Pickens was a fairly large church, their really were not many singles my age in it. I had never in my life looked to date as a Christian, and was really clueless in just how to go about it. A friend suggested I join a Christian dating site, so I did, and within days I had more women looking to meet me than I ever had in my life! I went out with more women in a 6 month period than I had in my entire life I think, and if I were still my old heathen self, I'd have thought I had found the holy grail. Every woman, all claiming to be Christian, on our first dates, threw themselves at this 42 year old fat preacher like a 15 year old at Justin Bieber. On every date I had the opportunity to sleep with a very attractive woman, yet inside of me, I knew God said no, and I also had a lifetime to look back upon and know I had never found what I was looking for doing it that way. In August of that year, as I bypassed probably the most physically beautiful woman I have ever gone out with, I met Ashley Sofield on line. We immediately hit it off. It was a struggle for both of us to stay true to scriptures teachings on dating, but we managed to do so. We were meeting each others family, and mine loved her, and we seemed to be on the right path in spite of the expected bumps that come with pursuing love and Godliness in a fallen world. However, at about the same time me and Ashley began seeing each other, I received a phone call from a small church in Chesterfield, SC, and we began speaking about me becoming their pastor. In January 2008, 4 months after me and Ashley began dating, I was called as pastor of Oakland Baptist Church. I knew I had to answer the call, but me and Ashley faced a decision. Thankfully for me, she decided to continue the relationship even with the coming distance between us.

We continued our relationship long distance. She would come down on the weekends and stay at a bed and breakfast in our small town, and yes, the rumors did circulate. In this day it seems no one can believe two people will pursue marriage God's way, but we can say together, they can. I proposed in May 2008 and we were married in October. When we left on our honeymoon we were not sure if we'd be returning with me as pastor or not due to some conflict in the church. When we returned I was still the pastor and would continue to be so for nearly 3 more years. The conflict never really subsided but during that trial by fire we grew closer even through the bumps of early marriage, made some incredible friends, and learned many things that are required to be a pastor and wife. In November of 2010, with Ashley out of work for over a year and the conflict from a few church members stifling the furtherance of our ministry there, we both agreed it was time to seek God's will for a new church. 6 months later I received a call from a church I'd never heard of, Woodfield Park Baptist Church in Columbia. They wanted to come hear me preach.

The search committee showed up and everyone knew who they were. The folks who had opposed us almost our entire ministry treated them like royalty, they were ready to see us go! The majority of the congregation knew our situation and while saddened, were resigned to what needed to happen. After a meeting after the service with the search committee, I preached a month later at Woodfield Park, and the Holy Spirit moved. In June 2011 we preached en lieu of call and were voted in unanimously as pastor and wife and still serve joyfully here today.

As this pastor looks at fifty(I turn fitty August 21), I can look back now with a far different viewpoint than that wannabe pirate of my 20's. At 39 I was lost, lonely, depressed and searching. 40 held no appeal. At 49 I am saved, joyful, sharing life with my soul mate, serving God in a loving church, and fifty is greatly anticipated. Those wasted years are experiences God allows me to minister to others through. My beard is graying and my hair is thinning; my waste line is still to big and my mouth still gets me in to trouble sometimes. But in Jesus I became a "new creation," I was "born again" and life is truly full of adventure and pleasure. But the adventure and pleasure is centered around Jesus, and marriage, and a life with purpose.

I still know many living that pirate's life, and I pray someday they will come to know what I have. As appealing as a lifestyle focused on self can seem to be, it's a dead end road. But in Jesus there is hope! His desire is to see you turn to Him! If you will, it won't be easy. But if you do, you have God with you, and He will never leave you nor forsake you. Believe me, Jesus beats the world every time. Arrrrrrrrrrr.......Amen

Of Israel and 5 O'Clock Charlie

Anyone who grew up in the 1970's remembers the television show M*A*S*H. In fact, with reruns, most are familiar with the sitcom set during the Korean War and the distinctly anti-war message embedded in the often brilliant comedy. For the record, I am anti-war. What sane person is not. War is the absolute worst humanity has to offer. But war is a reality in this fallen world, and so war we have, and will continue to have, until Jesus returns.

