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It was 1792, and world evangelism was barely on the radar of Baptist churches in England. But it was heavy on the heart of a thirty-one-year-old bivocational pastor in Northamptonshire. His name was William Carey, and he was passionate about the Great Commission. Carey’s appeal to other pastors to form a missionary agency had been met with apathy or pushback. But Carey couldn’t be silent. So he researched the needs of Christless people and studied the call to missions in the New Testament. And he wrote a booklet titled An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. The booklet was divided into five sections covering the history of missionary work, the needs of the world, theological arguments, practical objections to missions, and specific actions Christians could take. The Enquiry was revolutionary. But within its pages Cary included two questions that still deserve an answer: “Is not the commission of our Lord still binding upon us? Can we not do more than we are now doing?” “Is not the commission of our Lord still binding upon us? Can we not do more than we are now doing?”—William Carey Share on X Carey’s main argument was that the Great Commission was not just a command to the apostles, but a mandate from Christ for all Christians. This booklet stirred the hearts of Baptists around England, leading to the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society later that year. Ultimately, this society supported Carey as its first missionary, sending him to India where he would spend the rest of his life preaching the gospel and translating the Bible. As great as Carey’s work was, the task remains unfinished. We still have the Great Commission from Christ to go into all the world and preach the gospel. And we still must do it. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18–20) Today, we must do more than we are now doing. The needs of lost souls around the world are too great for us to remain complacent. So, what can we do? 1. We Must Go The Great Commission begins with an important word: Go. Missions is not merely an invitation; it is a command for every believer. As we can only be in once place at a time, however, every Christian cannot take the gospel to every part of the world. We must each share the gospel where God calls us. God does call some to bring the gospel to foreign lands. We see this in Acts 13 as God called Paul and Barnabas to serve as missionaries. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. … So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus…. (Acts 13:2, 4) Statistics reveal a sobering reality: the average age of Baptist missionaries continues to rise, and the need for new laborers in mission fields around the world grows. How did William Carey sense God’s call to missions? Ultimately, it was the work of the Holy Spirit through the pages of Scripture. But initially, it was as he studied geography. He made a world map out of leather and hung it by his work bench as he prayed for people around the world who had never heard the gospel. Later he said, “To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map.” “To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map.”—William Carey Share on X This coming week, Lancaster Baptist Church will host our annual World Impact Conference. One of the things I pray will take place during this conference is the Lord stirring the hearts of teens and young adults to the great needs of our world for missions. I pray that God uses the missionary testimonies and the preaching of His Word this coming week to even call some to go as missionaries. We simply must go to where people need the Lord. 2. We Must Send Even as God called those first missionaries in Acts 13, the local church at Antioch sent them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:3) We can imagine that this sending included both prayer and financial support to enable Paul and Barnabas’ journeys. As William Carey volunteered to go to India as the first modern missionary of the English Baptist churches, he told his friend Pastor Andrew Fuller, “I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the ropes.” Indeed, to “hold the ropes” is a commitment to both pray for and financially support missionaries. I thank the Lord for the many missionaries God has called from our own church family and for whom we get to be the sending church. And I thank the Lord for how Lancaster Baptist Church generously and sacrificially gives to support these and other missionaries who are bringing the gospel around the world. Over the past several years, the Lord has enabled our church family to give over $1 million dollars annually to missions. As we conduct World Impact Conference this week, we encourage each member of our church to prayerfully commit to consistent giving to support missionaries. 3. We Must Expect God to Bless Our Faith It’s easy to look at the great need for missions—over eight billion people, many of whom have never even heard the gospel—and feel defeated. What difference does one more missionary, one more missions giving commitment, make toward meeting such a great need? The answer is that we give and go in obedient faith. We obey the Great Commission because we trust God will bless our faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Perhaps the most famous quote of William Carey is “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”—William Carey Share on X Throughout history, God has honored the faith of those who have dared to attempt great things for Him. Who can tell how God will bless our involvement in worldwide missions? When William Carey, an unknown, bivocational pastor from England, arrived in India, there was no fanfare and no immediate results. In fact, it would be seven years before Carey saw his first convert trust Christ. But forty-one years later, when Carey died in Serampore, India, he left behind twenty-six churches, Bible translations in forty Indian languages, schools, and a college for training more pastors. He had stepped out and persevered in faith, and God blessed. We can trust that as we go, give, and trust God, He will bless our faith as well. World Impact Conference at Lancaster Baptist Church will be held November 3–5. We invite friends around the world to join us via live stream at LBClive.tv. A complete schedule for the conference is available at lancasterbaptist.org/world-impact-conference. View the full article

Here in the United States, we are quickly approaching Election Day. Even now, over thirty states, including California where I live, have opened early voting. Religious liberty and the freedom to select our leaders is, historically speaking, an amazing, unprecedented privilege. And American Christians have the unique opportunity to engage in the processes that can help preserve these freedoms. I have long believed that American Christians have a patriotic duty to engage in the election process by voting, and I believe they have a moral duty to cast that vote, as best as they can, according to biblical issues. Over the years, I have consistently cast my vote through a grid of three biblical issues: The sanctity of life (Jeremiah 1:5) The biblical family (Genesis 1:27, 2:24; Ephesians 5:22–25) Support for Israel (Genesis 12:3) I have rarely had the opportunity to vote for someone who thoroughly aligned with all of these beliefs. But I do my best to select based on who most closely stands to biblical positions on these issues. This upcoming election has been particularly challenging for many Christians, and some have asked my thoughts on voting when no candidate for a given office aligns with Scripture on these important areas. Here are several thoughts that I hope bring clarity. I share these considerations with you to be applied as principles for every level of elected office. 1. Neither party is “righteous,” but the Democratic Party has publicly and forcefully denied biblical values. There is no question that the Republican Party has recently weakened its positions in order to attract a broader coalition (a decision that I believe is tragic and will ultimately prove unhelpful). However, of the two parties, I think it is still easy to see which party welcomes biblical Christians and which requires them to check Bible-based beliefs at the door. Perhaps you have seen the video from last week of a Harris-Walz rally in which two students shouted “Jesus is Lord” and “Christ is King.” Kamala Harris immediately responded, “I think you’re at the wrong rally.”[1] This is not an isolated incident. The Democratic Party has made it abundantly known that they are against what God is for (the sanctity of life, created genders, biblical family) and are for what God is against (taking the lives of the unborn, mutilating children’s bodies, pushing an aggressive LGBTQ agenda). The reality of these sad statements has been repeatedly proven by the Democratic Party and specifically by Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in recent months. For instance, consider the following: Planned Parenthood vans were welcomed to provide abortions outside the Democratic National Convention.[2] Harris is opposed to any restrictions on abortion, and recently stated that when Congress passes a bill to federally legalize abortion, “as president of the United States, I will proudly, proudly sign it into law.”[3] As a senator, she voted against a bill that would ban abortions after twenty weeks of pregnancy.[4] Walz supported a bill in Minnesota that legalizes denying life-saving medical care to infants born alive after botched abortions.[5] Harris has publicly stated support for taxpayer-funded “gender transition” surgeries for prisoners and illegal immigrants (a position she is trying to distance herself from during this election cycle).[6] Harris supports sex-change surgeries for minors, seen, for example, when the Biden-Harris Department of Justice urged the Supreme Court to take up the case of a Tennessee law that bans gender transition for minors.[7] Harris supports biological men playing against biological women in athletics.[8] And this is just the beginning. I think it is incredibly naive to know these facts and still choose to hope that a Harris-Walz administration would do anything other than open the floodgates to full-term abortion, sex-change surgeries for minors, loss of parental rights for families whose children are confused on LGBTQ issues, and a significant weakening of religious liberty. 2. The government’s primary job is to restrain evil, and that should be our primary consideration in selecting leaders. Romans 13 admonishes Christians to obey the civil government because rulers are “…the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (verse 4). God has ordained government to restrain evil. In civil elections, we vote for policymakers, not spiritual leaders. Granted, it would be ideal for government leaders to be moral, godly persons. And there was a day in America in which that was at least more the case than it is now. Our second president, John Adams, even said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Of course, not all of our presidents—or other leaders—have been moral or religious people. And the overall weakening of morals in our nation is reflected in the current candidates. However, when it comes to the voting booth, we vote for policymakers, not spiritual leaders. And, given the biblical role for government, I believe an important question we can ask is, “Who will best retrain evil and maintain conditions likely for righteousness to flourish?” Given the biblical role for government, I believe an important question to ask when voting is, “Who will best retrain evil and maintain conditions likely for righteousness to flourish?” Share on X 3. Religious liberty is a gift that should be protected. As mentioned a moment ago, we enjoy a level of religious liberty unknown in human history. This gift has been purchased by men and women who have given their lives to buy and preserve this freedom. We have a sacred duty to protect the freedoms that have been handed down to us. With these considerations in mind, another question we could ask when voting would be, “Who will best preserve religious liberty and a context in which the gospel and churches can flourish?” I don’t think it will be the candidate who told Christians they were at the wrong rally. Nor do I think it will be the candidate who has aggressively tried to silence those who oppose abortion. (As the Attorney General of California, when an independent journalist documented Planned Parenthood selling organs and body parts of aborted babies, rather than opening an investigation into Planned Parenthood, Kamala went after the journalist—sending agents to raid his home.)