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By: Stuart Kellogg

What would we do without all these political pundits? There are as many conclusions from November’s midterms as there are journalists, commentators and retired politicians. Here’s a question for the evangelical Christian community: If you’re looking for salvation of any kind from the political arena, are you Christ centered?

“The Savior doesn’t come in Air Force One”—-Chuck Colson

Chuck Colson was the presidential advisor known as the hatchet man for his bare knuckled approach to President Nixon’s enemies, real and perceived. Colson also illustrates the power of Christ to redeem all sinners. This highest of high achievers—-Ivy League education, U.S. Marine officer and right hand man of the most powerful person in the world—-faced a humiliating fall for his part in what is called “The Watergate Scandal”. His conversion to Christ shortly before prison, and his commitment to follow Him as Lord, led Colson’s heart to reform the prison system. Prison Fellowship was born shortly after his release and the saving grace of Christ brought behind bars around the world. The fruit continues to flourish through this ministry. Colson, once among the most feared and hated men in politics, was redeemed in the eyes of Christ and man.

I had the honor of studying under Chuck Colson at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He never advocated a retreat from the world, including politics. Far from it. BUT, he never allowed politics to take the place of Christ at the center of his life. Unfortunately, that’s now the reality for far too many Christians today in America.

Can anyone forget the 2012 Democratic convention scene as delegates booed God?
At that convention, Democrats purposely took out any reference to God in the party’s platform. When some folks objected, leadership rammed through the reinsertion of His name into the document, and the cacophony of boos from the floor provided an indelible touch point that illustrated the Democratic party’s quickening retreat from the religious mainstream.

Nor can anyone forget that serial adulterer and habitual liar who demeaned the least fortunate in the most un-Christlike way being embraced as a savior by evangelical Christian who cursed the godless Democrats. Oh, well, we were told, all those Christians backing Donald Trump would bring him to the faith. No, it was Trump who discipled far too many in the church.

Christ followers make a mistake when they retreat from the marketplace of ideas. We’re called to speak truth to power—the Truth that is the Gospel. I’ll never forget my first up-close look at the squishiness of one-way outrage in the political square. Evangelical Christians were understandably outspoken against President Clinton’s serial adultery and sexual liaison with a young intern in the White House. Yet, in the state where I lived at the time, those same upholders of the moral order were silent as their married senator with an ailing wife in a nursing home carried on an open affair with a long time “friend”. What made such a difference in how these well known politicians were treated by those conservative Christians? The senator had an R after his name.

When the desire for political power is paramount, then it’s easy to allow this secular worldview and allegiance to a man shape your world. We’ve seen the consequence of this action in the midterms. So many Republican primary voters followed the wishes of the former President in nominating men and women who could parrot the stolen election line, but had little expertise to offer the independent and Democrat voters looking for a change from an out of control progressive government. So, the Senate stayed with the President’s party.

The expected red wave in the US House was a muted trickle. Why? Well, there were some examples of the GOP losing seats because sitting Representatives who dared to take on Trump and were defeated in the primaries by candidates who couldn’t appeal to a broader base. What I see as a bigger issue, however, is abortion. This is a perfect example of an issue that was politically better for the pro-life side only when the politicians were protected by Roe. Once the issue was sent back to the states, pro-lifers had to stand on their beliefs in front of the majority of Americans who favor abortion. For far too many pro-lifers, talking about Roe was easier than explaining to the culture why life matters.

Politics is downstream from culture. And culture is downstream from religion. Yes, the political battles during the last 50 years were important because abortion was restricted in many states. Yet far too little of the hard work was done persuading those naturally inclined to allow a woman’s right to choose to trump all other matters. The result: A minority of Americans were in favor of abortion in 1969, when Roe became the law of the land. Now, almost two out of three are all for it.

Beyond the political fights, the biggest issue for the church is what the overly politicized environment has done to its mission. When an entire body of Believers is lumped into a political pile in the mind of half the country, what do you think that does to our call to make disciples? If the lost and hurting see Christians as first and foremost backers of a person or party, how hard will it be to share the Gospel? The biggest loss is not getting beaten at the polls or losing the levers of power in Washington. What’s lost is the the ability to witness for Christ. He weeps.

The midterms surprised many because historically a sitting president overseeing such an economic collapse faces a humiliating loss of Congressional support. That didn’t happen. Perhaps, while the party pros huddle to figure out what to change for 2024, the Christ followers can huddle up and commit to making their faith the guiding light of their lives. No matter what the world thinks or says.

