Pastors: Should You Promote a Political Opinion?

During the current political climate that has shockingly pitted Christian-against-Christian, at least in ideological beliefs, should pastors endorse candidates or express political opinions?Pastors should consider the spiritual ramifications of promoting a political candidate, “especially in this day and age,” said a pastor and church security expert recently from Orange County, California.Kevin Robertson, author of Church Security: Providing a Safe Worship Environment, made his Facebook post on election day last week and although the subject matter wasn’t about church security, it did address the divisive nature found within the country and churches today.“Here's a thought for my Pastor friends,” states Robertson, who conducts church security conferences throughout the United States. “As a nation as we go to the voting booths today (June 5, 2018), it's a right, a privilege and a responsibility for each citizen, for everyone of us. That being said, I don't [impose] my personal decisions on this onto other pastors. This is just something to think about, something to consider.“In 1 Corinthians 10:23, it says we are allowed to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. As a pastor, do I have the right to promote a political candidate? Sure. But I think about it this way — I have friends that are Conservative, Liberal, Republican, Democrat, Independent and one that says he's a Socialist. Many of these friends of mine are not Christians.”He coninued, “If as a pastor, if I were to openly promote a Democrat or a Republican, etc., candidate then I have just built a wall between myself and the person on the ‘other side.’ As a pastor, as Christians, our goal, our hope and efforts should be focused on The Great Commission, (Matthew 28:16-20), building a ‘bridge’ with someone so that Christ can ‘walk across.’“Do I have the right and the freedom to express my political beliefs, absolutely. However, I had to decide, for me personally, which is more important to me: my freedom to express my voting decision, or my desire to build a friendship, a relationship with any and everyone that doesn't have a personal relationship with Christ? Especially in this day and age, regardless of which side of the aisle one's on, politics can be an extremely divisive topic. Just something for my pastor friends to consider.”Editor’s Note: The above article is part of Together LA’s “How Would Jesus Vote?” series that was kicked off in May with the TLA exclusive: Do Religion and Politics Mix? Franklin Graham Answers On Decision America Tour

When Hollywood Christians Come Together

I attended seminary in the Bible Belt and know first-hand that seminarians love to debate theology. Sometimes these are important conversations we have to further deepen our understanding of our infinite God. Sometimes these conversations are rather tedious and get caught up more on semantics than intention.

BY SPENCER T FOLMAR

Even outside of seminary halls, it is easy to see how divided Christians can become. We need to look no further than our church history filled with denominations, splits, wars, and schisms.As a student of religion and matters of theology, I would certainly argue that a deep understanding of one’s faith and convictions matters, but after living outside the Bible Belt for sometime and growing up outside of the church, I see that our particular convictions should not be so supremely important to the point where the church can no longer work together.Historically, when Christians have a mission, they are typically less divisive and more on-mission together. For example, when the early church was first persecuted, there was not time for theological divisions, as Christians were daily being martyred for their faith and used as torches for royal parties. Christians organized and came together when the Reformation was spreading across Europe and whole countries were purifying the faith.Even in our backyard, after horrific events as recently as 9/11 we witnessed Christians rallying together against hatred and terrorism to unify and rush to churches and to service. These rare times, when Christians from different backgrounds, classes, and creeds unite, is when the body of Christ feels most visible.As a Christian living in Hollywood, unity amongst brothers and sisters is something I get to enjoy (if I choose to) on a daily basis. Overall, I feel that Christ followers living a missional lifestyle in the entertainment industry realize that bringing light to stories and cinemas is sometimes an uphill battle. There are many post-Christendom trends on the coasts of America, but California can sometimes embody most of the skepticism about these weird “Jesus Lovers.”It’s not that we haven’t earned time and time again the suspicion of non-believers with our obsession of trivialities and being known more often for what we hate than what we love, but regardless, there is a lot a lot of work to be done and we know it.Christians I know in Hollywood are on a unified mission. There is much work to be done, and there are few laborers. I was struck by this singular mindset and mission when I attended my first Hollywood Prayer Network event for the Oscars Prayer Walk. I had visited Los Angeles a few times before actually moving here nearly three years ago, and I was familiar with this and other ministries, but finally this past winter I actually attended one of the events. I had no idea what to expect, but love the Academy Awards, love Jesus, and am slowly learning to love others better, so I attended the event.Like most events (especially Christian), there is a lot of awkwardness in meeting new people - especially a mob of Jesus people. I’ve never done a prayer walk before. I had corresponded with the leader, Karen Covell, and I was so relieved to meet her and her husband Jim early on. I made small talk and recognized a few faces in the crowd, but then the time arrived to break up in groups and walk and pray or something like that. I walked around with Jim Covell and Shun Lee (Green House) and these two wise men just started us off. The night was amazing, I made great new friends I see regularly, and I have since become more and more active with this incredible ministry.After reflecting on my first prayer walk in Hollywood with a group of mostly new friends, I came to realize that unlike my days in seminary, the churches I have been members of, or ministry jobs I have applied for, there was no prior discussion of theological convictions before praying with these new brothers. I didn’t know if they agreed or disagreed with me on baptism or spiritual gifts, if they were Predestinarian or Arminian, or really anything else besides simply we were all there for a greater purpose than ourselves in the name of Jesus. That’s really beautiful to me and was such a gift.Honestly, I don’t consider that night to be exceptional, but it made me realize that many on-mission Christians in Hollywood don’t get caught up in the trivialities. In fact, sometimes I know that the person I am working or praying alongside has almost nothing in common with my belief besides repenting and believing in Jesus, but that’s really okay.There is much work to do not only here in Hollywood but worldwide, as God’s creation waits in eager anticipation for Jesus’ return. Until that day, let’s pray together?Director Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar’s films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today’s multifaceted culture and audience.Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization led by entertainment industry Christians, seeking to impact our culture for Christ through prayer. We are committed to asking Christians everywhere to pray for the artists and professionals, projects and productions, and global impact of Hollywood: the world’s most influential mission field. With an attitude of love, it is our passion to mobilize people around the world to engage in culture, pray for the media, and help transform the spiritual climate of Hollywood. Whether you’re an industry professional who wants prayer and support or a Christian with a heart for prayer, we want to build the bridges, light the way, and bring hope and healing to an industry that dramatically shapes our world.

The Bubble That Bursts; Thoughts on Recent Suicides

The Bubble That Bursts

Thoughts on the tragic death of fashion icon Kate Spade

BY GREG LAURIE

A wave of sorrow swept the world last Tuesday, as our news outlets and social media timelines were filled with one gut-punching headline: Kate Spade, beloved fashion designer known for her bright and whimsical designs, committed suicide by hanging on Tuesday morning in her Manhattan home. Like everyone else, I found myself in complete shock.Amidst all of the positive slogans and bright colors her work displayed, Kate apparently found herself despondent, hopeless and ultimately, willing to take her own life—the life that so many others around the globe envied. Kate was only 55 years old, and she leaves behind a 13-year-old daughter, Francis Beatrix Spade, and her husband, Andrew. One fashion reporter, who knew Kate personally, said this: “I will never know the source of her sorrow. But how heartbreaking and unfortunate that the joy, pride, and delight this insightful designer brought millions of women wasn’t enough to invoke a smile that went deeper than brilliant branding strategy.” *Kate’s death follows other well-known designers who have tragically taken their own lives in the same way. L’Wren Scott in March 2014, and British designer Alexander McQueen four years earlier. In just the last year, musician Chester Bennington from Linkin Park, and Soundgarden’s lead singer also committed suicide by hanging. Comedian Robin Williams did the same. It’s all so devastatingly sad.Fashion is all about how you look on the outside, but regardless of how put together one may present themselves, it does not change who they are on the inside.

Know this: everyone, and I mean everyone—rock stars, movie stars, fashion designers and everyday people like you and I, all have a few things in common:

We are all empty.We are all lonely.We are all seeking meaning and purpose in life.

Former teen Heartthrob, David Cassidy, died earlier this year. Throughout his life, he struggled with an addiction to alcohol. He said he had given it up, but unfortunately that just wasn’t the case.

“The fact is that I lied about my drinking,” he said. “I did this to myself to cover up the sadness and the emptiness.”Famous people aren’t exempt from sadness, loneliness and emptiness—they are human, just like us. The only difference is they just happen to have the money, fame and luxurious lifestyles many dream of having—except they get to experience firsthand just how empty it all is.A doctor named Robin Smith wrote a book called “Hungry: The Truth about being Full”, and in it she writes about those who feel an emptiness in their lives after experiencing success. She calls it being “hungry for the high note.” She goes on to write about the early deaths of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. “People say that drugs killed them. Drugs didn’t Kill them. What killed them is they were striving and hungry. They were striving to ‘Hit the high note again.”We have heard the expression, “There is nothing new under the sun.”That phrase was given by King Solomon, who went on a binge to personally experience every pleasure this world had to offer. Solomon lived in a luxurious palace, with servants, a expansive gardens and everything a King of his day could ever desire. He had women at his beck and call, and more wine that a man could drink in a lifetime. He had it all, and yet…he had nothing. Wise old King Solomon summed it up this way: “Everything is meaningless!” (Ecc.1:2)The word for meaningless that Solomon used can be translated to emptiness, futility, meaninglessness, nothingness or simply, a ‘bubble that bursts”.That is where God comes in. King Solomon, who had been raised with faith, abandoned it for a good part of his life. After realizing it the world had nothing good to offer him, he returned to the Lord in the end.My wife likes to put puzzles together. I have no idea why, but she will work meticulously, placing every puzzle piece in it’s proper place until it’s completed. The other day, she had almost finished the puzzle, but one piece suddenly went missing. We both got down on our hands and knees, searching tirelessly for that one missing piece. We finally found it, and completed her puzzle.Life can be that way too.We think we have all the things we want to make us happy, and yet we find ourselves like these celebrities we mentioned earlier: searching, sad, empty, lonely and ultimately, unfulfilled with the lives we are living.God holds the missing piece you are looking for in life. The bible is full of broken, lonely heartbroken people, but it is also full of hope, love and the message of Jesus Christ. I believe that through a relationship with Him, you can find peace, comfort, contentment and an abundant life. If you are feeling despondent enough to take your own life, please reach out for help. And don’t forget to reach up to God.He has the missing piece you are looking for.I will talk about this and much more this Sunday at www.harvestamerica.comAbove video and story originally appeared on Greg Laurie's Facebook page. 