[9] 4. Christians should vote. A recent Barna study predicts that 41 million self-professed born-again Christians are expected to not vote in this election.[10] I would never advise a Christian to go against their conscience—in a vote or any other matter. And if your conscience does not allow you to vote for Donald Trump, that is a matter of Christian liberty. But I would encourage you to do two things: First, still participate in the election. Every single congress member is up for reelection this year. Many States are electing senators. Several states have incredibly significant items on the ballot, such as Amendment 4 in Florida. Undoubtedly, you have local issues on the ballot for your county as well. So, please, do not abstain from voting. Second, I would ask you to look at the broader picture, including the points raised in this post, and reconsider what a vote means. A vote is a choice between available options, not necessarily a statement that you like either option. In truth, every election is a choice between the “lesser of two evils.” A vote is not a personal endorsement of everything a particular candidate is or stands for. It is merely a decision that, given the options presented, you prefer that candidate to the other. While it may be easier to abstain from an election because we don’t like the options, consider the effect this has on our children and grandchildren. I completely believe that we should trust God with the outcome of an election (we’ll come back to this thought). But that trust does not absolve me of my responsibility to participate in the election, any more than trusting God with the outcome of an attempted robbery of my home would absolve me of my responsibility to protect my family while it was taking place. We should trust God with the outcome of every election, but that trust does not absolve us of the responsibility to participate in the election. Share on X 5. As Christians, our primary occupation should be sharing the gospel. Patriotic duties (including voting) are significant. It is God who established nations (Genesis 10:32, Acts 17:26–27), and it is right to seek to preserve all that is good in one’s nation. But our greatest passion as Christians should be the Great Commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). And our greatest endeavor should be obeying the Great Commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). Incidentally, obeying the Great Commission also allows us to obey the Second Commandment—to love our neighbors by telling them about Christ. So yes, vote. Yes, inform yourself on policies, positions, and candidates. But at the end of the day, don’t lose your focus as a Christian. To put it another way: It is essential to me that my neighbors know I am a Christian, that I pray for them, and that I share the gospel with them. It’s fine, but not essential to me, if they know who I am voting for this election. 6. We are commanded to pray for whichever leaders are elected. The most important thing we can do is to pray—for our country and for our leaders. First Timothy 2:1–2 specifically instructs, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” I have prayed nearly every day for President Biden, as I did for President Trump before him and for President Obama before him. Regardless of who is elected this November, I will continue to pray for our president. 7. We will trust the Lord regardless of the outcome. Like the Old Testament saints mentioned in Hebrews 11:13, we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” American Christians have the incredible privilege of being citizens of the freest nation in history on the face of this earth. But as long as we are on this earth, we’re still strangers. You might say that we have dual citizenship—American and Heavenly. As earthly citizens, it is our duty to engage in the betterment of our nation. As heavenly citizens, it is our duty to live with our affections and anticipation focused above. “For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:14–16). As earthly citizens, it is our duty to engage in the betterment of our nation. As heavenly citizens, it is our duty to live with our affections and anticipation focused above. Share on X If my hope were in the United States of America, I would today be miserable indeed. But my hope is not in this country or in any other. My hope is in Jesus, and He is not up for election. God remains sovereign today, tomorrow, and always. “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (Psalm 115:3). Political movements come and go, nations rise and fall, but God remains on the throne. So, yes, pray and vote. But keep your trust in the Lord. Endnotes [1] Taylor Penley, “Pro-Life Protesters Speak Out after Allegedly Being Mocked, Pushed at Harris Rally: ‘We Did God’s Work,’” Fox News, October 24, 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/media/pro-life-protesters-speak-out-after-allegedly-being-mocked-pushed-harris-rally-we-did-gods-work. [2] Samuel Chamberlain, “Planned Parenthood Offers Free Vasectomies, Abortions in Truck Outside DNC,” New York Post, August 19, 2024, https://nypost.com/2024/08/19/us-news/planned-parenthood-offers-free-vasectomies-abortions-in-truck-outside-dnc/. [3] Taylor Penley, “Pro-Life Protesters Speak Out after Allegedly Being Mocked, Pushed at Harris Rally: ‘We Did God’s Work,’” Fox News, October 24, 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/media/pro-life-protesters-speak-out-after-allegedly-being-mocked-pushed-harris-rally-we-did-gods-work. [4] Madeleine Carlisle, “Kamala Harris’ Views on Abortion, Economy, Immigration, and Israel-Gaza,” Time, August 2024, https://time.com/7001208/kamala-harris-views-abortion-economy-immigration-israel-gaza/. [5] “Minnesota Legislature Repeals Protection for Born-Alive Infants, Support for Pregnant Women,” Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, August 2024, https://www.mccl.org/post/minnesota-legislature-repeals-protection-for-born-alive-infants-support-for-pregnant-women. [6] Andrew Kaczynski, “KFile: Harris told ACLU in 2019 she supports cuts to ICE funding and providing gender transition surgery to detained migrants,” CNN, September 9, 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/09/politics/kfile-harris-pledged-support-in-2019-to-cut-ice-funding-and-provide-transgender-surgery-to-detained-migrants/index.html. [7] Sam Levin, “Biden Administration Supports Transgender Surgeries for Minors,” The Guardian, July 17, 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/17/biden-administration-transgender-surgeries-minors. [8] “Cardona v. State of Tennessee,” Alliance Defending Freedom, August 2024, https://adfmedia.org/case/cardona-v-state-tennessee. [9] David Siders, “Anti-Abortion Groups Demand Kamala Harris Resign Over David Daleiden Investigation,” Politico, April 2016, https://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/anti-abortion-groups-kamala-harris-resign-david-daleiden-221681. [10] Jorge Gomez, “Are People of Faith Actually Voting?” First Liberty Institute, October 18, 2024, https://firstliberty.org/news/are-people-of-faith-actually-voting/. View the full article

It was hard to say which was the most stifling—the summer Philadelphia heat or the bickering and objections each time a suggestion was raised. It was 1787, and the Constitutional Convention had been meeting for over a month but had made little to no progress on forming the American Constitution. Finally, at the end of another day of heated debate, an elderly member of the convention stood to his feet and arrested the attention of the group. “Mr. President,” he began, “the small progress we have made after four or five weeks . . . and continual reasonings with each other—our different sentiments on almost every question . . . is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding.” By this time in American history, the speaker, Benjamin Franklin, was looked to as a true statesman. Everyone listened as he made what is perhaps the most‑remembered suggestion from that gathering: In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? . . . I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? . . . I therefore beg leave to move—that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business.1 Benjamin Franklin’s call to prayer was a turning point for the Constitutional Convention. Soon, the contentious, rancorous spirit that had marked bitter divisions between delegates softened into a spirit of cooperation and brotherhood. The resulting United States Constitution is unparalleled in its excellence. That Franklin was a born‑again Christian seems unlikely. His own testimony, at least a couple of decades before his death, indicated that he was not.2 Yet, what is striking about this historical moment in American history is that the prevailing attitude in the nation’s founding was a belief in God and an assumption that biblical principles and Christian ethics would make people flourish. And this is not the only incident in which this is obvious. A simple read of founding documents, a glance at the inscriptions on early American buildings in Philadelphia or Washington, D.C., and even the print on our currency reveals a founding trust in God. Researchers at the University of Houston examined fifteen thousand published documents from the men who wrote the Constitution and determined that 34 percent of their direct quotes were from the Bible.3 Today, however, American leaders and educators who have been influenced by humanistic thought are denying the Christian roots of our nation and seem to be racing one another to get as far from biblical understandings of morality as possible. So what are Christians to do? Give up? Resign themselves to the fact that their children are being actively targeted by ungodly individuals with anti‑God ideologies? Go all in on raising political awareness and getting right‑leaning politicians elected? Move to the most conservative state they can find and hide? None of these are long‑term solutions. Frankly, they aren’t even short‑term solutions. But there is a solution. Yes, our culture is changing, but Christians have an unchanging source of truth. Christians must stand firm on God’s Word. They must know what they believe if they and their families are not going to be uprooted by the changing culture. Understand the Moment What’s happening in America today isn’t random. It’s not accidental. The very issues that are brought up as moral controversies (the sanctity of life and the biblical definition of marriage to name just two) are a direct attack on the authority of God and the reliability of His Word. This is because our culture has lost its moral compass, and instead of accepting biblical truth at face value, it has created its own moral code that exchanges lies for truth. That’s what Romans 1:25 describes: “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator.” Our culture has lost its moral compass, and instead of accepting biblical truth at face value, it has created its own moral code that exchanges lies for truth. Share on X This fuller passage describes that people who reject God as the Lawgiver follow a process that leads to redefining human sexuality to fit their distorted desires. We are seeing this play out in our culture today. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, . . . Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (Romans 1:21–22, 24–26) With these truths in mind, Christians cannot simply bury their heads in the sand and “go along to get along” as the world demands they support increasingly‑godless expressions of sexual confusion. They can’t just assume that every situation is an isolated incident that comes from a well‑meaning but confused person. Christians must step back and see the larger picture. This is not a “culture war”—merely a clash of the old with the new, of your grandparents’ ideas with Gen Z. This is a “truth war”—a direct assault on the authority of God Himself. What is happening in America today is not primarily a “culture war”—merely a clash of the old with the new. This is a “truth war”—a direct assault on the authority of God Himself. Share on X Seen in this light, the responsibility of Christians is clear. We must make a determination to stand for God and for truth. How do we do that? Trust in God’s Word In the midst of the moral confusion of our day, God’s Word stands true. It shines as a light in the darkness—revealing God, His love for mankind, the sin that separates us from God, the atoning work of Christ that can reconcile man to God, and the life of holiness that God has designed for us to live. In fact, the Word of God is the only inerrant source of truth and the absolute rule by which we can determine right and wrong. Think about the incredible nature of God’s Word. It was directly inspired by God. He breathed every word of Scripture: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God . . . ” (2 Timothy 3:16). “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). Amazingly, God used more than forty different men from a variety of backgrounds over a time span of 1,500 years to record each word. The writing took place on three contents (Europe, Asia, and Africa) and in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). Yet, the entire book completely agrees and has been validated time and again by history, archaeology, and science. If you asked ten contemporary authors to individually write their viewpoint on just one controversial subject, you would come up with a wide range of conflicting opinions. And yet, the Bible covers hundreds of controversial subjects by many different writers—and the entire book agrees. There can be only one reason for this: the Bible has just one Author—God. And this very Word of God is preserved for us today. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8). Do you realize what that means? You and I can hold in our hands the actual preserved Word of God—His revelation to us. God’s Word is objective truth in a changing world. It is pure and right in a day of darkness and confusion. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” (Proverbs 30:5). God’s Word is objective truth in a changing world. Share on X These basic truths about God’s Word are Christian doctrine 101. So why am I reiterating them here? Because our world is bent on casting doubt on God’s Word, claiming it is outdated and irrelevant. The world paints Scripture as harsh and Bible‑believing Christians as bigots. Even “progressive Christians” go along with these views as they explain away the Bible as a mere human book, allowing them to pick and choose which passages they will accept. If you are going to stand for Christ in a God‑rejecting culture, you will need an unshakable conviction in the accuracy, authority, and relevance of God’s Word to your beliefs and daily life. If you are going to stand for Christ in a God‑rejecting culture, you will need an unshakable conviction in the accuracy, authority, and relevance of God’s Word to your beliefs and daily life. Share on X A real trust in God’s Word goes beyond a theoretical ascent that the Bible is true, to a heart‑level belief that God is right. It is a trust that God’s wisdom as revealed in His Word is good and righteous and the best way for people to live. Let’s bring this distinction down to the real world. If a classmate or co‑worker poses a question like, “Why does God hate gays?” or “But do you really think that a boy who feels trapped in a girl’s body should be forced to live as someone he is not?” do you cringe? Do you feel like you have to explain away the clear truths of Scripture and avoid questions about the moral laws God has written into human life? Or do you believe that God’s way is the best way—including for the person actually experiencing same‑sex attraction or gender confusion? These questions get to the heart of if we merely believe God’s Word in an academic, doctrinal sense—“Of course I believe the Bible!”—or if we believe that God’s Word is the good and perfect revelation of His wisdom for humanity to flourish. Beware of Accommodating Theology One of the sad commentaries on the apostasy of our day is that people who claim the name of Christ are among the more vocal supporters of the godless agendas of the day. Even churches have spurned Scripture as the absolute Word of God. As I travel the nation, I see churches with pride flags out front and messages on their signs supporting everything from gay marriage to transgenderism to Critical Race Theory to Marxism . . . everything except Jesus Christ and His gospel. Entire denominations have abandoned any pretense of submission to Scripture as their final rule of faith and practice, instead serving as centers to regurgitate the prevailing cultural messages with “Love your neighbor” wording thrown in to Christianize their message. Some of this is simply evidence of the apostasy that the Bible warned us will come. It is the great “falling away” of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and of the people who “shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” of 2 Timothy 4:4. No doubt, some of the people and churches who deny or refuse to declare what the Bible actually teaches on these topics of the day never were born‑again believers or preachers of the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for our sin. But the challenge for Bible‑believing Christians is that we must not follow the example of liberal, woke Christianity. As our culture turns to wickedness, Christians must not abandon biblical convictions; they must study them out in Scripture. Know What Scripture Teaches So how about you? Do you know what the Bible teaches about the doctrines that form your faith and Christian practice? The inspiration and authority of Scripture The deity of Christ The way of salvation through Christ The New Testament local church Creation and the sanctity of human life Gender as the creation of God The institution of marriage and the biblical family The holiness of the Christian life The sufficiency of Scripture for all matters pertaining to life and godliness This list is just a starter. And the point is not to discourage you if you haven’t studied these biblically. It is, rather, to encourage you with the fact that the Bible speaks clearly to every one of these issues. If you don’t know what you believe from Scripture, you will be susceptible to faulty theology that undermines biblical truth. Once that happens, it’s only a matter of time until you no longer have the truth. Repeating what other people have told you is not enough. You need to know the biblical reason behind what you believe. You need to know what the Bible teaches on the vital topics of our day. So what can you do? The answer is simple: study Scripture. Paul exhorted Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Don’t let the word study conjure up negative thoughts of reading a dry textbook or cramming for a test. For one thing, God’s Word is interesting and relevant, and it is applicable to our daily lives. It’s worth our focused attention and intense study. But even so, not all study of Scripture need be intense or technical. There are multiple ways we learn from God’s Word. Here are a few of the core ways: Read Scripture daily. There is no substitute in the Christian life for the regular intake of God’s Word. Job said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). Just as we eat daily, so we should daily nourish our souls in God’s Word. Reading through the New Testament or the entire Bible in a year can be a great way to become grounded in the larger truths of Scripture. Attend church faithfully. The pastor’s job is to preach God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:2). So if you are in a Bible‑preaching church, you should be hearing God’s Word expounded. There is an accumulation of spiritual understanding that takes place as you sit under biblical preaching from week to week. Additionally, most churches have small groups that meet weekly. These groups are essentially Bible study groups. Those are tremendous opportunities to build weekly Bible study into your life. Study a topic about which you have questions. What are the areas about which you personally have questions? Or what are the areas, perhaps even from the list above, that you have a general sense of what the Bible may teach on this issue, but you couldn’t articulate it from the Bible to someone else? Those are a great place to start on a topical Bible study. Ask your pastor or another mature Christian what key passages relate to a given topic and begin right there. Read those passages, and make notes on what they teach. Ask follow up questions. As you repeat this process, you’ll understand what the Bible teaches about these matters of importance. Apply Scripture. One of the ways we discover the sufficiency of Scripture is by applying it to our daily lives and to cultural questions. As you encounter questions or decisions, train yourself to ask, “What does the Bible say about this?” The Bible is not only “given by inspiration of God,” but it “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). It guides and directs us in every significant area of life. Share Scripture with others. If you want to learn something well, commit to teaching it to others. That decision alone prompts study. After all, the teacher always learns more than the student, because of the study the teacher invests. How do we share Scripture with others? All of us should be sharing the essential truth of salvation by faith in Jesus alone with people who don’t know Christ (Mark 16:15). If you’re a parent, you have been given direct instruction to teach your children God’s Word (Deuteronomy 6:7). There are a hundred ways to do this, including short family devotions, talking about the Lord and His Word throughout the day, and helping them evaluate issues or decisions biblically. As Christians, we should also be investing in teaching younger Christians (2 Timothy 2:2). You might do this through a formal discipleship program, coming alongside to encourage someone in their faith, or perhaps teaching in a children’s ministry or small group at church. In any case, as you prepare to share Scripture, you’ll be strengthened through your own study. The great British statesman William Wilberforce said, “There are four things that we ought to do with the Word of God—admit it as the Word of