Stuart Kellogg, author of The Post Covid Church: An Action Plan to Thrive Not Just Survive, can be reached at stuart@thepostcovidchurch.org.

https://www.thepostcovidchurch.com/

By: Fran Gardner Mora/Pearls & Presence

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

What an intense blessing it is to be overcomers in Christ while struggling in a world of distractions and disappointments.  To be locked in the loving embrace of Jesus and lifted high above all the obstacles, roadblocks, and detours that pull us off the path of sanctification and purpose.  We have every opportunity to turn away from our eternal perspective because opposition is persistent, and temptation is ever present.

But the faithful remain focused on the rich promises of God, and the reward is a calm and peaceful soul that seeks out the heart of the Father.  The result is confidence and sure footing in the storm and spiritual sight in the darkest night.  And even greater than that, we are able to navigate through an endless sea of questions and confusion because we know the ultimate answer to anything that can be asked is found in God’s Word.  The truest solution to any problem is Jesus.

Lately, I seem to be surrounded by fulfilled promises:  wombs opened after 20 years of barrenness; life rising from anguish and lies; powerful gifts of the Spirit bestowed upon the timid and unsure; and restoration and healing of broken hearts and dreams.  The common thread that seems to run through each story is a hunger to be obedient to God’s will while maintaining a firm grasp on hope.  Rejection of worldly explanations and limitations while staying focused on the unrestricted power and glory of the Lord.  It’s such a sweet reminder that our Father doesn’t want to extinguish our reasonable wants and desires or leave us in a state of despair – He is delighted when His children thrive.

We need only to keep our eyes fixed upon our magnificent Creator to remain in the place of miracles and provision and to have the supernatural ability to out-maneuver situations and challenges that threaten our heavenly line-of-sight.  We must always allow faith to become our holy blinders – keeping our eyes on the prize!

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By: Stuart Kellogg |

It’s not surprising if your church cheered after the Supreme Court overturned Roe, outlawing the

federal right to an abortion and returning to states the ability to outlaw it. And why not cheer?

More than 60 million innocent children have been killed in the womb since the 1973 Roe vs.

Wade decision that legalized abortion in all 50 states. What is troubling is that the vast majority

of Christians have only cheered.

While researching for The Post Covid Church book, I spoke with dozens of Christian leaders

about the urgency facing the church when the doors closed because of the pandemic shutdown.

The consensus: the need to get outside and re-engage the lost, hurting, and lonely community.

Too few churches leaned into the opportunity and aggressively expanded their outreach. Here is

a second chance now that the doors are all reopened. Overturning Roe is the perfect opportunity

for the church to make a difference in every community for Christ and show the world—-

especially the lost world—what the Christian faith inspires men and women to do for each other.

In states such as Alabama, frightened pregnant women no longer have that easy choice to simply

get rid of their “problem”. That means thousands of opportunities for Christians to step in and

help the moms and their babies. To help the organizations such as the Women’s Care Medical

Center in Baldwin County to gear up to serve many more in need. To get out and show what

pro-life really means. What better way for the church to shine?

The good news is that these Centers are getting more publicity and financial support. For

example, The Women’s Care Medical Center is opening a third location in the Bay Minette, the

Baldwin County seat. The need, however, is going to explode and too many Christians are

simply content to cheer.

The secular culture is more antagonistic to the Christians faith than ever, and now almost one out

of three Americans rejects any faith. The biggest challenge is that many of the lost see

Christianity has not just false, but evil! Overturning Roe simply ramped up the antipathy. This

is not just an opportunity to be the loving hands and feet of Christ to women and babies in need.

It’s also a chance for the lost to see that followers of Christ are much more than vocal

cheerleaders against a law. They can see followers of Christ coming together, as Christ did, to

help the most vulnerable. Christ today demands nothing less.

As a free service to churches, I teach a one-hour program called Life Matters: The Post-Roe

Mission. It helps Believers better prepare to defend the pro-life movement by learning more

about the Christian worldview and how to engage an increasingly hostile culture. If you’re interested, write me: stuart@thepostcovidchurch.org

By Dawn Hill – Lovesick Scribe

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-8 ESV

Over the past few years, I have had the privilege and opportunity to steward our oldest daughter’s education by homeschooling her. This was a decision my husband and I made years before we had children. We were both products of the public school system, and yet we both felt compelled to keep our children at home for instruction and education.

One of the things I enjoy about homeschooling is the freedom we have in studying various areas. We begin our day in school with a look at Scripture, and this may consist of her Sunday school lesson from church, a Biblical question about foundational beliefs, or reading a chapter in a particular book of the Bible and discussing it. We also spend time once a week being aware of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are globally being persecuted for their faith, praying for them and for those who persecute them.