Anyone who watched M*A*S*H acknowledges the first few years were by far the best. The original cast of Alan Alda as Hawkeye Pierce, Wayne Rogers as Trapper John McIntyre, McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake, Loretta Switt as Margaret "Hotlips" Hoolihan and Larry Linville as Frank Burns was ensemble comedy at its best. One of my favorite episodes was named "5 O'Clock Charlie." In this episode, a wayward North Korean plane that sounded like an off balance washing machine would fly over M*A*S*H 4077 at or around 5 o'clock in the afternoon and lob a single bomb at an ammo dump beside the camp. He always missed. His afternoon visits became a social gathering for the entertainment starved doctors and nurses. They would gather in lawn chairs, sip martinis, and make wagers with the one who came closest to how far "Charlie" had missed the target taking home the pot. It was funny. It made a statement as to the absurdity of war. But in the end, it was a television show. War is real, yet somehow, many view the current ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas through the lens that Israel should treat Hamas as camp 4077 treated "5 O'Clock Charlie."

This conflict is occurring for one reason only. Hamas, which is officially recognized by the U.S. Government as a terrorist organization, will not stop firing missiles in to Israel. Like "5 O'Clock Charlie," their aim is not very good. And those rockets that are aimed well are met with a strong anti-missile defense system Israel calls the "Iron Dome." Hamas also has dug over 30 discovered tunnels in to Israel by which they planned too and have already carried out terrorist activities. Due to Israel's far superior fire power the casualties for Hamas are far, far higher than those of Israel. And because the casualties are so one-sided, many are saying Israel is in the wrong for responding to the persistent attacks Hamas continues to launch. According to these critics, Israel needs to take a cue from the cast of M*A*S*H, and simply watch the bombs fly, because really.....what are they hitting?

Adding greatly to the criticism of Israel is that most of the casualties suffered in the Gaza strip are civilians. How could Israel be so immoral and cruel in targeting innocent people, including many children? Israel should cease and desist it's operations, the cost is to high. Of course, these critics conveniently ignore the fact Hamas launches these rockets and builds these tunnels in neighborhoods, hospitals, mosques, so as to intentionally build the body bag count. Build it with their own civilian casualties. But to many, this doesn't matter. Innocent people are dying. Israel is clearly in the wrong, basically because they are far more proficient at waging and winning a war than Hamas is.

Logic is lost in these criticisms, but in the Middle East, logic rarely prevails. It is a cesspool of pure evil as witnessed by the continued slaughter going on in Syria, the onward march of the insanely wicked IS in Iraq, Iran's continuing quest for a nuclear bomb and funding and supply of terror groups by proxy, Turkey's inflammatory anti-semitic rhetoric, Qutar serving as a bankroll for terror efforts, and Lybia still in turmoil after it's regime change. Even fairly stable countries by Middle East standards like Jordan and Lebanon have a majority of their populations holding vile hatred for the Jewish people. In this land of never ending chaos Israel has two allies right now; Egypt, with whom they have fought six wars, and Saudi Arabia, who only seeks to protect their oil goldmine. Meanwhile Israel, the only democracy in the region, one that also recognizes Arabs as citizens, is the bad guy. Yep, that's logical.

Many have stated the obvious. Their is no nation anywhere on earth, at any time in earth's history, that would simply sit back and allow rockets to be fired at it or tunnels for terrorism to be dug across their border. But we're not speaking of any other nation, we're speaking of Israel. And Israel is and always will be held to a different standard than everyone else. Israel should just break out the lawn chairs, sip their martini's, and watch the rockets fly. Even in self defense, they are unethical and evil.

As we speak outside mediators have negotiated another ceasefire. I believe this is number seven. The previous six were violated when Hamas once again lobbed rockets at Israel. This one just was as well, once again by Hamas rockets fired at Israel. But of course, it's Israel's fault. They are too good at defending themselves. It's not fair they should kill far more of their enemy than their enemy has killed. Nevermind the fact Israel has not committed one offensive action, that every move they have made has been in response to an attack upon their citizenry. Even if this lastest ceasefire had lasted more than a few hours, does anyone really believe Israel's enemies will not attack again?