Thoughts on the Tragic Death of Anthony Bourdain

We have once again been hit with the news of yet another tragic celebrity suicide, this time it is famed bad boy chef and media personality, Anthony Bourdain, who took his own life by hanging. A sudden wave of shock has filled America and the rest of the world that Anthony so famously traveled.Bourdain’s death follows all-too closely on the heels of the suicides of other notable people in recent months, including Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington and of course just this week, Kate Spade, all by hanging.These suicides are all in pattern with a national trend of increased suicides in America... FULL STORY - THE DAILY CALLER

Union Rescue Mission 5k Hits Fundraising Goal with Help of 'Average Joe'

Perhaps the success of the Union Rescue Mission’s first 5k Walk fundraiser held on Saturday (June 2, 2018) can not be fully gauged by the half million dollars raised (so far) by hundreds of participants, but by the increased level of community involvement.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

The walk helped the Christian organization that tackles homelessness to move from tapping solely into the rich and famous for funds to inviting the “Average Joe” to be part of the process. A process that includes a leader and partners with epic dreams.Union Rescue Mission CEO, Rev. Andrew Bales told Together LA earlier in the week, before the 5k, that the course had to circle LA Live three times rather than having to force businesses on another planned route to shut down for a few hours.Sponsors at the event’s start and finish line manning booths in between the Staples Center and Microsoft Theater included financial giants like Wells Fargo, Costco, and Herbalife, but there was also a prayer tent hosted by a small Downtown LA church.A Christian musical group dubbed “The URM Band” led those awaiting the start of the walk in worship and the atmosphere was filled with joy amongst a backdrop of iconic symbols of financial power. The irony was not lost in the small sea of Average Joes.TLA’s interview with Bales below reveals some of the dynamics of homelessness in the city and the Mission’s plans for the future.Together LA: Let's start with the 5K. How did the 5K idea come about?Rev. Andrew Bales: So the vision I had was while walking from wherever to Skid Row and back. Richard Newcomb, our board member has helped other groups do successful 5Ks. In fact, he does a 5K every year in New Orleans that he does in honor of his dad.And so years ago, I wanted to do a mud run or something like that and the idea didn't go over well with our team at that time. But, when Richard came on our board a few years ago and then we had a partner in this idea, we finally had the courage to try to pull it off. So, it really came from Richard and I and his vision for Union Rescue Mission to have a event where the “Average Joe” like us can participate rather than showing up and spending a lot on a ticket to a gala.TLA: So, prior to this 5K what was your major fundraiser for URM?Bales: It's been our Hearts for Hope fundraiser for Hope Gardens, our site for families out in Sylmar. And we did it for many years at the Four Seasons Hotel. [The fundraiser] started as a fashion show and then became like an entertainment night. The last one we had was at the Beverly Hilton and we actually had Angela Bassett as our emcee (or host) for the night.Our most successful event ever was this Sports LA event at the Hilton three or four years ago where we raised 4.3 million. It wasn't an URM-hosted event, but we were the beneficiaries. Then, we did our 125th anniversary fall gala at the Beverly Hilton. So, most of our big events have been, you know, kind of expensive.TLA: If you were to have a dream list fulfilled in regards to your ministry what would that be or what would you like to see happen?Bales: Well, we're busy trying to pull off some of our dreams right now. We're putting up a sprung structure in our back parking lot.TLA: I'm sorry, what's a sprung structure?Bales: A sprung structure is heated and air conditioned and it's more like a permanent tent. It's not really tent, but it's like one of those things that people put up to set up a driving range or you know, or hotel puts out for a reception area.It's a inexpensive, quick way to respond to the need and it's going to be for 136 single ladies, it's going to be in our back parking lot (in the city) because of what we're doing. The city was encouraged by the Urban Land Institute to model something like we're doing and to put four sprung structures in every district, 15 districts of the city. But they've chosen only to do one at this point. We hope that by us doing our sprung structure that we inspire others to get to that point where we have four in each district by the end of the year, that we put a roof over 13,000 people. I know we need to do more than that, but, but at least that's a start.And then we also are putting up a satellite [facility] in south LA County that'll be like a mini Union Rescue Mission, about 80,000 square feet for 80 families. It will be for 320 total people, so that people in South LA don't have to come to Skid Row for help. They can go to South LA. We already have Hope Gardens out in Sylmar for over 60 families, moms and kids, and also 24 senior ladies in permanent supportive housing. And what we want to do is have regionalized services in each area of LA County, decentralize Skid Row so that people in every part of LA County can, you know, if they lose their home, they can go right in their own neighborhood and get help and neighborhoods will help their own neighbors so everybody doesn't have to come to the mean streets of Skid Row.Then, I would like to create affordable smaller homes. There is a way to do 3D printing, concrete homes that have a bathroom, kitchen, 660 square feet for $10,000 each. And so I, I'd really like to create some neighborhoods of affordable housing that any income could afford to own. So, those are some of the dreams that we have.TLA: Where would the land be for the homes?Bales: We have some land. We have 77 acres out in Sylmar and then we have a donor who has 80 other parcels that I've been trying to get a hold of. And then, perhaps we have to go as far as Palmdale and Lancaster. The city owns many parcels of land and the Metro Rail owns lots of land.TLA: How, how has your relationship been with the city? It must be pretty good.Bales: Pretty good. However, they can't fund us. They won't fund us. City and County won't fund us because of our faith. But we have helped model what needs to be done. If you were to call the county 211 number and say, “I'm a dad and mom with three kids,” they'd say the only place to go is Union Rescue Mission. So, they know what we do and respect us and count on us to come through. We never turn away a family with children who comes through our door. We never turn away a woman, a single woman who comes to our door. Rarely would we ever turn away a man. Every night the police call me and see how many bunks we have open and I will never tell them that we have no bunks. So, really we never turn away a man either and that makes us a very unique mission. We're the only rescue mission that welcomes single men, single women, moms with kids, dads with kids and two parent families with kids.TLA: In a video recently released to promote the 5k you mention how the situation is pretty grave. It's gotten worse. What would you tell just the average person that looks at the homeless situation, sees that it looks pretty hopeless. How do we address the homeless situation?Bales: If we all work together, we could be like New York City, that puts a roof over 95% of the people experiencing homelessness and is embarrassed about the 5% that are still on the streets. And it's really an all out, all hands on deck, emergency approach. If we were like that, we would see a different city and we'd live up to be in the City of Angels.In LA, we only put a roof over 25% of people experiencing homelessness and we leave 75% out on the streets, which is destroying and devouring those people. We come up with a lot of excuses. I mean, you know, like the weather is good so people come here. That is an absolute myth and an absolutely false excuse. The majority of people on the streets of LA are Angelenos, longtime Angelenos. You can die from the weather on the streets. We know people who've died on the streets of LA. So there's really no excuse not to act now.Even the excuse that many Christians use, you know, "The poor you'll always have with you." But the problem is they're not finishing the verse, “The poor you'll always have with you, so be kind to them every day." Jesus in that verse is quoting Deuteronomy 15. It says, "The poor you'll always have with you, so be kind to them everyday and lend them a hand and lift them out of poverty." It's an action verse, not an excuse verse, and we turn it into an excuse like the homeless you'll always have with you. Well, that's not what needs to be communicated.We could live in the city where not one precious human being lives on the streets. And I would love to be part of making that happen in Los Angeles. That would really be the ultimate dream for me. That before I'm gone from this earth that we didn't wait for heaven to address the situation of homelessness here on earth.PHOTOS: URMOn the Webhttps://urm.org/Note: The deadline for the matching challenge gift to help men, women, children, and families on Skid Row overcome homelessness and begin new lives of hope has been extended to June 30. Go to URM's website to donate.

Union Rescue Mission’s First 5k Walk To Fight Homelessness; WATCH Heartbreaking Skid Row Video

Jesus Also Came to Disrupt the Political Status Quo

I remember hearing in Government Class that there was a separation between church and state. The state couldn’t interfere with the church and the church wasn’t supposed to interfere with matters of the state (government).

BY CEDRIC NELMS

In learning more about Jesus and the Gospel, it is apparent that Jesus was very much involved with matters of the state. His involvement was based on justice, righteousness, and showing that the last will be first and the first will be last in the Kingdom of God.

ONE IN A SERIES:HOW WOULD JESUS VOTE?