God, commit it to our hearts and minds, submit to it, and transmit it to the world.” Are you engaged in these activities? Stand on Biblical Convictions At the end of the day, a stand for truth will require courage. It will require Christians with biblical convictions that run deeper than the allure of being accepted or avoiding persecution that may come from their stand. And that stand is worth it. The men and women who have changed the world have been the men and women the world could not change. Of course, this hasn’t stopped the world from trying. Long is the list of Christians who have been threatened—and some martyred—for their stand for truth and for God. The men and women who have changed the world have been the men and women the world could not change. Share on X From Elijah to Daniel to John the Baptist to the apostle Paul, those in the pages of Scripture who made a difference were those who stood firm in their faith even when the whole world was against them. History, too, records the lives of men and women such as John Huss, Anne Askew, William Tyndale, Hugh Latimer, John Bunyan, and many others who held to the truth and lifted up the gospel when it would have saved their lives and freedom to not take a stand. But their courageous stands preserved the truth for us today. And that is what our decision to stand will do for those who come after us. May God enable you and me to be among the men and women today who determine to stand on truth. This post is adapted from chapter 1 of my recent book, What Can the Righteous Do? Each chapter provides an answer to this question originally posed in Psalm 11:3. The book is available at strivingtogether.com and Amazon. [1]Benjamin Franklin, “Speech in the Constitutional Convention,” June 28, 1787, in The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, ed. Max Farrand (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1911), 92. [2]Benjamin Franklin, Letter to George Whitefield, September 17, 1757, in The Works of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 4, ed. John Bigelow (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904), 438-440. [3]Donald Lutz, The Origins of American Constitutionalism (Baton Rouge, LA: LSU Press, 1988), 136–149. View the full article

As we serve in ministry, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of preaching, leading, and managing daily tasks, but what happens when our soul is depleted? What do you do when the passion that once fueled your ministry is buried under the weight of schedules, expectations, and even discouragement? In this new episode of the Spiritual Leadership Podcast, I’m joined by my son Larry as we discuss the health of a pastor’s soul. We look at the importance of prioritizing your walk with God, the challenges pastors and ministry leaders face today, and the practical steps to renewing and replenishing the heart, mind, and body. Giving attention to your soul is essential for anyone in ministry who wants to stay spiritually vibrant and effective. If you’ve ever felt the weight of ministry pressures or found yourself running on empty, I pray this episode will provide both encouragement and practical insight. (If you cannot view this video in your email or RSS reader, click here.) Throughout this episode, we discuss the following topics: 0:30 – The essential nature of a pastor’s walk with God 2:03 – Causes of depletion in ministry 6:48 – The balance between the front stage and backstage 9:46 – Renewing the heart, mind, and body 13:00 – Practical steps for renewal If this episode of the Spiritual Leadership Podcast was a blessing to you, please share it with a friend and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. You can subscribe to future episodes via Apple Podcasts or YouTube. View the full article

Over the past several days, in social media streams there has been promotion of a group, “Evangelicals for Harris.” The group proposes that people should vote for the Harris-Walz presidential ticket as “a Matthew 25 witness of love of neighbor.”1 I understand Christians having concerns over Donald Trump and the weakening position of the RNC on abortion. And I understand Christians believing they should consider how political policies affect those in poverty or who are otherwise marginalized. But I wondered why those who call themselves born-again Christians would actively support a presidential candidate who stands opposed to the biblical position on clearly significant moral issues. The Key Moral Issues For my entire adult life, I have voted along the lines of which candidate holds the closest position to a biblical one on three major issues: life, Israel, and the biblical family. 1. Life: Every unborn child is a person created by God who deserves the opportunity to live out his God-given purpose. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” God forms infants in their mother’s wombs (Psalm 139:13–16) and tells us that children are to be honored as the heritage of the Lord (Psalm 127:3). 2. Israel: In the early pages of Scripture, God promised a special blessing to nations who support Israel and a definite curse to those who harm her. Genesis 12:3 says, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” 3. The Family: From creation, God built the home as the foundation of society (Genesis 1:27, 2:24; Ephesians 5:22–25, 6:1). Any politician who attempts to redefine the biblical foundation of a home and marriage is, in fact, chipping away at the bedrock of society. In recent months, I have been disappointed to see the RNC weakening on some of these issues—particularly the sanctity of life and the traditional family. I’m under no illusion that the RNC is a “righteous” political party. But despite those disappointments, of the two available party platforms, I think it’s clear which one is most likely to form policies, support legislation, and select Supreme Court justices that more closely align with the biblical position on these three issues versus the one that that stands in opposition to the biblical position. Consider where Harris, in particular, stands on each: 1. Life: In March of this year, Harris became the first vice president to visit an abortion clinic. She did it with who is now her running mate, Tim Walz.2 (Not incidentally, Walz, the current governor of Minnesota, supported a bill that legalizes denying life-saving medical care to infants born alive after botched abortions.)3 This very week, at the DNC national convention in Chicago, there was not just support for abortion, but there were on-demand abortions being provided and celebrated as Planned Parenthood performed free vasectomies and medical abortions in a van near the convention center.4 Kamala stands opposed to any restrictions on abortion and has made “reproductive rights—and abortion specifically—a focus of her campaign.”5 According to Time, “As a Senator, she co-sponsored legislation that would ban states from imposing restrictions on abortion rights, and voted against a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.”6 Harris has also aggressively tried to silence those who oppose abortion. As the Attorney General of California, when an independent journalist documented Planned Parenthood selling organs and body parts of aborted babies, rather than opening an investigation into Planned Parenthood, Kamala went after the journalist—sending agents to raid his home.7 There are clearly concerns here for the future of religious liberty. 2. Israel: And what of Harris’ position on Israel? It is customary for the Vice President of the United States to preside over joint sessions of Congress. But when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to a joint session last month, Harris refused to even attend. Speaking to Harris’ stance on Israel, the Time article quoted above reports, “Harris appears more willing to criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the high death toll in Gaza.…Around 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, while at least 38,000 Palestinians have been killed since then….Aaron David Miller told NBC News…‘When it comes to Israel, she has very moderate views…To the left of what Biden is prepared to do….’”8 I don’t think we really want a president who determines which side the US will support based on the death toll rather than the moral merits of terrorism versus defense. And, in light of Genesis 12:3, we don’t want a president who is going to side against Israel either. 3. The Family: In years past, I primarily thought of family issues in relation to the biblical definition of marriage (one man, one woman, committing to one another for life). On this, Harris has a differing agenda. For example, as the district attorney of San Francisco, she spent Valentine’s Day of 2004 officiating same-sex marriages.9 But the attack on the home is larger now than marriage. It is also specifically aimed at gender distinctions and at parents’ rights and responsibilities to help their children. Here, the LGBTQ activists work both ends. First, they confuse vulnerable children through indoctrination in school, entertainment, online recruitment, etc. Then, they hide the children’s confusion from the people best-suited to help them—their parents. If that doesn’t work, the activists insist that if parents don’t support their child in chemical castration or surgery to “change” their gender, the parents are unfit. Harris supports the agenda just described. Just last month, speaking to the issue of performing gender-mutilating surgeries on minors, the Biden-Harris administration stated, “we oppose attempts to limit healthcare for transgender individuals in the courts or through legislation.”10 Harris also supports changing Title IX to a new rule that would change the meaning of “sex” to include “gender identity.” This would effectively end any school’s ability to differentiate on gender in any meaningful way—including in sports. Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer Jonathan Scruggs explained the seriousness of this: “The Biden-Harris administration’s radical redefinition of sex turns back the clock on equal opportunity for women, undermines fairness, and threatens student safety and privacy.”11 No wonder that LGBTQ groups were nearly immediate in their endorsement of Harris after her candidacy was announced. Think about the hypocrisy then of the “Evangelicals for Harris” group. An evangelical supposedly believes that the Bible is the Word of God. However, the platform of the Democratic party, and indeed of the current Democratic candidate, violates Scripture in core areas. Why Love for God Must Inform Our Love of Neighbor As mentioned a moment ago, the “Evangelicals for Harris” website suggests that people should vote for Harris as “a Matthew 25 witness of love of neighbor.” “Love your neighbor” verbiage can be stretched to mean anything a person wants, so long as they get to define what is best for one’s neighbor. But the Bible doesn’t leave these definitions up to our discretion. In context, when Jesus used the phrase “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” it wasn’t a loose statement, open to personal definitions. Jesus used it as part of a two-fold summary of the Old Testament Law: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37–40) We will only know how to love our neighbors when we prioritize a love for God and His commands. It is the Word of God that teaches us what is best for our neighbors and how to best love them. In fact, it is profoundly unloving to take unbiblical positions on moral issues. It is unloving to encourage a woman to have an abortion. It not only takes the life of her child, but it deeply wounds her. It is unloving to stand with terrorists against Israel. It is