Hamas, along with Hezbollah, IS, Iran and let's face it, the majority of the populations of all other nations surrounding Israel, have one goal. It is a goal they plainly state. Israel must cease to exist and the Jewish people must be exterminated. Obliteration of a nation, and a people. We call that genocide. Yet Israel, the nation who has yet to act in an offensive manner, is the one accused of genocide. They kill innocent civilians. They wage war to well. If it were a television show, it would be satire of the highest form.

But it's not a television show. It's war, and it's real. War is never pretty. Rush Limbaugh has said for years the object of war is "to kill people and break things." As blunt as that may be, it is the truth. The object of war is to defeat your enemy to the point they can never attack you again. People will die, including innocents. Israel does not want war. They desire to live without the threat of continued attacks. Yet the enemies of Israel want only war, and are willing to sacrifice their own by the thousands to win a P.R. battle and weaken Israel. Weaken them for the day when all the enemies come together, or WMD's are available, and Israel can finally be obliterated and the Jewish people wiped out.

Israel is to blame for the lack of the two state solution. Their is never any mention of the fact their has never been a nation of Palestine before. Israel must give up it's land to make this happen. The Palestinian people, Arab people, receive no offer of land from their Arab brethren. You don't see Jordan, or Lebanon, or Egypt, or Syria offering to give up any land to truly bring about peace and a Palestinian state. But of course, they don't want peace, and are willing to sacrifice the Palestinian's for the end of Israel and the Jews. Nothing else matters.

But Israel wages war better than those around them, at least so far. So, the Palestinian people will continue to be a pawn in the demonic game of destroy the Jews. But Israel will continue to defend itself and defeat their enemies. They will always lose the P.R. battle, but haven't they always? Thankfully Israel has a leader right now in Benjamin Netenyahu who could care less about the world's public opinion. Israel's only chink in the armor is if a more pacifist government comes to power and negotiates a deal that weakens Israel to the point it cannot adequately defend itself. That could happen, but not right now.

Being one who believes in bible prophecy from a pre-millennial, pre-tribulation view, I simply view these events as prophetic chess pieces moving in to place in God's foreknowledge which He has revealed to us. Jerusalem is indeed that "very heavy stone for all peoples(Zech 12:3)," and Israel's enemies are simply doing what God told us they would do. Psalm 83:4 tells us their intent, as they have clearly stated. It says, "They(Israel's enemies) have said, 'Come and let us cut them(the Jewish people) off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more." Or as Hamas says, "we will drive them in to the sea and destroy them."

Oh that this were simply entertainment, like "5 O'Clock Charlie" was. A television show with a happy ending. But it's not, it is war. We should all be anti-war, but does this mean we ignore reality, logic and a nations obligation to defend it's people? Only if it's Israel.

#Megachurches #Bordercrisis #Timetolead

Our blog last week (see When We Think Like Americans Instead of Christians) regarding the ongoing border crisis generated plenty of discussion. It is an emotional issue. On one hand, we have our nation. Spiraling in debt, open borders, laws ignored, political turmoil, international hot spots around the world occupying us. On the other hand, we have children. Children in need. Children in trouble. Children in danger. The premise I laid out was this: Our government is not going to deal with this border crisis satisfactorily. We've had a border problem for 30+ years and have yet to solve it. We won't. We have nearly 60,000 children being detained who have crossed our border with more on the way. They are fleeing wretched lives in countries where the governments are non existent, laws are what the drug running gangs say, sex trafficking thrives, violence and death are a daily way of life, poverty suffocates and desperation has given birth to panic. They are here. More are coming. So what....what can we do?

My response was it is time for the church, the body of Christ, to actually begin acting like the church.