On June 5th, we will go to the polls to elect people into governmental office and to affect policy. There has been this misnomer that politics and our beliefs don’t mix. For those of us that are followers of Christ, there has always been this intersection of politics, faith, and the church.There has been this lens of looking at politics from the perspective of: “What would Jesus do?” This level of tension was seen in our last Presidential election, where white evangelicals and black evangelicals were divided between the context of who would collect their vote. Black evangelicals were questioning if their pastors were voting and leading their congregations to vote along faith lines or from a posture of privilege. This caused some evangelical churches to see an exodus of their African American congregants.For the church of today there has to be those hills that we will stick our sword in the ground as a testament of what we have been called to do and who we follow. As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to not forget that there are some issues that are non-negotiable when it comes to our walk with God. In the Book of Amos 5:23-24...Take away from me the noise of your songs;to the melody of your harps I will not listen.But let justice roll down like waters,and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.Amos reminds us that we have to be mindful of not getting too caught up in the activity of our way of living (power, money, privilege) and lose the heart for justice and righteousness. Justice and righteousness need to be the bookends to WHO we are as Christ followers and WHOSE we are as children of God. If we are voting based on our status, privilege, or prejudices, then we are forsaking the least of those amongst us.As voting followers of Christ there has to be a compassionate attitude that is taken beyond the veil of the booth, that is not concerned about voting along cultural lines but voting along what is in the best interest of the marginalized. So, when we ask the question of ‘is there a way to vote as a Christian?’ The response is yes! Yes, we should be voting with the mind and heart of Christ. We should remember that God is not a respecter of person. We should remember that Jesus was not connected to a political party but was sold out to the establishment of the Kingdom of God.Politics encompasses ALL of society, culture, race, economics, age, and gender to name a few. When we think about politics and our faith, we should look at examples from the life of Jesus. Jesus was one that came to disrupt the political climate. Jesus was one who disturbed the status quo. One of the ways that He did that was by speaking truth to power. Jesus was speaking truth to power during his turning over the tables moment in the temple. Jesus was speaking truth to power when he told the men, those of you who are without sin cast the first stone. Jesus was speaking truth to power by detouring his agenda to have a life changing conversation with the woman at the well. He gave her the living water of righteousness instead of the contaminated water of system. Jesus was speaking truth to power when He called Zacchaeus from the tree to build a relationship with him. He looked pass his height restriction to transform his condition. Jesus was speaking to truth to power when he met the woman at the well. He loved her for who she was and was not prejudice against her.Jesus came not to be like those politicians at that time, but to redeem them through the work and attitude of the Gospel. Our politics can’t be converted to God and not be converted to the least of us. When we vote we have a responsibility to remember Luke 4:18-19.The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captivesand recovering of sight to the blind,to set at liberty those who are oppressed,to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.Remember we have some people like Zacchaeus’, some like the woman at the well, some people like the woman that committed adultery, some people that are imprisoned like Paul was, that need us to remember our faith and the one that we follow when we vote.[ictt-tweet-blockquote hashtags="#HowWouldJesusVote" via=""]Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. - MLK, Jr[/ictt-tweet-blockquote]Rev. Cedric J. Nelms is Lead Pastor at Chosen Generation Fellowship Church. On the web: www.cjnministries.com

The Politics of Jesus and the Color Purple

My belief and thoughts on the politics of Jesus would take more than just one blog article to make my point but this is an attempt to give a general overview.

BY PETE WATTS

This past election cycle was challenging for African American Christians who wanted to be faithful to their Christian values and faithful to their neighbors who are marginalized and maligned by an American Christianity that sometimes doesn’t have the same viewpoints and approach to solving the world’s problems in practical ways. This is what I believe that one Christian hip hop artist tried to express in an article in Christianity Today a couple of years ago.

ONE IN A SERIES:HOW WOULD JESUS VOTE?

I find it interesting that Franklin Graham is going on tour with this campaign “Decision America,” encouraging Christians to vote when in the past much of mainline evangelical Christianity said politics and religion shouldn’t mix. In the historic African American church and amongst mainline black evangelicals they have never separated the two. They understood there needed to be engagement with biblical values AND social justice.Let me start by saying that I don’t believe that people who voted for Trump and were Republican are all racists just as others on the right shouldn’t believe that anyone who voted Democrat supports abortion. At the end of the day, where I draw the line is at the same ledge that James Baldwin did when he said, “We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”If Jesus were to vote today he wouldn’t be on the side of the Republican ticket or the Democratic ticket. His agenda would be and always has been a Kingdom agenda. Today’s politics and climate of our American culture and Christianity has led us to take sides based on our own flawed interpretation of scripture to confirm our own agendas.Two issues in particular I’d like highlight to prove my point. There has been documented and historical evidence proving the reality of voter suppression. This is played out in both Texas and North Carolina most recently. Coincidentally, both of these states were in violation of federal law. This was the Republican Party’s attempt at subverting the Voting Rights Acts by enacting what has been termed as Voter ID Laws. Yes, on the surface it sounds legitimate but when you dig deeper there is something more nefarious that targets specifically African American communities in poor areas.If Jesus were to vote I’m quite confident he wouldn’t vote Democrat but would be in line with the Democratic party on the issue of Voter suppression.Quite interestingly, just as vigorous in defending the right to vote, Jesus would also defend the right to religious expression and fight against religious exclusion. This idea of exclusion plays out in different ways, including the far left’s launch of an all-out attack on those who have Christian beliefs that are contrary to the agenda of Democratic party. There are examples and reports of many people who are running for office and who have run that received threats on their lives because they supported the right to life, or stood against same sex marriage. Some of these pastors are leading predominantly African American churches, too.Jesus dealt with similar trappings and issues in the gospel. One pericope that I point to specifically is when he was asked by the Pharisees and Herodians in the gospel of Mark about paying taxes. The Bible said he saw their hypocrisy and how they wanted to trap him in his words. Jesus responded as one who is about the Kingdom of God and not the politics of the Pharisees or any other religious or political group of his day. He said, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.” When you look at his response it doesn’t say that he was on either side of the issue exclusively.This shows us that the politics of Jesus doesn’t land on one side of the coin but both. In considering how Jesus would vote, we should consider the perspective of the Kingdom and what an upside-down Kingdom looks like when fighting for the poor, disenfranchised, the privileged and the outcast.Unfortunately, I think Franklin Graham got it wrong when he encouraged Christians in California to vote because they need to penetrate the “blue wall.” I think if Jesus was preparing his people to vote, it would be because the wall he wants people to penetrate is purple.That’s the color of the Kingdom. It’s the color of royalty.Rev. Pete Watts oversees World Impact’s mission for all of Los Angeles and its surrounding communities. Born and raised in Southern California, Pete holds a Masters in Communication and Education. After serving as an elementary school teacher, he opened the Thurgood Marshall Entrepreneurial Academy Charter Middle School in 2007. Pete has also felt God’s calling him to preach. After being ordained by Missionary Baptist Church in Compton, he and his wife Didi launched The R.O.C.K. Church in 2008.To find out more about Rev. Pete Watts, check out his blog.

One-on-One With Karl Vaters On ‘Small Church Essentials’

Today, I’m happy to welcome Karl Vaters to The Exchange. Karl has been a small church pastor for 30 years and currently leads Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Fountain Valley, California. BY ED STETZERHe writes about the value and needs of small churches for Christianity Today and is the founder of www.NewSmallChurch.com, a blog that encourages, connects, and equips innovative small church pastors. Below I talk to him about his new book, Small Church Essentials.Ed: How did you come to write Small Church Essentials?Karl: Small churches are, by far, the most common expression of the gathered body of Christ. But they are highly undervalued and grossly under-resourced. I know because I’ve been pastoring in small churches for most of my ministry, including the small church I’ve been at for the last 25 years.Despite the fact that we’re a healthy, vibrant, worshipping, missional church in very populated area, we’ve remained small.That so-called ‘failure’ caused so much frustration and discouragement that I almost left the pastoral ministry. Then, a friend and counselor encouraged me to find ways of measuring church effectiveness beyond the numbers. That led me to write my first book, The Grasshopper Myth.As I’ve continued to study, write, speak, and have conversations with thousands of fellow small church pastors, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how to do effective ministry within a small church context. The lessons from those interactions and my own experiences are the heartbeat of Small Church Essentials.Ed: Why do you think it is so common for people to equate the size of a church with its level of health? Or as you put it, to filter everything through the “church growth lens.”Karl: I think it’s based on some understandable, but faulty logic—namely, a healthy church will be fulfilling the Great Commission, which means it will grow numerically. That’s a reasonable theory. But any theory needs to be tested against reality. And when we do that, we discover that there are many churches who are fulfilling their role in the Great Commission without getting bigger for a wide variety of reasons.Ed: How do you help pastors to shift their thinking from focusing on their church size to focusing on the health of their church?Karl: Many pastors have given up in frustration after chasing the elusive goal of numerical success. But they’re not lazy. They just haven’t been given an alternative way of measuring success in ministry.When they hear that numerical increase is not the only measure of health and effectiveness, they want to learn more and they’re thrilled to make that shift.

