I’ve been experiencing a whirlwind of emotions in the last twenty-four hours. Even before Karl Rove said it around lunchtime, it was obvious who our next President would be. I listened to the speeches of both McCain and Obama, then went to bed. I went right to sleep. Why? Well, I was tired! And, I know Who is ultimately in charge.

This morning I have struggled to articulate my own feelings about the situation, which is why I want to encourage you to read Al Mohler’s post from today. Mohler is a master wordsmith and I could never say it quite the way He did, so read…

America Has Chosen a President.

Barack Obama has been declared, at this point, President-elect of the United States. My reaction? Welcome. I didn’t choose him, but God did. I could not and did not vote for him because of some serious values-clashes. But now, It’s time for us to prayerfully support the man God has chosen for this position. Let’s be obedient to 1 Timothy 2:1-2 and undergird him in prayer daily. God has granted us this man as President in His sovereign wisdom. We may agree or not, but “the powers that be are ordained of God.” (Romans 13:1-5)

Now is the time for believers in Christ to pursue the lost with a white-hot passion. We need to reach the soul of America by reaching souls in America with the gospel. Whatever you think of the outcome of this election, this is an historic moment. My six-year-old will grow up under the first African-American president in America’s history.

I won’t belabor this point, but I think the Republican party has kind of blown this election on a number of fronts. I perceived McCain to attack and Obama to simply react to the attacks with attacks of his own - the fault, in my estimation, usually fell on McCain in that regard. I also think McCain and the Republicans failed to properly estimate the power of open media in this presidential race. The blogosphere, micro-blogging in particular, and the fund-raising successes of social networking made an enormous difference in the race. If you don’t see the power of new media evident now, you must be stuck in the 1980’s.

It’s a great privilege to be an American. I got to go to the voting booth today and voice my own opinion. Sunday, I’ll get to attend church and carry my Bible. Daily, we walk in the freedom purchased with the price of the blood of men passionate about the cause of liberty. Thank God for all of this, and thank God for our leaders - may God lead and carry them, and may we become a nation God can truly smile upon.

photo credit: bobster1985

I love Rick Warren. I attended a conference on preaching at Saddleback in 2000 that changed the way I approach my pulpit ministry. I’ve ReadThe Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life. I’ve led one church through 40 Days of Purpose. So I’m not anti-Rick Warren. I think people who have barely heard what he has to say are far to harsh toward him. Nonetheless, I’m dissappointed.

Here’s a link: http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Aug16/0,4670,CandidatesReligion,00.html

Angie and I were flipping through the channels and stumbled up on the airing of Pastor Rick’s interviewing of both Obama and McCain on the stage of Saddleback at a “Forum on the Presidency.” Rick was pretty neutral and allowed both candidates to speak equally and fairly without much argument. Therein lies the problem for me. We can’t be neutral in this current culture war. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »

In this decade, conservative Christianity has lost some great giants of the faith. I was reflecting on the passing of Jack Hyles, long time Pastor of First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana. He was an interesting character with a unique leadership style. Far too many young Pastors went to their ministerial deaths trying to imitate his every move. Nonetheless, his impact on the independent Baptist movement and on the kingdom of God in general are immeasurable.

Then I think of W. A. Criswell. He pastored one of the most influential churches in the world, First Baptist Church in Dallas. He once spent almost eighteen years preaching through the entire Bible. His defense of the faith, his exposition of the Scriptures, and his charismatic style made a lasting mark on Baptist life and thought.

Another giant among men who has passed away this decade was Adrian Rogers, Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, often called the flagship church of the Southern Baptist Convention. Like Criswell, Rogers’ impact upon the nation’s largest non-Catholic denomination was immense, serving as president of the Southern Baptist Convention three terms. His preaching was practical and poignant, but his wisdom in leadership was what elevated him above the average preacher.

On Sunday, May 6, two other leaders were taken on to heaven. Dr. Lee Roberson, Pastor of the Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee and founder of Tennessee Temple University, went home to be with the Lord. Within an hour of his passing, Dr. Viola Walden also slipped into her eternal home. She had been personal secretary to Dr. John R. Rice since he began The Sword of the Lord. At age 91, she was at her desk at work on the Friday before she died.

God’s timing, sovereignty, and wisdom are all unquestionable attributes. I know that His intention was to take them home, to give them a final rest with the saints. But from our perspective, they seem like missing links in modern Christianity. My great question would be, who will replace them? Who will be the anchors of the church in the next half century? Have we reached the end of an era of Christianity that will never be revived again?

Some would say that the face of Christianity must change. I’ve listened to far too many upstarts criticize the elder leaders among us as “behind the times.” I have a different perspective. Though we’re moving swiftly through the information age with little clue what lies next, we can still rely on twenty centuries of a very faithful pattern. Namely, God has always raised up men who have challenged their generation to think biblically.

Consider Paul, Peter, and Polycarp who faced Rome without trepidation. Think of Athanasius, who stood virtually alone to combat Arianism. Dwell upon the reformers who, with all of their shortcomings theologically, stood against the established church leadership of their times to call Christianity back to sincere and emboldened faithfulness to God’s Word. And think of the evangelistic-missionary age with the Spurgeon’s, Torrey’s, and Moody’s.

Until Jesus comes again, He’ll be building His church out of the stock of saved humanity. He’ll be calling forth leaders to stand in the gap for the land. And they will respond, for Jesus promised it would be so. With all the “missing links” the real question that remains for us is, are we willing to continue the tradition? Will we be surrendered to a life of holiness and passionate, Spirit-filled zeal? To say that the survival of God’s kingdom depends in any way on our abilities would be negligent of the self-sufficiency of God. But to recognize that the future of God’s Kingdom depends upon our availability simply serves to remind us that God has chosen to use people in the redemption of this lost and sinful planet. Will you stand in the gap?