Let's get some facts on the table. Most of these children are coming from 3 countries in Central America which are among the darkest places on the globe right now. They are Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. According to our U.S. Customs and Border Apprehensions records, apprehensions from Honduras are up 593%. Honduras has the #1 murder rate in the world. Apprehensions from Guatemala are up 416%. Guatemala has the #2 murder rate in the world. Apprehensions from El Salvador are up 330%. El Salvador has the #5 murder rate in the world. In every instance, the number one reason stated for fleeing these nations by these children is violence spurred by the drug trade that floods from Columbia through these countries and Mexico, and to the U.S., where they are being illegally distributed, and consumed, by us. So for fear of life, these children are running in ever increasing numbers, to us. They are here. More are coming. What can we do?

It is time for the church, the body of Christ, to begin acting like the church.

So how does this begin? Well, how about with the most prosperous, affluent, churches in the world, the American megachurch. Just here in South Carolina, a small state, we have 35 churches classified as megachurches. The classic definition of a megachurch is one with an average attendance of 1000 or more on a weekly basis. Of the 35 in South Carolina, according to reported numbers, all average 1800 or more per Sunday. The largest of these are Newspring Church based in Anderson with an average attendance approaching 30,000 counting all campuses, pastor Perry Noble. Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville with attendance approaching 15,000, pastor Ron Carpenter. Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant with attendance approaching 15,000, pastor Greg Surratt. Brookland Baptist Church in Columbia with attendance approaching 10,000, pastor Charles Jackson. And Brookwood Church in Simpsonville with attendance approaching 8,000, pastor Perry Duggar. We might as well throw in Elevation Church of Charlotte, NC with attendance over 15,000 as many South Carolinian's attend there, pastor Steven Furtick. Friends, that's just in tiny old South Carolina! Now think of all the megachurches across our nation. To these churches, we have a crisis. We have children, the very least among us, in danger and in need. These needs are only going to grow. To the American megachurch, it is time to step up and lead!!!

The megachurch has caused much disagreement among many Christians. Many view them through the lens of narcissism. The pastors routinely make six or seven figure salaries, not to mention what they make off of book sales and speaking fees. Many of these pastors have private jets, limos, multiple million dollar homes. They worship in cathedrals of opulence. Spend millions on video and sound systems, lighting and special effects that rival a U2 concert. They have the most people, the most money and the most influence. It is time for them to lead.

True biblical leadership requires sacrifice. The greatest leader of all time, our Lord Jesus Christ, willingly sacrificed His life. The apostles gave theirs as well, as have many others over the last 2000 years standing for the faith. Leaders in the New Testament endured hardship, suffering, and persecution. They did so with joy. They never attained riches nor sought them. Jesus left the glory of heaven for the poverty of this earth. The foxes had holes and the birds had nests, but the Son of Man had no place to lay His head. Compare that, to the American church today. True biblical leadership requires sacrifice. It also requires humility.

Humility to place the needs of others above our own. Humility to willfully submit to God. Humility to model before people that we are called to serve, not be served. Humility to live like Jesus Christ, not Beyonce or Jay Z. True biblical leadership requires sacrifice, it requires humility, and it requires obedience.

Obedience to the will of God, and who in God's will and word is more precious to Him than children? Is there one place in scripture where Jesus refused children? He welcomed them at every turn, and they loved Him in return. They were naturally drawn to Him, and He always, without exception, embraced them, loved them, taught them and protected them. Yet on our borders right now, children fleeing hellish conditions are being greeted by crowds of angry Americans, shouting them down, calling them criminals, demanding they leave. Go back to where you came from! We don't want you!

Biblical leadership requires many things, and biblical leadership is required now. And to the American megachurch, it needs to begin with you. Are you willing to lead in modeling sacrifice before our ever growing godless nation in showing the love of Jesus Christ to these children? Are you willing to lead in humbling yourselves and submit to God's clear will in regards to children and obey His call to "suffer" them? Pastor, are you willing to look in the mirror, see the excess, and lead your people in sacrifice, humility and obedience. Count the costs, as they are always there. But are you willing to lead, work across denominational lines, unite the body of Christ and meet this crisis on our borders with the compassion and love we as the church are called to show?