If you’re not sure if your motivations are based on numbers rather than health and effectiveness, consider this question: If you knew that what your church is doing would bless people and grow the kingdom of God even though it wouldn’t put more people in your church, would you still do it? If so, the motivation is probably health, not numbers. If not…Ed: Why is this book important for large church pastors?Karl: When I started this ministry, I had three goals: (1) to encourage small church pastors, (2) to put resources into their hands, and (3) to mainstream this message to the broader church leadership community.Large churches are great! Most small church leaders want to work with our big church counterparts. But small churches and their leaders often feel isolated and ignored. It’s important for pastors of large churches not to forget what most of their peers are dealing with and to understand the differences in how small churches and big churches function. We can’t help them if we don’t understand their circumstances and their needs.Ed: Will this encourage small church pastors?Karl: I hope so. For too many years small church pastors have been treated more like we’re a problem to be fixed than an essential element of God’s overall strategy. It’s hard to feel encouraged with that drumbeat in the background.Small Church Essentials is not about complaining or offering excuses. It’s about encouraging small churches to lean into our strengths for the advancement of Christ’s mission on earth. It’s debilitating when people insist that small churches must get bigger before we can be of value. My hope is that every church of every size will feel valued, encouraged and challenged to step up—not at some point in the future when we get bigger, but right here, right now at our current size.Ed: What is unique and necessary about the small church perspective?Karl: Small churches constitute 90 percent of congregations and half the body of Christ. The fact that we’ve spent so little time considering their needs and underutilizing their strengths is scandalous.We need small churches simply because there are a lot of people who worship, serve, learn, and minister better in a small church context than a big one. As Rick Warren says, “We need all kinds of church to reach all kinds of people.” And that includes all sizes. Big and small.Ed: Why have you stopped using the term “church growth?”Karl: The Church Growth Movement has been an extraordinary blessing to the church. It has renewed an emphasis on outreach, church planting, the value of using accurate metrics, and so much more.But every good thing has unintended consequences. One of the unintended consequences of the church growth movement is that it’s made us over-reliant on numbers as not just one factor in determining church growth and health, but often the only factor.Instead of striving for church growth, I encourage churches and pastors to work on increasing their capacity for effective ministry. Being effective is a better goal than getting bigger.Ed: Can you share some stories of applying these Small Church Essentials in the church that you pastor?Karl: Several years ago, I told our church staff, “We have to stop thinking like a big church, because we’re not one.” Instead, we need to do ministry that’s appropriate for the size we are now, while developing systems for a church twice our size. Since doing that we’ve had a healthier church doing more effective ministry. It’s also helped us to renew our focus on the biblical command (I like to call it the “Pastoral Prime Directive”) of equipping the saints to do the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).An equipping church is an effective church, and that’s what we’re always striving to be.Ed Stetzer holds the Billy Graham Distinguished Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College, is executive director of the Billy Graham Center, and publishes church leadership resources through Mission Group.This article was republished with permission and originally appeared here.

Evangelicals Don't Agree on Politics, But We Must Learn To Disagree Well

Evangelicals disagree on politics, but how we disagree is more important than building consensus.

BY NAPP NAZWORTH

There were at least five different types of evangelicals in the previous presidential election: Clinton supporters, enthusiastic Trump supporters, reluctant Trump supporters, protest voters who supported neither Clinton nor Trump (also called nevertrumpers), and non-voters. While most of the media attention has gone to the enthusiastic Trump supporters, they represented less than half of all evangelicals. In reality, evangelicals were quite divided on presidential vote choice, as they are on many political issues.Evangelicals, by and large, share a common theology and worldview, so why can't we agree on which political candidates to support?I've observed evangelicals from across the political spectrum make the case that the differences are due to some spiritual or theological deficiency among those who support the "wrong" candidate. "Once we all have the correct view of scripture, we'll agree on politics," many evangelicals have assumed. My younger self would've agreed with that statement. I now find it incredibly naive. I've criticized evangelicals who support our current president, and will continue to do so. But I don't think our political differences signal a spiritual deficiency. That would be akin to the sort of legalism Paul slams in Galatians. ...Napp Nazworth, Ph.D., is political analyst and politics editor for The Christian Post.Contact: napp.nazworth@christianpost.com, @NappNazworth (Twitter)

READ FULL STORY AT THE CHRISTIAN POST

Editor's Note: The above article is part of Together LA's "How Would Jesus Vote?" series that was kicked off this week with the TLA exclusive: Do Religion and Politics Mix? Franklin Graham Answers On Decision America TourFranklin Graham Takes Fight to 'Godless' Progressives in California With New Tour [Christian Post] 

Union Rescue Mission's First 5k Walk To Fight Homelessness; WATCH Heartbreaking Skid Row Video

Homelessness is devastating communities nationwide, but nowhere more than in Los Angeles, said organizers of the Union Rescue Mission's inaugural 5k Walk to Fight Homelessness planned for Saturday, June 2."We now have more than 58,000 men, women and children living on Skid Row and throughout Los Angeles County each day," URM said. "For more than 126 years, Union Rescue Mission has provided safe shelter, meals, long-term rehabilitation programs, education, counseling, medical services and encouragement to help our neighbors escape homelessness forever. But with the skyrocketing increase in women and children on the streets, we need your help!"Organizers said, "This is your opportunity to turn your compassion into action. We would like to invite you to join us for our inaugural 5k Walk to Fight Homelessness. Proceeds from the walk will go toward the continuation of our life-saving programs and services to help those experiencing homelessness find their way home."Union Rescue Mission (URM) is one of the largest missions of its kind in America — bringing help and hope to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Downtown Los Angeles, the organization states on its website. URM was founded in 1891 by Lyman Stewart, president and founder of Union Oil Company. George A. Hilton served as the first superintendent of the Mission, originally known as the Pacific Gospel Union. During those early days, URM took to the streets in gospel wagons to offer food, clothing, and salvation to the less fortunate. Over the years, URM has continued and expanded its efforts to feed both the body and the soul, helping individuals and families break the cycle of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency.URM states that its mission is to embrace people with the compassion of Christ. The organization's Guiding Principles are to serve God, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and:

• We will serve the whole person in mind, body, and spirit
• We will always serve others with humility
• We will treat all people, who are created in the image of God, with dignity and respect
• We will meet, or exceed, the expectations of those we serve
• We will actively find new ways to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us
• We will be truthful and accountable in our work together
• We will do what we say we will do
• We will intentionally look at new and innovative ways to do our work
• We will share our expertise with others

The walk begins at LA Live and travels through the streets of Downtown Los Angeles.Date: Saturday, June 2nd, 2018Location: LA Live / Staples Arena, Los Angeles, CARegistration Fee: Free!On-Site Walk Registration: 8:00 am PSTWalk Start Time: 9:30 am PSTParking: Structure parking is available in the West Garage(Lot W - Enter on Chick Hearn Ct.) for $15 a carPublic transportation is strongly encouraged.Event Website: https://urmwalk.rallybound.org/For public transportation information, please visit LA Live's Visitor Center:www.lalive.com/visitor-center/public-transportation

Inspiration Struck My Own 'Beast in Me'

Inspiration always comes from the supreme source — God. Although, like most phenomenons in life it is hard to pinpoint why or where specifically an idea comes from. I have written before about the calling of an artist to have omnivorous attentiveness and to always observe life with eager expectations.However, sudden inspiration is something that should be bottled immediately.

BY SPENCER T. FOLMAR

As an example, when I first began writing my next feature film, “The Beast in Me,” the inspiration initially was easy to pinpoint. I was working outside in the rain (typical) in the backyard of my old farmhouse when I was living in Seattle a half a decade ago. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash. Cash on the radio, in car trips, and on the record player. But for all my love and knowledge of Cash’s discography, I was unfamiliar with the song “The Beast in Me” until that rainy day in Seattle.As soon as I heard this new song on my shuffling-streaming playlist I immediately went inside and started to bottle (write) the emerging plot-line and moral premise that I wanted to wrestle with in my next movie. The lyrics are so moving, honest, and self-searching…

“The beast in meIs caged by frail and fragile barsRestless by dayAnd by night rants and rages at the starsGod help the beast in me” (first stanza of song lyrics)

Originally, I was struck by the idea of original sin in relation to many of the lyrics of the song. There is a Spurgeon quote that I often think of, “You cannot slander human nature; it is worse than words can paint it.” Personally, I do not have to look far, watch the news long, or let my mind wander to the dark corners of my own heart to realize just how true this quote is. We all fall short of the glory of God and even our best works are as filthy rags.

“The beast in meHas had to learn to live with painAnd how to shelter from the rainAnd in the twinkling of an eyeMight have to be restrainedGod help the beast in me”

For my film’s setting I almost immediately thought of Sin City, Las Vegas, Nevada. Sin prowls over any city or small town, but the pure blatant indulgence and celebration of sin in the desert seemed like the perfect setting for this movie. But if we all fall short of the glory of God, and it is by Grace and Grace alone that saves a wicked sinner like me… then there is a leveling empathy and humility that should distinguish Christ followers. So I decided to center the story around the outcasts and most looked-down upon members of society — the prostitutes, the drug addicts, the abused, used, and lost children of God.

“Sometimes it tries to kid meThat it's just a teddy bearAnd even somehow manage to vanish in the airAnd that is when I must bewareOf the beast in me”

We all try to cope with our own demons… beasts. But there is a reckoning that takes place. Either in this life or the life to come. There needs to be a sacrifice for the wrongs, there needs to be justice. We can all feel that. But I and my past acts and sins are included in that need for retribution the world in bondage aches for. So there needs to be redemption, and I and my fictional characters in this fictional world all need a savior.Honestly, how could we not?