Our faith in Jesus Christ is vital to our family, and school presents a wonderful opportunity with a captive audience. Our daughter gets to think and to ask questions. I use opportunities to teach her what Scripture has to say when discussing world history and practices that took place, including ancient cultures who were polytheistic. I use wisdom as to what to share with her while recognizing I cannot shield her from the things of this world. As her parent and her teacher, I become her first line of natural defense and understanding, teaching her the ways of the Lord and His instruction while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with her in daily life and the value of God’s holy Word.

As parents, we are to be proactive in teaching our children and in instructing them in God’s ways. I pray our children can say as the psalmist did in Psalm 71:17, “O God, you have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.” Even if you do not homeschool, invest in your children spiritually and Biblically.

https://lovesickscribe.com/

By Jeff Sutherland

Nicole Solas of Rhode Island filed suit against the National Education Association, the country’s largest teacher’s union, requesting 200 pieces of information be shared as to what they were teaching her child. The NEA immediately filed a restraining order to keep Solas and other parents from finding out what they were teaching, according to the New York Post article. Follow up articles from the Washington Examiner and others confirmed that Critical Race Theory and Gender issues indeed are being taught.

On the NEA website, NEA.org they state, “Despite a legislative push to ban critical race theory, educators are committed to helping students examine the systems in which we all work and live and help build a better future for everyone.”

The NEA sees parents trying to discover what is really being taught as an attack on them personally as professional educators. They also say loudly that if this truth is not allowed to be taught, we will continue to live and be controlled by white supremacists.

Herbert Marcuse, seen as of the founders of critical theory in his 1965 paper ‘Repressive Tolerance’ wrote, our founders were trying to suppress people through tolerance. Basically, people are too stupid to realize they are being oppressed. They can’t even see it, so it is up to educators to reveal real truth to them.

NEA trained educators, and those who have been indoctrinated by their teaching should by now simply accept what is being taught as truth and quit asking questions. We can thank John Dewey, considered the father of American Education, for seeding this thinking. Like Marx, Dewey believed America’s only hope was to get rid of Capitalism and create a classless society. The idea being that we must shed all vestiges of our founding, get rid of the constitution, the Declaration of Independence, our antiquated ideas of God and any idea of one person doing better than any other person.

We are all equal. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. That savior is not an education system trying to overthrow our Christian heritage. Back in the day, we had debate teams who would argue one side, take a few minutes break, and then argue the other side. Our educators used to believe it was their responsibility to teach children to think, to point them to the Truth of God’s Word.

It is critical that we expose this uncritical theory for what it is, a theory based on Marxist theology, an ideology based on selfish idolatry.

By Jeff Sutherland

Buying into current thinking pushes you to believe that to be happy you must be free from all restraints. Wasn’t that what they were celebrating July 4th, 1776? Our newly formed country no longer had to live under England’s rules. They could create a whole new way of living, and they did. Unique among every country that ever was, the newly formed United States created a government with checks and balances so that there would be no tyranny. Our constitution and bill of rights formed the basis for this new idea.

In the Declaration of Independence, it says “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” According to Wallbuilders.com at least 29 of the 56 signers of the Declaration were trained in ministry and at least 50 were believers in God (Deists). In 1782 Congress approved the Aiken Bible for use to teach students to read in schools, to allow Bibles to be available in all churches and be read during Congressional meetings. This Bible was printed from the Geneva Bible, believing that the King James version which was printed 32 years later in 1611 so that King James could reinterpret the Word.

While our new country was celebrating its independence, it was also celebrating its dependence on God. Our founders, mostly the puritans, believed that God’s laws were the correct basis for living a godly life.

There were two main areas of growth in our country separated by 16 months and 600 miles. Jamestown, VA (August 1619 and Plymouth, MA (December 1620). The contrast between the two colonies could not have been starker. If you buy the history posed by the 1619 project, our country was formed on slavery. Yet in Massachusetts, whites, Indians, and blacks joined together to give thanks to the Lord for all He had done. Our first thanksgiving came from there. Indians and Blacks were given work as teachers, lawyers even governors. When a slave ship came into the area, the captain was sent back out to sea and the blacks were accepted into the colony.

Our freedom was not free. In the Revolutionary War about 25,000 people died in the fight. But our real freedom, the one given us by our Creator, was paid by the death of God’s perfect Son Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection is what provides for us real freedom. Freedom in a new sense of the word. Not freedom to do what we want, live as we want, indulge in all our desires but real freedom, from sin.

His death and resurrection break our chains to sin but also reveals our dependence on Him. If we buy into what media, social media, government, and society is now claiming, freedom comes from doing whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want. We must buy into the lie that we are masters of our own fate, living independent of all restraints, especially from God.

That is NOT the independence our forefathers were celebrating July 4th, 1776. They wanted independence to worship God as they saw fit, by the reading and teaching of the Word. In writing the Declaration of Independence they were acknowledging their dependence on the God who created us all.