Pastor, will you sell a house? Fully donate your book sales? Get rid of a jet? Take a pay cut? In your churches will you scale back the entertainment value, the luxuries and the dollars, for the sake of a child? You may lose some folks who desire the flesh to be pleased, but are they really that big of a loss? Is that all worship is? Not according to the bible. In Genesis 22, the first place in scripture where the word worship is mentioned(Gen 22:5), it speaks of Abraham heading to the mountain top to kill his son Isaac at God's command. It called worship the willingness to obey and sacrifice. Will you lead in doing this? Will you put off a building campaign and keep that extra service? Delay a new satellite campus or church launch for the sake of the mission field on our borders right now? Will you fully utilize the tremendous blessing you have been shown from above for the sake of the least of these in detainment with little hope or future visible to them? Will you show them Jesus? Will you lead?

Megachurch member, will you set the example? Follow those who lead you in sacrifice, humility and obedience? Will you take one of the least of these in to your homes? Yes, it won't be convenient, but neither was the cross! We in the small church may only be able to take in one, but will you, the millions upon millions of you, take in many? Will you love a desperate child, show them Jesus, make a disciple and prayerfully equip a missionary to return to their homelands? Will you give up the comfort and splendor where you worship and become lowly and meek as Jesus did for us? The government says right now we cannot bring them home with us, is that the will of God? Since when is the government ruler of this universe? Will we settle for that, or stand together as one. One body! His body! And not take no for an answer. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against His church. Neither will our government, if we stand together.

This crisis is growing and will only increase. We, here in America, have a choice. We, the American church, need to lead this nation, and that will only happen if we bind ourselves together. Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us, "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." These children have only one hope, and that is us.

Shall we allow them to simply be returned to there homes and once again face gangs and drugs, murder and death, become victims of sex trafficking, oppressive poverty? For these children, is that what is best? Friends, God is bringing the least of these to our doorstep. How does He expect us, His church, to respond? As Americans, or His body? With indifference, or with love?

They are here. More are coming. What can we do?

Isn't about time for the church to start acting like the church? Ditch our lone wolf mentalities that it's about our church or our denomination? Become one body, burying our non essential doctrinal differences, and unite around Jesus? Put aside our comforts and pleasures for the sake of others? For the sake of the least of these, innocent children? Isn't it about time this actually, finally happens?

Megachurches, this needs to begin with you.

When We Think Like Americans Instead of Christians

I want to share with you something that has truly been burdening my heart. It has to do with the current border crisis our nation now finds itself in. Before I share with you, I do want to state some things I honestly believe about our borders. I do believe we must find a way to stop the ridiculous amount of illegal immigration that has been occurring along our southern border. It is a national threat when we have no clue who or what is crossing our borders and first and foremost our borders should be secured. The laws we have in place provide for this, but have not been enforced, and because of this, we find ourselves in a very difficult situation.

That situation is the tens of thousands of children that are currently being detained by our government, and the tens of thousands more who could be on the way. While no doubt many nefarious characters have crossed our borders, these children, at the urging of parents and others, have come to our border and entered our nation with no ill intent. They are innocents in this, mostly unaware of our laws, and certainly influenced by the ease at which many relatives have entered our nation illegally. But they are here, and they are still coming, and we find ourselves struggling with just how to handle this.

The laws of our nation clearly state that these children should be deported back to their nations of origin. I understand the law, and agree with it, but this is no ordinary situation. In my heart I am struggling with this, and the source for my struggles is the clear teaching of the word of God.

In Luke 18:15-17 we read this: "Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

Their are a couple of lessons here. The first obviously is that we must come to Christ with a child like faith(v.17). But another lesson is presented here, and that is how we are to deal with real little children. I'm going to be making some applications here, but applications I believe are valid to our current situation as a nation. These children have been brought to our nation, a nation that has proudly proclaimed itself to be a nation founded upon the teachings of the bible from it's foundation. As Christians in America, we are called the body of Christ, and we are to be distinctly different from the deteriorating culture that surrounds us. These children in Luke are being brought so that Jesus could touch them, and as the body of Christ, are we not called to minister to children as well? Where else is one to receive a touch from Jesus than from His body here on earth? Does this apply to just American children, or should we view all children with the same heart that Jesus always did? That, my friends, is the question.