“That everybody knowsThey've seen him out dressed in my clothesPatently unclearIf it's New York or New YearGod help the beast in me…The beast in me”

Director Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar’s films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today’s multifaceted culture and audience.

Evangelicalism and Roman Catholicism: Do Both Roads Lead to Heaven?

Statisticians have grouped them into one category. Movie makers have portrayed them as one and the same faith. It's easy to see why people think Christians (a.k.a. Evangelicals and Protestants) and Roman Catholics are alike. The impression is that the differences between the two faiths are simply a matter of worship style, music, dress, and church decor.It is often said that the two worship the same God and believe in the same manner of salvation.

BY STEVE CHA

However, any person with a fairly good knowledge of the Bible and of church history should know that this is not the case. The spirit of ecumenism, though a seemingly noble idea, is ultimately unprofitable when it comes to uniting two religions of different understandings of salvation. The rift between Christians and Catholics during the 16th century, that birthed the Protestant Reformation, is demonstrable proof of serious issues of dissension and concern when it comes to core understandings of gospel truth and Christian living.These are not minor disagreements. The issue is salvation. This is why Roman Catholicism is a different religion than Christianity, and not simply another denomination. This is important to establish because it teaches us about the error of non-gospel centered faiths and the need to lovingly bring the saving message to Catholics, and any other "Christian" organizations that do not hold to the fundamentals of the faith.Eternal salvation, as taught by Christ and the apostles, is received by repenting and placing your faith in Jesus Christ, which leads to your justification (John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9). God the Holy Spirit then begins a process of sanctification in a Christian's life, causing that person to live righteously and to bear fruit as a testimony of their justification and the holy nature they will possess in eternity (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:14; Colossians 3:10). This must be the common confession of all those who profess to be Christian, according to Scripture. Those who teach another gospel are accursed (Galatians 1:6-8).The historic Roman Catholic view of salvation is that salvation is not by faith alone. Although some progressive Catholics deny this view (claiming a salvation method similar to evangelicals), the historic Roman Catholic view of salvation is a combination of (intellectual) faith and good works. Roman Catholicism teaches that salvation begins at the stage of infant baptismal regeneration, in which a baby is cleansed of original sin through infant baptism. This supposedly imparts sanctifying grace, unites his soul to Christ, and grants him the power of free will to come to faith in Christ . This salvation must be maintained through a lifelong commitment to other deeds of the church, which includes membership to the Catholic Church, participating in the sacraments (such as Mass), living a moral lifestyle (through following the Ten Commandments), confession (to a priest), and other deeds that supplement this grace. The Catholic church teaches that salvation is not guaranteed, and must be maintained by one's willingness to work out their salvation through a lifetime of obedience.However, the Bible teaches something different about the way to God.Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5 state that works do not add to or take away from Christ's work on the cross. It does not add to your salvation. Salvation is monergistic, meaning that it is purely a work of God from beginning to end. Everything from his election of an individual to justification to final glorification (Romans 8:29-30).Scripture does not even teach that a believer is able to lose his salvation if he does not uphold it with enough good works and obedience to religious rituals. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Justification by faith is a truth taught not only in the New Testament, but in the Old Testament as well (Genesis 15:6; Hebrews 11).

Interview: ‘The Wonder Years’ Actress Alley Mills Tells How Buddhism, Jesus Picture Led Her to Christ

Therefore, no works can cleanse a sinner from sin and earn him salvation. Regeneration comes from God, and He uses the preached gospel message to bring spiritual life to spiritually dead sinners, so that they can be receptive to the things of God. This enables the sinner to come to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, which a sinner cannot do if he remains in his unregenerate state. It is this faith that justifies a believer and makes him righteous in God's sight.This justification is a one-time event and not a lifelong process. It happens immediately after someone believes in Christ (Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 6:11). After that, the believer - under the Holy Spirit's work - undergoes a lifelong process of sanctification (growth in the godliness) until he reaches glorification at Christ's return for the church (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). This contradicts Catholic soteriology, which teaches that regeneration happens by the work of water baptism, and that justification does not happen at one's conversion, but rather at the end of one's life when his deeds are ultimately assessed by God on Judgment Day.A few key areas demonstrate differences in Christian and Catholic salvation. The first area is the relationship between God's part and man's part in the salvation process. Catholicism is essentially synergistic, meaning that salvation is a two-way road with man cooperating with God in accomplishing the final redemption of his soul. Man is spiritually sick, but not totally dead and incapable of seeking after Yahweh. People still have a measure of goodness, free will, and capacity to reach out to God for help and to live for him. Catholic soteriology is semi-pelagian in that it views men as having a measure of goodness within them that can merit God's favor.In contrast, Christian soteriology is monergistic, which means that God alone accomplishes salvation for us, independent of our contribution. This must not be misunderstood to mean that people do not have the responsibility to respond by believing in the gospel.The Bible does not teach people to sit back passively and let God save them regardless of their actions. They must respond by repenting and believing in Jesus. The essence of monergism is that all credit is given to God for salvation because He is the one who foreknew, elects, regenerates, calls, sanctifies, and glorifies believers (Romans 8:29). He completes the work of salvation with His sinless life, His perfect sacrifice on the cross, and His resurrection.Another difference between Christian and Catholic soteriology is in the issue of justification. Catholicism views justification as not happening at the beginning of one's faith, but at the end of one's life. It is not an event, but a process. Justification begins with baptism and is upheld throughout a person's life as he obeys the tenets of the Catholic church. Justification removes past sins and remits grace to the soul, but does not totally make one right with the Lord. Justification can be reversed if a believer commits what is called mortal sins. Concerning the biblical nature of justification, 2 Corinthians 5:21 teaches that people who believe in the gospel (and are thus justified) are also reckoned as completely righteous because God imputes a completely righteous standing to the believer.This imputed righteousness presents the believer as 100% righteous because Christ earned that righteousness for him with His perfect life and credits that to those who believer. That is a key aspect of justification by faith. However, Catholics reject this doctrine and view it as dangerous since it supposedly causes a believer to be apathetic about living a godly life. Finally, Catholicism believes that an assurance of justification is not possible in this life. A Catholic finds out the results when he or she dies and stands before God to be evaluated.Catholicism views justification and sanctification as a near identical process, whereas Christians view justification and sanctification as two different stages. For Christians, justification is an instantaneous event that happens immediately after one is regenerated and justified via faith. It comes before the lifelong stage of sanctification.The sanctification process does not add to one's salvation, but is the result of one's salvation in Christ, in which Christ progressively empowers the believer to like Christ. The sanctification process does not make a believer sinless in this life, but shapes a believer to look more and more like Christ everyday in practical conduct. Sanctification is completed upon glorification, when the believer becomes completely sanctified in holiness, forever set apart from the presence of sin because of his new heavenly body.A last analysis I want to make is the role of sacraments in the life of a believer. The Catholic church teaches that the sacraments are a means of conferring grace and maintaining a believer's salvation. These sacraments, such as the Eucharist, physically confers the benefits of Christ's sacrifice onto the believer when he partakes of them. In other words, sacraments add a measure of righteousness onto believers, implying that Christ's work at Calvary is not final, sufficient, and efficacious.This is not what the word of God describes as the role of sacraments (or what evangelicals call ordinances) in the believer's life. Sacraments do not play a part in a believer's salvation, since salvation is by faith alone in Christ as Lord and Savior (1 Corinthians 1:17; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).Sacraments like water baptism and communion, are more appropriately categorized as belonging in the sanctification process. They do not merit or uphold a believer's salvation, but are a testimony of one's salvation and adoption into God's family. These sacraments are done to honor Christ as a testimony of one's justification. They do not confer grace or impart any of Christ's righteousness to the sinner. In fact, one cannot participate in sacraments unless he has already experienced God's saving grace through the gospel. To do so would be sacrilegious (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).Christians and Catholics do share many things in common, such as a common understanding of God's triune nature, the deity of Christ, and the inspiration of Scripture. Yet, the differences, as outlined above, are too vast to categorize the two in the same faith. In this case, both roads do not lead to heaven, which is why it is critical to have an accurate understanding of the gospel and application of it.The gospel message is something that Satan has been seeking to twist and to destroy since its inception, and he does so best within the church, which is why the body of Christ is called to split and dissociate themselves with those who claim to bring a saving message that is not what the New Testament teaches (2 John 1:10; Jude 3). Souls are at stake in this issue.In conclusion, there are two takeaways lessons we should take to heart from this:1. We should all examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Do we have a real understanding of the cross? Have we appropriately applied it by faith? If not, then we should do so today.2. We should help others to discover the truth of the gospel. Whether they be Catholics or atheists, there is a God in heaven who wants all people to repent and come to a saving knowledge of the truth. He has made this message simple, which we are not to alter, but to present it as such to unbelievers so that they can be saved.That is why Christ taught, "Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:15).Steve Cha is the teaching pastor of Grace City LA.What's your take on Evangelicalism and Roman Catholicism? Leave a comment below.

An Artist's Call For Omnivorous Attentiveness to the World Around Us

When people ask me how many hours I work a week I find it a difficult question to answer as an artist. There is a calling on the artisan soul to always be awake to the story unfolding all around us second by second, detail by detail.