unloving to tell children that they can change their gender rather than to help them accept the good and beautiful plan God has for their lives. It is unloving to create division between parents and their children and to propagate confusion on gender and sexuality. Historic “evangelicals” believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God. True evangelicals do not align with the NDC platform. Those who are aligning that way are moving further from Scripture. There is something about the evangelical support for Kamala Harris that, considering the disastrous results of her policies in previous and current roles, feels more like virtue signaling than a sincere vote of confidence. Ultimately, I would never encourage a Christian to go against their conscience—in a vote or any other matter. And if your conscience does not allow you to vote for Donald Trump, that is a matter of Christian liberty. (Personally, I don’t struggle with this decision because I believe a vote is a choice between two options and platforms—not a personal endorsement.) But in any case, I urge you, don’t vote for popularity or the veneer of “niceness.” Vote, as closely as possible, on the explicitly stated moral issues of God’s Word. [1] “Evangelicals for Harris Call,” Evangelicals for Harris, accessed August 2024, https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/evangelicals-for-harris-call/. [2] Alexandra DeSanctis, “The DNC’s Callous Abortion Van,” National Review, August 2024, https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-dncs-callous-abortion-van/. [3] “Minnesota Legislature Repeals Protection for Born-Alive Infants, Support for Pregnant Women,” Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, August 2024, https://www.mccl.org/post/minnesota-legislature-repeals-protection-for-born-alive-infants-support-for-pregnant-women. [4] Samuel Chamberlain, “Planned Parenthood Offers Free Vasectomies, Abortions in Truck Outside DNC,” New York Post, August 19, 2024, https://nypost.com/2024/08/19/us-news/planned-parenthood-offers-free-vasectomies-abortions-in-truck-outside-dnc/. [5] Barbara Rodriguez, “Kamala Harris’ Views on Abortion, Economy, Education, and Criminal Justice,” The 19th, August 2024, https://19thnews.org/2024/08/kamala-harris-views-abortion-economy-education-criminal-justice/. [6] Madeleine Carlisle, “Kamala Harris’ Views on Abortion, Economy, Immigration, and Israel-Gaza,” Time, August 2024, https://time.com/7001208/kamala-harris-views-abortion-economy-immigration-israel-gaza/. [7] David Siders, “Anti-Abortion Groups Demand Kamala Harris Resign Over David Daleiden Investigation,” Politico, April 2016, https://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/anti-abortion-groups-kamala-harris-resign-david-daleiden-221681. [8] Madeleine Carlisle, “Kamala Harris’ Views on Abortion, Economy, Immigration, and Israel-Gaza,” Time, August 2024, https://time.com/7001208/kamala-harris-views-abortion-economy-immigration-israel-gaza/. [9] Orion Rummler, “Kamala Harris’ Complicated History with LGBTQ+ Issues,” The 19th, August 2020, https://19thnews.org/2020/08/kamala-harris-complicated-lgbtq-choice/. [10] Sam Levin, “Biden Administration Supports Transgender Surgeries for Minors,” The Guardian, July 17, 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/17/biden-administration-transgender-surgeries-minors. [11] “Cardona v. State of Tennessee,” Alliance Defending Freedom, August 2024, https://adfmedia.org/case/cardona-v-state-tennessee. View the full article

Over the past several days, I’ve been seeing in my social media streams the promotion of a group, “Evangelicals for Harris.” The group proposes that people should vote for the Harris-Walz presidential ticket in order to be “a Matthew 25 witness of love of neighbor.” I understand Christians having concerns over Donald Trump and the moral weakening of the RNC. I understand them wishing we had a candidate who led with humility and a political party that stood for truth rather than attempting to gain support by weakening its positions. I understand Christians believing they should take into account how political policies affect those in poverty or who are otherwise marginalized. But I wonder why those who call themselves born-again Christians would actively support a presidential candidate who stands absolutely opposed to the biblical position on clearly-significant moral issues. The Key Moral Issues For my entire adult life I have voted along the lines of which candidate holds the closest position to a biblical one on three major issues: life, Israel, and the biblical family. 1. Life: Every unborn child is a person created by God who deserves the opportunity to live out his God-given purpose. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” 2. Israel: In the early pages of Scripture, God promised a special blessing to nations who support Israel and a definite curse to those who harm her. Genesis 12:3 says, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” 3. The Family: From creation, God built the home as the foundation of society (Genesis 1:27, 2:24; Ephesians 5:22–25, 6:1). Any politician who attempts to redefine the biblical foundation of a home and marriage is, in fact, chipping away at the bedrock of society. In recent months, I have been disappointed to see the RNC weakening on some of these issues—particularly the sanctity of life and the traditional family. I’m under no illusion that the RNC is a “righteous” political party. But in spite of those disappointments, of the two available candidates and party platforms, I think it’s clear which one is most likely to form legislation, support policies, and select Supreme Court justices that at least uphold these three issues versus the one that that stands in opposition to these biblical positions. Consider where Harris, in particular, stands on each: 1. Life: At the DNC national convention Chicago this past week, there was not just support for abortion, but there were on-demand abortions being provided and celebrated. They literally invited Planned Parenthood to come and perform free vasectomies and medical abortions in a van on the parking lot.[1] Kamala stands opposed to any restrictions on abortion and has made “reproductive rights—and abortion specifically—a focus of her campaign.”[2] According to Time, “As a Senator, she co-sponsored legislation that would ban states from imposing restrictions on abortion rights, and voted against a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.”[3] Additionally, Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, supported a bill in Minnesota that legalizes life-saving medical care to infants born alive after botched abortions.[4] Harris has also aggressively tried to silence those who oppose abortion. As the Attorney General of California, when an independent journalist documented Planned Parenthood selling organs and body parts of aborted babies, rather than opening an investigation into Planned Parenthood, Kamala went after the journalist—sending agents to raid his home.[5]There are clearly concerns here for the future of religious liberty. 2. Israel: And what of Harris’ position on Israel? The Time article quoted above explains: “Harris appears more willing to criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the high death toll in Gaza.…Around 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, while at least 38,000 Palestinians have been killed since then…Aaron David Miller, an expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told NBC News…‘When it comes to Israel, she has very moderate views…To the left of what Biden is prepared to do….’”[6] I don’t think we really want a president who determines which side the US will support based on the death toll rather than the moral merits of terrorism versus defense. And, in light of Genesis 12:3, we don’t want a president who is going to side against Israel. 3. The Family: In years past, I thought of family issues in relation to the biblical definition of marriage (one man, one woman, committing to one another for life). And on this point, Harris definitely has a differing agenda. For example, as the district attorney of San Francisco, she spent Valentine’s Day of 2004 officiating same-sex marriages.[7] But the attack on the home is larger now than just marriage. It is also specifically aimed at gender distinctions and at parents’ rights and responsibilities to help their children. Here, the LGBTQ activists work both ends. First, they confuse vulnerable children through indoctrination in school, entertainment, online recruitment, etc. Then, they hide the children’s confusion from the people best-suited to help them—their parents. If that doesn’t work, the activists insist that if parents don’t support their child in chemical castration or surgery to “change” their gender, the parents are unfit. Harris supports the agenda just described. Just last month, speaking to the issue of performing gender-mutilating surgeries on minors, the Biden-Harris administration stated, “we oppose attempts to limit healthcare for transgender individuals in the courts or through legislation.”[8] Harris also supports changing Title IX to a new rule that would change the meaning of “sex” to include “gender identity.” This would effectively end any school’s ability to differentiate on gender in any meaningful way—including in sports. Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer Jonathan Scruggs explained the seriousness of this: “The Biden-Harris administration’s radical redefinition of sex turns back the clock on equal opportunity for women, undermines fairness, and threatens student safety and privacy.”[9] No wonder that LGBTQ groups were nearly immediate in their endorsement of Harris after her candidacy was announced. Why Love for God Must Inform Our Love of Neighbor The “Evangelicals for Harris” website suggests that people should vote for Harris to be “a Matthew 25 witness of love of neighbor.”[10] “Love your neighbor” verbiage can be stretched to mean anything a person wants, so long as they get to define what is best for one’s neighbor. But the Bible doesn’t leave these definitions up to our discretion. In context, when Jesus used the phrase “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” it wasn’t a loose statement, open to personal definitions on the best way to love one’s neighbor. Jesus used it as part of a two-fold statement that summarized the Old Testament Law: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37–40) We will only know how to love our neighbors when we prioritize a love for God and His commands. It is the Word of God that teaches us what is best for our neighbors and how to best love them. In fact, it is profoundly unloving to take unbiblical positions on moral issues. It is unloving to encourage a woman to have an abortion. It not only takes the life of her child, but it deeply wounds her. It is unloving to stand with terrorists against Israel. It is unloving to tell children that they can change their gender rather than to help them accept the good and beautiful plan God has for their lives. It is unloving to create division between parents and their children and to propagate confusion on gender and sexuality. There is something about the evangelical support for Kamala Harris that, considering the disastrous results of her policies and lack of political success, feels more like virtue signaling than a sincere vote of confidence. But a vote is not a good way to virtue signal. The reality is that the candidate we vote for may be the one who gets elected. What if professing evangelical Christians, under the banner of loving their neighbors, actually vote in a candidate who further pushes the barbarism of