Notice here in Luke it is the disciples, those who are closest to Jesus, who rebuke those bringing the children. They believe these children to be a nuisance to the Lord, that they will be an unneeded burden to Him. But Jesus intercedes and calls the children to Himself, saying "do not forbid them, for such is the kingdom of God." How are we as Christians viewing these children who have been dumped on our doorstep? Do we see them as a burden? Or do we see them as souls who need Jesus? Are they illegals, or a mission field? It is the reaction of many Christians that has burdened my heart in this regard. Many Christians seem to be taking the same path the disciples took when they forbade the children in coming to Christ. Understand, we are His body, His church. Children are coming to our so-called Christian nation, and many who claim Jesus as Savior and Lord are simply saying, send them back, they are a nuisance.  Is this truly how Jesus would respond to this situation?

Look, I'm not saying there are easy answers here. Just how do you handle such an influx of children? I have no confidence in our government to rightly handle this, but what of the church? What exactly is our mission? What has Jesus told us of how we should view those that are truly "the least of these." Well, Jesus' words in Matthew 25 are very clear on this. Jesus tells us here of a judgment that will occur determining just who is righteous, and who is not. Who are His sheep and hear His voice, and who is a goat and is not. He says of those who are righteous in v.35-36, "For when I was hungry you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." The righteous were puzzled, and asked Him, "Lord," when did we do these things? And what was Jesus' response in Matthew 25:40? "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." I ask exactly, who are these children gathered at our border if not the "least of these?" Do you see an issue here? If we are the body of Christ, how should we being viewing these children? Are they simply illegals who will be a burden to our nation, or are they the very "least of these," the very ones Jesus calls us to minister too?

I have to tell you I am struggling with exactly how many Christians are responding to this crisis. We say to our leaders, turn to God! Follow the Lord's ways! We cry out, rightly I add, at the sin that is now being recognized as normal across the cultural spectrum. But do we have a beam in our eyes? Have we, in our zeal for our borders, made America god instead of Jesus? The laws of America are clear on what should be done, but what of God's heart for children? If we are to truly be following God here, as His body, what should be our heart and mind in regards to this? The bible is clear who comes first when God's will is contradicted by man's law. In the book of Acts we see several times the apostles rebuked by the religious Pharisees and the Sanhedrin for proclaiming Christ against their commands. In Acts 5:29 Peter gives us our course in regards to this conflict when he speaks for the apostles and says, "We ought to obey God rather than men."

So how should we, as Christians, be viewing this crisis on our border? As I've stated, I do believe we need to secure our border, but what of these children who are already here? How should we as His bride, His church, view these little children who have been brought to us? As criminals? As illegals? Or should we view them as "the least of these?" I believe how we answer this question will reveal whether as a nation, God still is on the throne in His church. If the American church can't receive the "least of these," then there is little hope for our nation ever returning to the God it once feared, respected, and dare I say, loved. In spite of our economic struggles, we are still the most prosperous nation on the earth, and have by far the most prosperous churches.

Do we worship God with our hearts, or just our lips? Are we, the body of Christ, willing and able to join together across denominational lines, and "suffer the little children?" To humble ourselves regarding the things we disagree on, and agree these children need Christ's church to come to them in their time of need? A revived church unified around the person of Christ is the only hope our nation has. And a unified church that sees these children as Jesus surely would is the hope for these children as well. There is a reason they are fleeing where they live, and it's not just our porous border and the promise of a better life. Where they live is no place for a child.

There are no easy answers here. Our government must act to secure our borders. The current situation is untenable and a threat. But what of these children? With millions upon millions who profess the name of Christ here in America, and billions upon billions of money given in His name, surely there is something we, His body, can do. Exactly what is up for debate, but to cast off as unwanted innocent children? My friends, that simply should not be an option. Not for those of us who claim Jesus.