BY SPENCER T. FOLMAR

It is a necessity to have what I once heard CS Lewis had — an “omnivorous attentiveness” to the world around us.Of course, films are necessary to watch to be a filmmaker. In fact, the summer before I attended NYU for my MFA in film, there was a list of more than 50 films that were required viewing before starting my first semester. I didn’t quite make it through the whole list, but it did really open my eyes to the breadth of film history. In fact, most film classes require watching movies at any film school (much to the chagrin of the engineers in college when my homework looked quite different — no calculator needed!It makes sense that homework for filmmakers would be watching movies, but likely this is applicable to all arts. A painter studies paintings, musician knows music history, and so on. But artists can’t only study and be familiar with their own discipline, as an artist, we are called to see all of the world, even the parts we’re uncomfortable with.CS Lewis was said to have an omnivorous attentiveness where he would walk to work and notice even the uniqueness of the granules of dirt along his path. He appreciated the details of the world, and that is an inspiration and a admonition to all artists.But as I continued to think about this unique outlook on the world, I realize that in the same way artists are always “on the clock,” always observing all hours of the day in order to be ingested into influencing their craft, Christians also have a similar calling to notice the world and its intricacies. God’s creation is full of beautiful, intricate details that may take all eternity to appreciate, but the most prized of all of creation was the Imago Dei… Us. We were the final aspect of creation in the Genesis story and God gave us special designation when we were made in His image.Being in God’s image means that we are all on the clock, called, and on mission to see the world as God sees us. Christians are called to have an omnivorous attentiveness to the world and its details and always have our shoes on and tied. As CS Lewis wrote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”Director Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar’s films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today’s multifaceted culture and audience.

'Saturate SoCal' To Deliver Jesus Film DVD Pack To 4 Million Homes

ANAHEIM, Calif. — More than 200 Christian leaders learned of a plan to mobilize hundreds of churches and thousands of volunteers to spread the gospel to all the people living in the 364 zip codes found in Los Angeles and Orange counties at a kickoff meeting hosted by Christ for All Peoples on Tuesday.Organizers said “Saturate SoCal” is part of a nationwide strategy (Saturate USA) to deliver a free copy of three Jesus Films on one DVD to 60 million homes in the U.S. (4 million in LA and Orange counties) by 2020. The three films are Magdalena - Through Her Eyes, The Life of Jesus - Greatest Story Ever Told, and The Story of Jesus - Through the Eyes of Children. Leaders said the package which includes the DVD, will be distributed by mostly a door-to-door approach by volunteers.Apologist Josh McDowell, who was the keynote speaker at the gathering, said the Saturate USA initiative is critically needed for the times we live in.McDowell pointed to today’s culture, which he says has redefined the meaning of “truth,” as a reason gospel proclamation is desperately needed. Truth has become more about personal feelings and opinion, he said. The Jesus film DVD package can counter the current anti-truth movement by introducing the gospel.“The Jesus film combines one of the most powerful resources for today’s culture,” he said. “It’s straight out of the text of Luke, but it’s [also] visual with the truth teller telling the story. There’s nothing out there more effective than the text of scripture with the visualization. Text and visual.”A key component to the package will be an insert that includes information on a local church, organizers said.“We are casting out our vision here today,” said Scott Baller, who is Christ for All Peoples’ CFO. He told TogetherLA that the meeting held at the Anaheim Marriott was about launching the idea to leaders and organizations so that by July 6th “we can get this thing going and saturate so we can get all 364 zip codes in LA and Orange County.”“Saturate Orlando” will be the first of the city movements that will make Revival 2020 a reality, organizers say on their website. “It brings together Christian organizations, churches and volunteers in a bond of unity and love with the singular purpose of reaching 750,000 homes in Orlando with the Jesus film DVDs in one month.”More than a half-million homes have already received the DVD package in Orlando where the movement was launched on March 3, according to the Christ for All People Facebook page.The packages are assembled by volunteers organized by churches in the areas for distribution. The “Saturate” process is not complicated, organizers said.“We tend to get really complex with things and as a lay person that’s not a pastor I [sometimes] get overwhelmed with all the things I have to do, including getting trained,” Baller said. “This plan is really simple. You don’t have to be trained. If you want to make it more complex you can” by doing more than simply dropping off packages.The free DVD packages assembled by people from local churches can include whatever the churches decide on, but are only required to include a letter with contact information for the church in the area participating. Christ for All Peoples does not promote its ministry in the material included.“The key is that we are not about an organization,” Baller said. “ We are just willing to partner with other organizations and do this.”Photos: Christ for All Peoples/Saturate USAOn the Web: Saturate SoCal

Saturate USA from Building a Difference on Vimeo.

What Defines a Great Church?

When people think of a great church, these things often come to mind: A church with a huge attendance, perhaps great facilities and fun programs; a church with nice (and maybe even attractive) people, exposure in the mainstream; great music, and an all-time favorite criteria, a church with an entertaining and funny pastor.

By STEVE CHA

Of course, our idea of a great church might differ from how God looks at churches. So often, we approach church with a consumerist mindset, thinking of how the church could benefit, please, or intrigue us, rather than how it brings honor to the Lord.What is God's standard for a great church?This is important to consider, especially in urban cities like Los Angeles where new churches are on the rise, each hoping to offer something to the public that makes them stand out a little more than others in the neighborhood. It is important to measure the merits of a local church according to what the Bible teaches, and not according to the subjective, pragmatic, and fanciful ways of people.How we do church before God is always more important and beneficial than what we do before man.By examining Scripture, we see seven noteworthy traits of a great church:1. A great church focuses on preaching the Bible. This should be evident from the pulpit on Sundays.Paul instructed young Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-3: "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." Why? Because "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires..." Sound, expository preaching is necessary to the spiritual health of the local church.A church that focuses too much on topical, inspirational, self-help, and feel good messages that are loosely based on the texts of Scripture will lead to immature, worldly, and even unsaved churchgoers.2. A great church has solid theology. A strong theological stance based on the truth of Scripture should be the foundation of every local church. Every church should have doctrinal beliefs and stance that is both accurate, obvious, and foundational to the church's philosophy of ministry, teaching, evangelism, apologetics, and biblical counseling.In 1 Timothy 4:16, Paul writes, "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." Good theology honors God and brings believers to full maturity and holiness, whereas weak theology dishonors God and leads believers astray, often times into heresy. A church should have a firm biblical grasp on everything from its soteriology (salvation) to eschatology (end times).3. A great church perseveres in its practice. The Lord commends a church for its ability to persevere in its doctrine and practices.In Revelation 2, the Apostle John commends the Ephesian, Pergamum, and Thyatiran church for their perseverance, in despite of their other troubling sin issues. It is easy for churches to quit or to compromise with false doctrine and worldly practices because of the pressures from the outside world. A church is not called to be man pleasers or to be at shallow peace with all men, but to continue in their work unwaveringly.A church is strong to withstand the forces of both outside persecution and internal division that threatens its unity, doctrine, and missionary focus.4. A great church is filled with love and grace. A church holds fast to solid doctrine, but it also has to have the right attitudes that characterize godly fellowship.In Revelation 2:1-7, the Ephesian church was called out because of its lack of love. Jesus says in John 13:35, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." A harsh, condemning, and legalistic attitude should never characterize any local church, no matter how great the preaching or doctrine is. The fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control - should be manifested in our communication of the truth of God to one another. A great church should hold fast to the gospel, holiness, and doctrine, but at the same time, know how to be charitable when dealing with cultural or social differences.5. A great church protects the flock. It is inevitable that false teachers and immoral people will seek to spread their sin into a local church, which is why the church is called to be on guard against such people.Paul warns the Jerusalem church in Acts 20:29 that after his departure, "savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert..."It is one thing to be forbearing with sinners who come into the church with the hopes that they hear the gospel and believe in Jesus. But it's another thing for sinners - who profess to be Christians and who serve in the church - to practice unrepentant sin and cause others to stumble into sin as well. That is why Jesus lays out instructions on how to deal with unrepentant sinners in Matthew 19:15-20, which is designed to protect the purity and integrity of the local church.6. A great church employs people's service. Many people comprise a local church, and great churches know how to encourage them to use their spiritual gifts for the church.Revelation 3:19 highlights service as one of the marks that Jesus commended in a church. Paul speaks about the need to serve God with one's spiritual gifts by highlighting the different ways that God has gifted believers to contribute to the body of Christ in Romans 12:4: "For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another..." Gifts include teaching, service, exhortation, mercy, giving, and others.A church suffers and runs ineffectively if Christians don't do their part in serving in a local church, and if leaders never encourage congregants to serve.7. A great church evangelizes the public. The only way that the universal church expands is when more people come into the fold. That is the purpose of evangelism, which brings salvation to sinners and brings them into the people of God. Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit..."The church of Acts grew mightily because of committed efforts from Paul, Peter, and others to bring the gospel to the Jews in the synagogues and the Gentiles in the marketplace. Similarly, a great church will live out its calling of being ambassadors for Christ by interacting with people in the city with the hopes of bringing them to saving faith in Christ.This is not an exhaustive list of what makes a great church, but some of the more important traits. Next time you are searching for a home church, keep these factors in mind. If you do, you will end up at the right church.Attending and participating at the right church is crucial in this day and age when churches try to cater to what people like, instead of what they need — as the Bible teaches.Steve Cha is the teaching pastor of Grace City LA.

Faith Leaders Urge Signing of 'Our Hope for Peace' Amid Violence Surrounding US Embassy Move

Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem seeks to bring a biblical perspective, balance and different tone to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

NEWS RELEASEA. Larry Ross Communications

As deadly violence erupted in Gaza protesting the move of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, The Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem urged individuals to sign "Our Hope for Peace: A Statement on Israel, the Nations and the Gospel."