abortion, takes children from the homes of godly and loving parents, represses religious liberty, and opens the floodgates to those who would “call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20)? Ultimately, I would never encourage a Christian to go against their conscience—in a vote or any other matter. And if your conscience does not allow you to vote for Donald Trump, that is a matter of Christian liberty. (Personally, I don’t struggle with this decision because I believe a vote is a choice between two options and platforms—not a personal endorsement.) Yes, sometimes we vote for the lesser of two evils. But voting for a political office is certainly not the same as voting for a pastor at a church. In any case, I urge you, don’t vote for popularity or the veneer of “niceness.” Vote based on the explicitly-stated moral issues of God’s Word. [1] Jesse O’Neill, “Planned Parenthood Offers Free Vasectomies, Abortions in Truck Outside DNC,” New York Post, August 19, 2024, https://nypost.com/2024/08/19/us-news/planned-parenthood-offers-free-vasectomies-abortions-in-truck-outside-dnc/. [2] “Kamala Harris’ Views on Abortion, Economy, Education, and Criminal Justice,” The 19th, August 2024, https://19thnews.org/2024/08/kamala-harris-views-abortion-economy-education-criminal-justice/. [3] Nik Popli, “Kamala Harris’ Views on Abortion, Economy, Immigration, and Israel-Gaza,” Time, August 2024, https://time.com/7001208/kamala-harris-views-abortion-economy-immigration-israel-gaza/. [4] “Minnesota Legislature Repeals Protection for Born-Alive Infants; Support for Pregnant Women,” Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), August 2024, https://www.mccl.org/post/minnesota-legislature-repeals-protection-for-born-alive-infants-support-for-pregnant-women/. [5] David Siders, “Anti-Abortion Groups Call for Kamala Harris’ Resignation Over David Daleiden Case,” Politico, April 2016, https://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/anti-abortion-groups-kamala-harris-resign-david-daleiden-221681/. [6] Nik Popli, “Kamala Harris’ Views on Abortion, Economy, Immigration, and Israel-Gaza,” Time, August 2024, https://time.com/7001208/kamala-harris-views-abortion-economy-immigration-israel-gaza/. [7] Kate Sosin, “Kamala Harris’ Complicated Relationship with LGBTQ+ Community,” The 19th, August 2020, https://19thnews.org/2020/08/kamala-harris-complicated-lgbtq-choice/. [8] Adam Gabbatt, “Biden Administration and Transgender Surgeries for Minors: The Policy Battle,” The Guardian, July 17, 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/17/biden-administration-transgender-surgeries-minors/. [9] “Cardona v. State of Tennessee,” Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), accessed August 2024, https://adfmedia.org/case/cardona-v-state-tennessee/. [10] “Evangelicals for Harris Call,” Evangelicals for Harris, accessed August 2024, https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/evangelicals-for-harris-call/. View the full article

As I was recently browsing old photos, I was blessed to realize that God has allowed me to know some truly great men. Over the past few months, I’ve been sharing some of these pictures and memories to introduce readers of this blog to some of these men. Bobby Roberson Unique Trait: Loyalty Bobby Roberson was a giant amongst men. He was a man of great faith who encouraged me in ways I’ll never forget. I first really got to know Dr. Bobby through Bible conferences I would attend. When I preached for the first time at a Sword of the Lord meeting, he befriended me. I remember how he walked me around the church, introduced me to the tomato sandwich, and simply determined to be my friend. He also invited me to preach at his church. Dr. Bobby preached for us many times at Lancaster Baptist Church, West Coast Baptist College, and Spiritual Leadership Conference. He often reminded me through the years concerning building programs, “If God is in it, God will develop it.” That was good advice, and it’s proven true again and again. God used Dr. Bobby to build a great work at the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown, North Carolina. In 1956, at the age of twenty-four, Dr. Bobby became the pastor of that church. Five years later, at the age of twenty-nine, he suffered a heart attack. I’ve heard him tell how in the twenty-one days he spent in the hospital, he went from over 200 pounds to 145. Besides the burden of his physical health, there was trouble in the church, and he didn’t think he could go on. He lost his appetite, dreaded preaching, and told his friend and mentor, Dr. Harold Sightler, “I feel like I’m about to die if I stay there.” But he did stay there. He stayed for sixty-two years. And God used his faithfulness to not only build a church, but also to challenge and encourage hundreds of preachers to be faithful through the times of testing. Every time I was with Dr. Bobby, I was challenged by his compassion for the lost or the hurting. I remember one time in particular when I was preaching at his church. As we walked across the parking lot, he saw a man he didn’t know. He stopped to meet him, asked him if he knew the Lord, and led him to Christ right there in the parking lot. He was never too busy or preoccupied to care about a lost person and take time to share the gospel with them. One of the most humbling moments of my life occurred on a July Wednesday night. I was in the middle of teaching our Wednesday night Bible study when I saw Dr. Bobby and his daughter, Molly, walk into the back of our auditorium. He had preached the previous evening in Los Angeles and drove up to Lancaster that day to hear me preach. I asked him in my office after the service why he had come all the way up to see me. He said that he had heard some criticism of me and of our ministry from certain men back East. But he wanted to look me in the eye and tell me that he loved me and believed wholeheartedly in me and our ministry. And, even though some who had criticized had preached for him or at conferences he hosted, he wanted me to know that he didn’t listen to the criticism. His making that trip was totally unnecessary, but it was incredibly encouraging. Dr. Bobby was a true, burden-bearing friend to me over the years. I know the Lord used the heart attack and breakdown he suffered in his twenties to give him a level of compassion and a depth of perception for the needs of other preachers that is rare. I was never with him—in person or on the phone—but that he encouraged me in the Lord. I’m thankful for his loyal friendship and the tremendous influence he had on my life. Previous posts in this series: Dave McCoy Lee Roberson Shane Lewis Tom Malone Curtis Hutson View the full article

As I was recently browsing old photos, I was blessed to realize that God has allowed me to know some truly great men. Throughout this summer, I’m sharing some of these pictures and memories to introduce readers of this blog to some of these men. Curtis Hutson Unique Trait: Soulwinning There is so much I could say about Dr. Curtis Hutson. He had a profound impact on my life and was a true statesman of the faith. He caught fire for soulwinning through a Sword of the Lord Conference in the 1960s, and it changed his life. For the next thirty-five years, until the Lord called him Home, he was a fervent soul winner and led many people to Christ. I first met Dr. Hutson when I was in my twenties. I had the opportunity to golf with him and other preachers. I was a terrible golfer, but I remember his patience as he taught me how to pitch. We were partners in a tournament, and he was determined that we would win. We did win, no thanks to my golf skills. When he came to Lancaster Baptist to preach, he would write me two pages of instructions on how to prepare. One of the greatest meetings we ever had was when he preached and seventy-four adults were saved. Dr. Hutson was an innovator. He encouraged me to establish two morning services, institute classes for single ladies and single men, and use a variety of soulwinning methods. When he walked through our partially-built North Auditorium, he told me it would be way too small for what God had in store, and he was right. (Shortly after our opening service, we had to begin building again.) He wrote many letters to me from his death bed, which I’ve kept in a binder in my office. Among other admonitions, he challenged me to maintain strong discipline and biblical separation in my life. To my knowledge, West Coast Baptist College was the only college for which he wrote an endorsement letter. In the 1950s, Dr. Hutson was a mail carrier in Atlanta, Georgia, who preached revival services around the area. After preaching in a revival meeting at Forrest Hills Baptist Church, the church called him to be their pastor. He served as a bi-vocational pastor for several years. But after learning personal soulwinning at the Sword of the Lord Conference mentioned above, Dr. Hutson began sharing the gospel faithfully and teaching his church family to do the same. In 1967, he quit his job at the post office to become a full-time pastor. Under his leadership, the church grew to 7,900 members, becoming the largest church in Georgia. Dr. Hutson entered full-time evangelism in the late ’70s. 1978, John R. Rice invited him to become the associate editor of The Sword of the Lord. Two years later, Dr. Hutson became the editor, a position he served in until his death in 1995. I was privileged to be a pallbearer at Dr. Hutson’s funeral and to preach for the Sword of the Lord Conference for nearly twenty-five years. He was already in Heaven the last several years, but I continued to attend and preach at the conference out of love for him. His legacy in soulwinning fervor continues to challenge me. I’m thankful for his influence in my life. Previous posts in this series: Dave McCoy Lee Roberson Shane Lewis Tom Malone View the full article

As I was recently browsing old photos, I was blessed to realize that God has allowed me to know some truly great men. Throughout this summer, I’m sharing some of these pictures and memories to introduce readers of this blog to some of these men. Tom Malone Unique Trait: Innovation Tom Malone may have been my favorite preacher to listen to. Dr. John R. Rice called him “the greatest pulpiteer of his generation.” He was one of the most educated men in the independent Baptist movement (with an earned PhD from Wayne State University of Detroit), and his messages were filled with biblical content. He challenged me to read and to thoroughly study the Word of God. Dr. Malone founded the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, which grew to be one of the largest churches in the nation. He pastored that church for fifty years. He exemplified what it meant to be a strong leader and a fighter for truth, while simultaneously being compassionate toward lost and needy souls. He maintained a fervency for the Lord, God’s Word, and lost souls throughout his life. He was also a godly man who loved and faithfully led his wife and children. He and Joyce were married for sixty-seven years until his Homegoing. One of the fun memories I have of Dr. Malone was of one of the Sundays that he came out to preach at Lancaster Baptist Church. That Sunday afternoon he expressed to me that he really wanted to get home to Joyce by Monday morning. Our church is about an hour and a half from the LAX airport, so to get him on a flight that night, we would have to leave immediately after the evening service. Before Dr. Malone preached that evening, I told our church family that if they would like to ask him to sign their Bibles, to place them in a bin and let us bring them to the air port, and then I would bring them back to Lancaster. After church, I drove him to LAX in record time, and he sat in the back seat signing Bibles the entire way. When we started West Coast Baptist College in the fall of 1995, Dr. Malone was among the pastors from whom I sought counsel. He was a great encouragement to me in starting the college, and one of our early dormitories was named in his honor. Dr. Malone was also an innovator. With a rock-solid commitment to Bible truth, he kept an eager eye for innovative ways to share it. When we were considering placing screens in our new large auditorium, I sought his advice. He responded with a lengthy letter, encouraging me to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading for our church. He thought the screens were a great idea and supported our decision wholeheartedly. Dr. Malone’s influence on me was profound. He was a great exhorter of young preachers and a great encourager to me. He made me grateful for my heritage within the independent Baptist movement. I thank God for the privilege of his mentoring friendship and the lasting impact he has had on my life and on our church family. Previous posts in this series: Dave McCoy Lee Roberson Shane Lewis View the full article