"'Our Hope for Peace' is a statement of 13 affirmations and 13 denials that outlines what the Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem, a group of key faith leaders, scholars, authors and pastors across a variety of denominations and backgrounds, believes the Bible teaches on complex questions regarding peace in the Middle East."It is disturbing to witness the violence erupting in Gaza protesting the move and to learn of the dozens killed," said Dr. Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries and founding member of The Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem. "Our prayers go out to the families of those who died and to the Israeli soldiers who are in harm's way as well as those Israelis living on the border of Gaza who had to evacuate their homes. We are reminded of the words of the Psalmist who told us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) and encourage all who love the Lord and Jerusalem to pray today for peace."

The Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem is dedicated to facilitating a better public understanding of the complexities of the Middle East including its roots in history and the Bible. The Alliance was founded as a response to the results of a survey, "Evangelical Attitudes Toward Israel and Peace in the Middle East," conducted by LifeWay Research and underwritten by Chosen People Ministries and New York Times bestselling author Joel C. Rosenberg.While the survey, which was completed in September 2017, did not specifically ask a question related to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, data clearly shows respondents' support of the Jewish people's right to Israel yet their concern over the well-being of the Palestinians.According to the survey, 80 percent of Evangelicals agree that God's promise to Abraham and his descendants was for all time; 76 percent say Christians should support the Jewish people's right to live in the sovereign state of Israel; and 69 percent say Israel has a historic right to the land compared to 46 percent who deny that for the Palestinians. Additionally, 41 percent of survey respondents argue the Jewish people have a biblical right to the land but also have a responsibility to share, although another 31 percent are not sure.The Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem's goal is to tell the story of Israel's role in the biblical narrative while also affirming God's concern for all peoples in the Middle East."It is rare to see a group that holds to Israel's right to the land as a legitimate nation that also has concerns for other people present there," said Dr. Darrell Bock, executive director for Cultural Engagement at the Hendricks Center, senior research professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and founding member of the Alliance. "Usually one sees an either/or choice. The Alliance seeks to bring a biblical perspective, balance and different tone to these issues."The 13 affirmations outlined in "Our Hope for Peace" include general biblical truths regarding Israel, the nations and the Gospel as well as statements addressing the present and future role of Israel in God's biblical narrative. The 13 denials outlined in "Our Hope for Peace" address common incorrect theological beliefs often held by Christians and ethical dilemmas in regards to support of Israel as it relates to Palestine and the Middle East."Our Hope for Peace" seeks to be instructive about major biblical themes such as God's faithfulness to His word, His commitments to those to whom original promises were made, the importance of Jesus Christ in the plan of God, the necessity for mission work to all people, and a commitment to reconciliation, peace and justice that stands encased in how the people of God are called to live.Leaders from around the world have signed "Our Hope for Peace" and invited others to provide their support through signing the document online."If there was ever a time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, this would be it for we are in a unique moment in history," said Joel C. Rosenberg, New York Times bestselling author, dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and founding member of the Alliance. "Jesus said, 'Blessed are the peace-makers.' Being a peacemaker means understanding that God is not 'either/or.' He's 'both/and.' He loves all people on both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and He commands us to do the same."To sign "Our Hope for Peace" or for more information, visit https://allianceforthepeaceofjerusalem.com/.

Remembering Motherhood Well (A Letter To Future Me)

Dear Future Me,I wanted to write this letter to you, hopeful that you aren’t as hard on yourself (now that your kids are all grown up) as you were when you were a mom of young children. I hope you give yourself more grace and remember motherhood well. They say hindsight is 20/20, but when I look back on memories from my teens, twenties, and early thirties, it’s hard for me to remember things clearly sometimes — how I responded, how I felt, what my thoughts and actions were in the moments in between the big milestones and memories. And since your children are grown up now as you read this, Future Me, I know you may wonder if you were the best mom you could have been.By ANGIE MERRILLSo Future Me, I want to tell you that being a mom of three young children was difficult, wonderful, unpredictable, unexpected, and absolutely one of the best things you’ve ever experienced. You were not a perfect mom, but you never aimed for perfection.Sometimes you were tired, yes, imperfect (of course), but each morning you got out of bed and strived to tackle the newness (and sometimes the monotony) of each day with love, grace, and creativity. You aimed to be a mom who pleased God and loved her children well… Your burning desire was to teach them, to serve your family, to make things fun, but also to instill in them a love for Jesus and kindness toward others.Future Me, you may remember the season when you struggled to maintain your joy as you constantly battled a strong-willed child/future leader. It caught you off guard, yes. There was indeed a learning curve as you got to know your future leader and devoured everything you could read on how to parent lovingly and consistently through that trial. You made some mistakes. There were times you weren’t sure you had what took to raise someone so strong, intense, and independent. But your foggy memory might try to convince you that this was your experience the entire time your kids were young. And in actuality through lots of prayer, persistence, LOVE, reading, support from an amazing husband and friends, you got through it. There were moments in this tough season that were scary and uncertain. But there was also so much joy…so much laughter…so much hope….so much gratitude.When you looked upon each of your children, you tried to will your brain to remember…to etch into your memory these moments, facial expressions, funny and precious things they’d say, and the sound of their voices at every stage. And you worried you’d forget.You managed the different personalities of your children with a special appreciation and love for each one. They kept you on your toes with their many changes, but you counted yourself blessed to be able to be there for them physically and emotionally as you didn’t quite get to experience in your own childhood.You snuggled, hugged, and kissed their sweet faces often. Oh how you loved to love on them! You soaked them in as if doing so was drinking from the fountain of youth itself.I know you, and I know what you’re thinking: “I should have gotten down on the floor and PLAYED with them more.” Guess what: You did that sometimes. Maybe you could have done it more. But, girl, you tried and you had a lot on your plate.You were the reader of bedtime stories.The helper with homework.The cooker of dinner.The preparer of healthy snacks.The washer and folder of endless loads of laundry.The manager of schedules.The shopper of food.The article reader and saver of anything helpful having to do with parenting, children, crafts, social media apps, movies, and cultural trends to be aware of.The taker and organizer of photos.The journaler of important milestones.The cleaner.The teacher of how to do chores.The doer of hair.The listener of silly stories.The answerer of both deep and funny questions.The constant reminder to be gracious, kind, generous, and forgiving.The comforter of broken hearts.Future Me, as a mom you were a healer of boo-boos with your ouch-less antiseptic spray, Arnica gel, Band-Aids, essential oils, and children’s Tylenol. You were the parent they called upon in the middle of the night due to stomach aches, headaches, growing pains, or bad dreams. You rolled out of bed each and every time, always surprising yourself how you could be so loving and gentle with them at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. when you were SO. VERY. TIRED.You helped them study multiplication, sight words, and super reader books though at times you thought you might fall asleep (or die of boredom) because the day had been so long already…and you had poured out so much of yourself. You helped with homework and school projects — but just the right amount of help because you didn’t want to be a mother who did everything for their kids for fear of them failing. You believed failure was a good thing, a teachable moment, and something you and your children could go through and learn from together. Plus, you found something truly special in a project that was the result of a child’s imagination and ability and not your own.You worried for them…every time they climbed a tree or played too rough, or went to school, or when others were unkind or cruel. You wondered if they would remember everything you taught them when faced with peer pressure or the opportunity to stand up for someone else or to fight for what was right.You prayed for them….before they were even born your prayed for them. You prayed out loud every single drive to school. You prayed before bed. You prayed throughout the day. You prayed that they would be strong and healthy….students of God’s Word….courageous and kind. You prayed that the seeds of faith that were being planted in their hearts would never be snatched away. You prayed that they would be wise to the enemy’s and the world’s schemes. You prayed that they would be set apart for the Lord and choose the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14). You prayed that they would follow God’s plan and purpose for them, and that they would have a relationship with Jesus who would be both their Lord and their friend (John 15:15). You prayed for God’s protection and guidance.Future Me, remember that you sang to your children. You put music on often. You had spontaneous dance parties in the living room. You tried to incorporate biblical lessons and Jesus in your everyday life. You did silly voices. You tried to make things fun. You were amazed by the way they talked. You tried to always speak to them and kind and loving manner — even in discipline. And of course you weren’t perfect at this. Yes, there were times you were grumpy, and tired, and human. Yes, there were times you wondered if you were doing the right thing by working part-time, and not homeschooling, and not changing the family’s diet to vegan and gluten-free.But Future Me, in this moment where I (past you) am feeling patient and gracious with myself, I wanted you to know that you were a great mom.Let me repeat that in case you still haven’t learned to accept compliments:YOU WERE A GREAT MOM. You did your best by the grace of God, and you never gave up. You loved your children well. May God bless you with fond memories of this wonderful, unpredictable, crazy, awesome season of life.Angie Merrill is a mom of three, a wife, a writer, and a follower of Christ based in Los Angeles, Calif. She aims to help parents of strong-willed children stay calm, connected, and creative as they joyfully lead future leaders. You can learn more about Angie on her blog https://grumpyfrumpymommy.com.

God Doesn't Waste Anything, Especially Our Stories

God doesn’t waste anything. Humans waste a lot of things. Just look at our landfills and literal islands of garbage floating in the oceans.

BY SPENCER T. FOLMAR

But God, He doesn’t waste anything, especially our stories.Despite all of the devastating effects of the fall of mankind and the curse of sin on all facets of life and creation, God is still managing, dictating, and perfectly planning our paths. The Puritans had a saying that, “God uses sin sinlessly.” And if God can use sin sinlessly, he must be able to use all things in my life, too.I am a filmmaker and an artist, but most times, I feel like I waste more than I create. I find this reality most especially true when I look back on the many random, sad, and sometimes bizarre twists and turns in my own life’s trajectory.One day, I want to ask God so many “Why?” questions. Why, Lord, did that happen? Why was I in that relationship for years just to see it fall apart? Why did I do that? Lord, why did you let that happen to me? Why did I move to that state… that country?A “Why?” question I ponder a lot is about the path of my education. In fact, my academic career is a complex conversation. I went to an undergraduate school that didn’t have a proper film degree but had a well-rounded liberal arts communication studies program. I attended four film schools in total, including New York University Tisch School of the Arts for my MFA in Film. I worked at a Psychology school filming classes and counseling sessions for a few years, and also attended an informal Bible school overseas. I eventually went on to earn a Masters of Theology at seminary. Why?Some days I look back on my life and think that my life is a giant, pointless mess. But when I have more clarity and take a moment to live in the present, I pray that maybe there is a point to all of this randomness. On my very best days, the Lord gives me great grace in seeing how He may have been organizing my life in an intricate and perfect plan after all. Maybe too, just maybe, my life is only a thread of the great tapestry of life and of God’s plan of redemption.It’s an overwhelming and fearful thing to try and make sense of all the events of a life. There is a lot of failure, brokenness, and utter darkness that is tough to reconcile with the character of God. What do I do with the parts of my life that I’m still waiting to see how God might use for someone else’s good or even my own good? My choice is to face the confusion and doubts with faith.Maybe yet, there is still much more that God is doing through my life than I am even close to understanding. Maybe, all that education is being interwoven into my screenplays, attempting to speak honestly about God and the struggle of faith. Perhaps, all my scars and brokenness will be used to help me be more empathetic to others and have more grace to my brothers and sisters. That is my prayer, Lord.I find the lyrics of Sufjan Steven’s Vito’s Ordination Song comforting for this subject:“There's a designTo what I did and saidRest in my arms,Sleep in my bed,There's a design.”---Director Spencer T. Folmar's theatrical debut, "Generational Sins," has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. Folmar coined the term "Hard Faith" to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. Folmar's films are now released under his Los Angeles production company Hard Faith Films, which is currently developing several projects that will reflect today's multifaceted culture and audience.

Woman's Dream Gathering Becomes Real at Grace City LA Church

Kimberly Yu’s dream from more than a dozen years ago to hold a gathering that highlights the transformative life stories of women who have suffered much and gained hope through Jesus becomes real this Saturday (May 12, 2018).“I know God can heal broken hearts and broken souls and that’s really what this conference is about,” said Yu in an interview with TogetherLA about the upcoming HOPE Conference to be held at Grace City LA. “We want women to know that they are not alone and that there’s hope.”Yu, who said she experienced a myriad of difficult times and bad choices, believes God clearly showed her a dream or a vision of a meeting in which five “regular” women walked up in front of a gathering of women, one at a time to speak about how their lives used to be and what God has done in their lives.Pastor Steve Cha of Grace City LA, a young church in downtown LA, said the HOPE Conference is the church’s first ever. This is a women’s conference designed to exhort women struggling in depression, anxiety, hopelessness, lack of purpose, and sin issues that can only be healed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the church stated.“It is also a great equipping day for women desiring the practical tools to help exhort other lost and hurting women in the faith,” organizers said.The guest speakers include Marlene Barba, Kimberly Yu, Hope Delabar, Cynthia Shutt, and Liza Uriarte. A time of worship, fellowship, Q&A, and prayer will also be included. The free conference is scheduled for 10 am to 4 pm.Yu, who will also be one of the speakers, described the speakers as not necessarily experts in the sense of having a professional identity. “We are experts from the school of hard knocks. In the street game. How to survive when you don’t have a choice,” she said.“There’s lots of stories I can tell you right now about how I shouldn’t even be alive right now,” Yu said. Testimonies of transformation will include periods of homelessness, prostitution, addiction, physical and mental abuse, and the loss of loved ones.Yu said she was shown through attending a recent marriage conference that it’s okay for those giving testimony to still be going through a process.She said that she heard from people that “still need healing and [their testimonies] are still very real and raw.”“That’s what God wants to bring to that stage. He wants those testimonies not to be powdered up and read from a paper word for word. He wants it to come from the soul of those women just like the vision he gave me more than 12 years ago,” she explained.This conference is FREE. Please RSVP here to reserve a spot for you and your guests.

4-Year-Old Gives Sandwiches and Love To Homeless [VIDEO]

Delivering chicken sandwiches to the homeless is "just the right thing to do," said 4-year-old Austin Perine of Birmingham, Alabama, in a video interview with a CBS Evening News reporter that's gone viral.Austin, who dresses up with a super hero cape for his weekly rounds among the homeless, tells each person, "don't forget to show love" after he gives out a sandwich.When Austin first learned that people were homeless, he asked his parents to dedicate all his allowance and money they’d spend on toys to buy chicken sandwiches to donate, according to CBS Evening News.Austin also introduces himself as “President Austin.” Austin’s father, TJ Perine, said Austin believes it’s the president’s job to help feed the homeless.“Feeding the homeless is the highlight of my life,” Austin said.He’s also working to establish a shelter facility with hopes to expand nationwide, according to the boy's Twitter account managed by his dad.

True Identity: We are Strangers In a Foreign Land

The reality is, Christians are interlopers. We are strangers and foreigners.

BY ED STETZER

As Christians, I believe we should always be more driven by our missionary identity than we are by our national identity, our political identity, our environmental identity, our social identity, or even our church identity.Don’t get me wrong. We ought to love our church. (I know I love my church.) And the Church (with capital C) is the bride of Christ, destined for eternity with God. But here on earth we must face the reality that our culture is not to be our primary identity.Our culture is a mission field. We must see ourselves as people on mission. This is not our home. This is our mission field. Therefore, we all must see our vocations as mission—as kingdom work.

Strangers in a foreign land

First Peter 2:11 tells us that we are strangers and exiles. This land is not our home. But part of the challenge is that a lot of people want to fight for their homeland instead of acknowledging that we're supposed to have the mindset of foreigners and exiles.Let’s put this into the facts that we know about our population. If the percentage of people who are nominally Christian is shrinking and nominal Christians become Nones, then we are dwelling in an increasingly secular land.As a result, we need a reemphasis on gospel clarity. Being labeled Christian no longer means a ‘social Christian’, but instead is someone who's been changed by the power of the gospel, if indeed you have. This is a vital theological shift in the way we are viewed and should view our land.Understanding these shifts is necessary in part because we live in an age of outrage. People in our land get ticked off over things that they don’t like. This calls us to gospel clarity. And missionary identity, seeing ourselves as strangers and temporary residents, is what will pull us towards showing and sharing the love of Jesus as we should.

We are a convictional minority

At one time, we were perceived (incorrectly, I think) as a religious majority. Today, we're a convictional minority. This is key, because when you're a convictional minority, you don’t fit in the mainstream of culture. We are statistically a minority of people in our culture who think differently than the mainstream culture. We are not walking around thinking, We're the majority. You're going to do what I say. You're going to accept all my standards.A lot of people still think Christendom when they think American, Candian, British, or whatever. They believe they need to take back the country, because it's theirs and others are interlopers.The reality is, we are the interlopers. We are the strangers and foreigners.When we think like a convictional minority, we'll engage culture less with "You owe me" and more with “How can I engage you the culture we are in via the mission we are on?"Christendom has died. Not Christianity, statistically, but Christendom.The prevailing idea of a Judea-Christian worldview is no longer something we can take for granted. We are in a post-Christendom age. Our focus must now be more on mission, evangelism, and the like.Sorry, Christian, we are not birthright owners. We are exiles. Many sincere Christians have seen America as a new Israel. When Ronald Reagan said, "We will be as a city upon a hill," some saw some divine relation to a specific nation. But, let’s be clear: Reagan wasn't quoting the Bible; he was quoting John Winthrop standing on the deck of the Arabella in 1630.God loves all people. And perhaps we have great responsibility because we occupy “a great land between two great seas” (another Reagan gem). But we are not the new Israel. Our covenant relationship with God is no covenant like the Old Testament.Sure, we can pray, "Lord, heal our land," but 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God says, "If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, I will hear from heaven and heal their land," is not about us. It’s about ancient Israel in the time of King Solomon, who was about to go off the deep end into idolatry.We need God to heal our land, but we don't have a land in the same way as King Solomon.

Stop the Israel thinking

We've got to stop the Israel thinking, which is, This is our place, our home. Instead, we must consider that we are foreigners and strangers in exile. It's someone else's home. We're not Israel. We're Israel in exile.Jeremiah 29:5 speaks to those like us in exile. Sure, plant gardens and grow, and flourish, and more. But always remember you’re in Babylon.This makes all the difference. Why? Because only then will we have exile thinking and gospel focus. We begin to think about our mission to engage a culture that God loves and wants to redeem and restore to himself.Ed Stetzer holds the Billy Graham Distinguished Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College, is executive director of the Billy Graham Center, and publishes church leadership resources through Mission Group.This article was republished with permission and originally appeared here.