As I was recently browsing old photos, I was blessed to realize that God has allowed me to know some truly great men. Throughout this summer, I’m sharing some of these pictures and memories to introduce readers of this blog to some of these men. Shane Lewis Unique Trait: Wisdom Pastor Shane Lewis was a man of principle, character, and integrity. The Lord called him to Heaven four years ago this month (June 21, 2020) after a hard-fought battle with leukemia. I loved Pastor Lewis’ commitment to Scripture and the fact that his friendships were based on others’ commitments to the Word of God as well. He was not as loyal to institutions as he was to biblical principle. Shane pastored the Sommerville Baptist Church in Sommerville, Alabama, for nearly sixteen years. The first time I preached on the same platform with my son, Larry, was at the Southwide Baptist Fellowship hosted by Pastor Lewis and Sommerville Baptist. I remember him being a great friend to us both and his kindness to Larry at that meeting. Pastor Lewis and his wife, Joy, served the Lord together with such love for people and a heart for souls. It was a blessing to see them raise their five children to love the Lord and serve people. I remember sharing a few rounds of golf with Shane in the Palm Springs area (see picture above). He enjoyed being outdoors and loved God’s creation. While Pastor Lewis had concerns regarding various institutions and movements within independent Baptist circles, he was never quick to act on emotion. Rather, he was patient to search out matters diligently and separate only based on verified concerns over biblical truth. When I think of Pastor Lewis, I’m reminded of James 3:16, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” I will always be thankful for the gift of Shane Lewis’ friendship. Previous posts in this series: Dave McCoy Lee Roberson View the full article

As I was recently browsing old photos, I was blessed to realize that God has allowed me to know some truly great men who are now with the Lord. Throughout this summer, I’m sharing pictures and memories to introduce readers of this blog to some of these men. Lee Roberson Unique Trait: Vision Framed in the hallway outside my office are several handwritten pages from Dr. Lee Roberson with advice for building a Sunday school. Not only do these six pieces of paper have great advice. (On his list with “Essentials for a Growing Sunday School,” his first two points were 1. Faith in the Word of God and 2. A Burden for Souls.) But they remind me of a man whose influence I treasure. I had the privilege of first getting to know Dr. Roberson at a tent revival in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1980s. Each night I would sit in the car on the way to church from his hotel with a yellow pad and ask him questions. Often his answers were short. His replies to what I thought were complex questions would be advice such as, “Have faith in God” or “Die to self” or “Be filled with the Spirit.” It seems those short pieces of counsel have stuck with me through the decades. Dr. Roberson was the first fundamentalist to encourage me to write. He saw my first book on engaging a church in outreach. (It was titled TEAM Soulwinning, with TEAM standing for Train Every Available Member.) He told me it was wonderful and encouraged me to continue developing this gift. Since that time, I’ve written over thirty-five books which have sold over one million copies. I’m thankful for his encouragement to a young pastor at a time when many would have said I was too young to write—or even to have opinions. Dr. Roberson and his wife Caroline came to Lancaster on several occasions. I can can recall sitting with them at the coffee shop in the Antelope Valley Inn discussing Scripture, doctrine, and ministry…and even his opinion on why a choir should wear robes! I can honestly say I took his counsel on dozens of issues, including naming our adult Sunday school classes and honoring elected officials, but I never felt right to have our choir wear robes. The great characteristic I remember about Dr. Roberson was his vision. God used him in a tremendous way as the pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga—a church that baptized forty thousand people during Dr. Roberson’s forty years as the pastor there. Four years after assuming that pastorate, Dr. Roberson also started Tennessee Temple University, which trained thousands of godly servants for Christian ministry. But Dr. Roberson’s vision was not something just for his ministry. He helped my vision for the impact our church could make in our community. He told me to “Pastor your whole city” and encouraged me in our building programs. He provided invaluable counsel and encouragement as we started West Coast Baptist College. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to have known and received the mentoring of Dr. Lee Roberson. And I thank the Lord for the ways in which his faith and vision inspired me to also develop a biblical vision of faith. His earliest advice to me was consistent through his entire life: “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). His example encourages me to similarly encourage the faith-filled vision of young pastors. Previous posts in this series: Dave McCoy View the full article

As I was recently browsing old photos, I was blessed to realize that God has allowed me to know some truly great men. Men like Lee Roberson, Tom Malone, Shane Lewis, Ron Hamilton, and others who are now in Heaven have left an indelible mark on my life. In reflecting on these godly men, I decided that I wanted to introduce the readers of this blog to them. Throughout this summer, I plan to share pictures and memories over the course of several blog posts. Each post will highlight a particular preacher and a trait that stands out about that man. Our first (and these are shared in no particular order) is Pastor Dave McCoy. Dave McCoy Unique Trait: Joy Pastor Dave McCoy was a remarkable man who had a unique combination of infectious joy and a strong commitment to doctrinal integrity. I first met Pastor McCoy in 1993 when was an associate pastor at People’s Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia. I remember appreciating his love and respect for his pastor and the people of the church. Shortly after that time, the church called him as the senior pastor. When the Lord called him home in 2021, he had just celebrated forty years in ministry. There is much I could say about Pastor McCoy. But one of the things that so blessed me from the first time I met him was the fun he shared with his wife, Trish, and their daughters, Meredith and Monica (and eventually their son-in-law, Seth, and grandchildren Aven, Juliet, and Cade). Among other things, he enjoyed playing the guitar in his home with friends after a church service. Terrie and I enjoyed traveling with Dave and Trish. I remember a trip we took together to visit a family friend in Colorado as well as a missions trip we shared to Costa Rico. Several years ago, he was one of the preachers for an Alaska cruise West Coast Baptist College hosted. All of these times were filled with fun and laughter. Pastor McCoy valued the principle of ecclesiastical separation and was careful to not share platforms with people he was concerned were in doctrinal drift. Considering the heart he had for doctrinal purity, the heart he had for fun was always refreshing. As greatly as he enjoyed laughing with God’s people, he greatly respected God’s Word and the privilege of preaching Scripture. He always had a Bible truth to present when he preached. Pastor McCoy’s ministry at People’s Baptist Church was marked by a deep love for God’s Word and God’s people. The church’s 80-acre campus became a place where countless lives were touched by the preaching of the Word of God. When I remember Pastor McCoy, I’m reminded of and encouraged by Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” View the full article

I hold Dr. Don Sisk in high regard for many reasons, including his many years of faithfulness to the Lord. It’s incredible to realize, but Dr. Sisk has been in ministry for seventy years. And he continues to serve the Lord with joy. It was a blessing to me to sit down with him for the latest episode of the Spiritual Leadership Podcast and discuss what it takes to stay in the ministry for a lifetime. (If you cannot view this video in your email or RSS reader, click here.) In our discussion, we focused on three areas: maintaining passion, balancing priorities, and holding a biblical ministry position. Here are a few timestamps with highlights from this episode: 4:17 – How do you maintain the joy of the Lord and passion for ministry in the midst of trials? 8:48 – What are the priorities of life, and how do you keep them balanced? 18:30 – What convictions have help you hold a biblical position? 26:49 – How would you challenge any Christian when they hit a hard spot to keep going? Resources mentioned in this episode: Ten Principles for Biblical Living The Christian Counselor’s Guidebook Spiritual Leadership Conference, September 22–25, 2024 If this episode of the Spiritual Leadership Podcast was a blessing to you, please share it with a friend and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. You can subscribe to future episodes via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or YouTube. View the full article

The New Testament places significant emphasis on music as part of the “one another” aspects of the Christian life. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16) One of the most regular times that Christians use music to teach and admonish one another is in the corporate worship services of the local church. And the musicians—vocal and instrumental—who serve in this ministry can greatly enhance this part of a service. In a recent meeting with some of the special music groups at Lancaster Baptist Church, I shared a devotional with three truths from James 4 on how musicians can positively impact a church service. Be Humble But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. … Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:6, 10) Musical skill and technique is important, and ideally church musicians are constantly growing in these areas. But having a humble spirit in our worship and in how we approach the music ministry is far more important. All of us battle pride. But, perhaps because of the acquired skill and the more visible presentation of music ministry, musicians seem to especially need to guard against pride. Pride or humility in music ministry shows up in a variety of ways: how we interact with one another, how we respond when we aren’t asked to sing (or to sing a particular part), how we respond when we’ve practiced and a song gets cut, and, of course, who we are looking to exalt as we wing. The key to being humble while serving in music ministry is to sing or play for the audience of One—Jesus. The key to being humble while serving in music ministry is to sing or play for the audience of One—Jesus. Click To Tweet Be Holy Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7–8) Music in a church service is part of our worship, and worship should be holy. Music in a church service is part of our worship, and worship should be holy. Click To Tweet We get a glimpse into the worship going on around the throne of God in Heaven in Isaiah 6: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:1–3) Without a fresh glimpse of the holiness of God, we enter worship with a sense of self-satisfaction. But when we see the Lord “high and lifted up,” we respond, as Isaiah did, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). As we see in Psalms, this doesn’t mean that worship should be all somber. Actually, corporate worship should be a celebration of God’s holiness and faithfulness. But it should be led by people who are walking in holiness. I have never considered the use of a publisher or artist’s single song an endorsement of all their music or doctrine. (See more on that in this three-part post: Biblical Principles for Music and Worship.) However, when church publishers or artists become known for errant doctrine or immoral practices, I believe that’s reason to eliminate their music from the repertoire of a Bible-believing Baptist church. (For that reason, Lancaster Baptist no longer uses music from Bethel, Hillsong, and others in our services.) Church music is not entertainment. It is to lift all of our hearts in worship to our holy God. So those who help lead in this worship should do so with “holy hands” (1 Timothy 2:8) and no known sin between themselves and the Lord. Be Helpful Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10) One of the gauges of humility in ministry is our spirit to help. A proud Christian sees his contribution to ministry through the lens of his preferences and ideas. A humble Christian brings a servant’s heart that recognizes there is a larger picture and simply wants to have a part in lifting up the Lord. Like humility, helpfulness in music ministry takes on dozens of forms. It includes being on time for practices and learning the mechanical preferences of the pastor or music director (when to come onto the platform or where to stand). It includes smiling while you sing and kindness in how you interact with those serving alongside you. A Harmonious Team There is a beauty—a richness—in music that includes harmony. And there is a similar beauty that honors the Lord when there is a team of musicians who are humble, holy, and helpful as they lead a congregation in worship. View the full article

Woke is an odd word—and not just because it is a past tense verb that is now commonly used as an adjective. It’s odd because it has vague connotations without clear definitions. This ambiguity allows those who appreciate the word’s implications to write off those who criticize its implications as “just not understanding its meaning.” In conversations like this, clarity is always our friend. That’s why I was thankful when someone from our Sheriff’s Department recently asked me what I meant in using the word woke. This individual is not a believer, and I was happy to answer his question from a Christian perspective. Below is a lightly-edited copy of the letter that I wrote him. I thought it may be helpful to readers of this blog who have similar conversations with law enforcement or others who are seeking clarity on our concerns over the radical changes in our society that are being furthered under the banner of wokism. Thanks for asking about the definition of “woke.” I wasn’t sure if the question was asked personally or on behalf of the Sheriff, but I am happy to share a few thoughts. Many of us had never heard the term woke until a few years ago. Prior to that time, it was used simply to describe people who felt awakened to the injustices of racism. In recent years, however, it seems the word has been highjacked by political activists who are often far-left or socialistic in their views and have a larger agenda in mind than standing against racism. Although I cannot in this short space define the whole woke philosophy as is commonly applied today, I can point out a few frequently used terms and highlight some of their implications. Social Justice: This is a broad term that often defeats the principles of “equal justice under the law.” Social justice focuses on enforcing equal outcomes for everyone. In this way, it leans into socialism. And amazingly, “social justice” doesn’t bring justice to the average citizen, as it focuses on groups rather than on individuals’ misconduct or good accomplishments. The end result, as philosopher Friedrich Hayek observed, is that people must be treated unequally in order to create equal outcomes: “And that’s what social justice amounts to. It’s a demand that the state should treat people differently in order to place them in the same position. . . .To make people equal a goal of governmental policy would force government to treat people very unequally indeed.” Critical Race Theory (CRT): Under the guise of exposing racism, CRT actually suggests a reverse racism by insisting that the color of one’s skin determines whether or not he or she is racist. As one author explained, “Even if a white person has never had a genuinely racist thought…he is still a racist, white supremacist, because he is white and belongs to the majority” (Ronnie W. Rogers, “Understanding the Terms…” blog post). This kind of insistence on seeing everything through the lens of race brings division to communities. LGBTQ Promotion: For many years, the LGBTQ movement has sought to align with the woke activists to gain influence, and that strategy is working. Woke activists aggressively promote sexual behavior and lifestyles through celebrations and legislation with new laws and vocabulary introduced regularly (cisgender, transgender, cultural appropriation, intersectionality, conscious capitalism, etc.). They have enshrined these numerous terms which are now being forced upon the public. The woke agenda also belittles the nuclear, or biblical, family model. Yet strong families are a strength in any society. While claiming to be marginalized, the woke and LBGTQ lobbies in this state are well-represented in government positions and dominant in political circles. Most concerningly, they are now targeting children and prohibiting parents and teachers from speaking up. For instance, CA Bill AB 957 which was put before the California legislature and passed both houses before being vetoed by the governor, said a non-consenting parent of an under-aged child would lose custody if that parent refused a mastectomy or castration (sex re-assignment surgery) for his or her child. Only the “gender affirming” parent is deemed fit to parent a child who may actually be suffering from dysphoria. Additionally, teachers have been fired from their jobs for refusing to go along with these new ideals. (One local example is Jessica Tapias, a teacher in Riverside County, who was fired just this year for refusing to hide gender transitions from parents of young children.) Economic Equity: This aims to reduce the income gap between the poor and middle class—not by increasing economic opportunity for minority groups, but by taking from the middle class by way of taxes and/or not prosecuting theft. Wealth redistribution is a common theme in woke literature. Again, this is a very high-end summary, and more could be said. But the larger point is that, while every American should stand against racism, wokism actually focuses on emphasizing differences between race and seems to have an end agenda of the disruption of society. In particular, it leads to concerning philosophies as it relates to law enforcement. The interpretation of social justice by woke activists has led to practices such as zero-bail policies, refusing to prosecute crime, and large-scale defunding of and/or disrespect for law enforcement. These policies, which are supported by left-leaning financiers such as George Soros and others, have been adopted by the Los Angeles District Attorney. The training of these policies has been disseminated throughout Southern Californian governmental agencies. What has been the result? Increase in crime Igniting class and race warfare Discouragement and apathy among law enforcement, including many LA County deputies For instance, another bill recently passed the California legislature (AB 852) that requires judges to base their sentencing on race, rather than on crime. The essence of the bill is that someone who is a minority should not be prosecuted to the same extent as someone who is Caucasian because of past injustices. This is the actual opposite of Martin Luther King Jr.’s aspiration that people “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” The woke philosophy applied to law enforcement has essentially emboldened the criminal element of communities. No doubt, you have seen this with grab-and-go robberies of high-end stores and hit and run accidents. In places where the criminal element of a community is emboldened, the rank-and-file deputies as well as law enforcement in general have become discouraged. I know the citizens of the Antelope Valley as well as anyone, and I can tell you they are discouraged by the emboldened attitude of those who run red lights, commit robbery, and worse. As a pastor of thirty-seven years here in Los Angeles County, I care about the safety of our citizens and the wellbeing of our law enforcement community. I am concerned to see crime on the rise and criminals emboldened. I’m saddened, too, to see these issues tied to race. I’ve preached here in our community for nearly four decades against racism, and I know that all people are made in the image of God. Theologically and biblically, I believe that all humans fall short of God’s perfection (Romans 3:23). None of us are better than others. We have all broken God’s law, and we all need redemption through the finished work of Christ for us (Romans 6:23). Whoever calls to God, acknowledges his or her sin, and receives Christ as Savior may have forgiveness and peace with God. I realize this last point is another, although related, topic. But I am happy to discuss it with you at some point in time. I realize there is political pressure because many woke activists are political donors. Yet, I believe the Sheriff’s Department must not be guided by the woke agenda, but by the law. Without law and order, nothing else works in society. Certainly, our new Captain in Lancaster or anyone in the department should be advanced based on integrity, respect, leadership, and a history of good policing. They should not be affirmed because of adherence to a particular dogma such as “wokism.” Thank you for your service to our community. Please know that I am here to help you and our law enforcement community in any way that I can. Your Friend, Paul Chappell P. S. I’m happy to provide additional resources on wokism and woke interpretations of social justice if these would be a help to you. A few that may be a help are Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham Jr. and Woke, Inc. by Vivek Ramaswamy. I have written a minibook on this topic titled Which Justice? which I would be glad to send you. View the full article