In a recent blog, I strongly supported President Bush’s stance against government-supported embryonic stem-cell research. I am a pro-lifer only because of the Bible’s teaching (which I believe to be absolute truth) that life begins as an act of God at conception, and further that the responsibility to terminate life lies solely in His hands. Any society that does not recognize murder as a crime has little basis for any law at all.

This past week, however, President Bush commended Dr. Andrew on Eschenbach (FDA Commissioner) for his decision to allow the “Plan B” pill to be sold over-the-counter to adults. I’m surprised at the President’s tone considering his desire to foster a “culture of life” in America. The data from research on the pill shows divided evidence. The company that produces the pill, Barr Pharmaceuticals, claims that the pill prevents fertilization up to 72 hours after intercourse, but some research has shown that fertilization takes place but implantation is prevented. Essentially, the pill may equal an immediate abortion.

Beyond the issue of aborting life is the issue of sexual responsibility, which America seems to shun as an old-fashioned ideal. I believe that the last forty to fifty years have been a period of rediculous cutting lose of all responsibility in sexuality. Yes, I’m for sex only in the context of a covenant marriage between a man and a woman, but the issue is larger today than mere domestic partners and pre-marital sex. We live in a society akin to that of ancient Corinth or Ephesus. Sexual activity outside the bonds of matrimony has become idol-worship for Americans. Promiscuity and perversion is simply part of our culture.

This pill will further encourage a stripping away of sexual fidelity and responsibility. Sexual predators will see an easy out - lure a young girl into intercourse, then have her take a pill. Whatever happened to the very simple, common sense idea that if we reserve sex for a God-ordained scenario of marriage only, we’ll stay out of trouble?

The bleeding hearts among us will instantly cry “freedom” for women who are inconvenienced by the natural (that means God-designed) results of their own choices. They will also cry “tyranny” toward women who have been victimized through rape or incest. But the bottom line for me has little to do with the woman in question. I have the utmost compassion for a woman who has been the victim of rape or incest, but the reality remains that life only begins if God wills! Think of the face of that beautiful baby that comes forth from the young woman’s womb who became pregnant by no volition of her own. God declared He wanted no child to ever suffer and wants them all to be saved and to live in heaven with Him forever.

Mr. President, I believe we not only need a “culture of life” which would have been supported better by keeping this pill out of the hands of irresponsible people, but we also must have a revival of a “culture of responsibility.”

I know that we cannot change the hearts of sexually irresponsible people by making abortion (even in pill form) illegal. Nevertheless, conscience compels me to speak out continuously on behalf of the innocent unborn and young girls, who will really bear the brunt of this decision. Sex is not a toy! A pill cannot provide the easy out from the emotional damage done by sexual irresponsibility.

Mr. President, I love you and pray for you daily. I agree with your basic philosophy of life, but you kind of blew it on this one.

Read Story Here

Today, President Bush took a bold stand for life when he vetoed Congress’ bill concerning stem cell research. The bill would have reversed previous policies set by the Bush Administration which limited embryonic stem cell research only to existing lines of embryos. President Bush was unequivocal that every embryo is a precious life, created with dignity.

Interestingly, there were people present in the crowd whose lives testified to the effects of funding the right kind of stem cell research. A dozen children were present who were originally conceived for in vitro fertilization but who were adopted instead of being discarded. I will agree with the liberal media that Bush did not decide with the majority of Americans on this issue, and certainly not the majority of politicians in Washington today.

I would never presume to be a scientist, nor am I much of a politician. On this issue, however, the facts seem clear. God creates life at conception, whether in a mother’s womb or a petrie dish, and it is up to no one but God to end that life. It is especially selfish to seek to destroy the most innocent and helpless among us to spare the lives of the already-living. In any other culture, with any less scientific practice, this would be termed as barbarianism, the strong preying on the weak.

Our President is not always right, but on this issue, I say, “Amen, Mr. President!”

“Marriage is honorable in all…” -Hebrews 13:4

Perhaps the hottest social topic of the moment is the Federal Marriage Amendment, scheduled for vote on the Senate floor in the next few days. The liberal pundits have come out screaming that this is simply a ploy by President Bush and conservative Republicans to drum up votes for the November election. That may, in some respect, be true as no politician is immune to the temptation to “play politics.” But as a Christian, am I merely being duped into focusing on an issue because my conservative leaders have pulled the wool over my eyes? Hardly.

For me, as a conservative Christian, the Federal Marriage Amendment is an issue today because of the pressing need to defend the basic institution of society against attack by a liberal minority. Scripture is an eternally binding revelation of God upon my life and I’m to stand for its truths. If Jesus is Lord of who I am in church on Sunday, then He is equally Lord of who I am as a citizen in the voting booth.

The fact is, no Amendment would be necessary were it not for the imminent threat that at some time and place, a judge will reinterpret the law, override the will of the people, and choose on the side of immorality to defend gay marriage and thereby redefine what marriage is. This judicial relativism has the potential to stray far beyond the realm of normality. Who is to say what marriage is? Perhaps it could be polygamy? If such radically immoral groups such as the “Man-Boy Love Association” had their way, it might be that marriage could be a union of a grown man and a young boy. Will that be the future of marriage?

I cannot presume to speak for the world, but I can, as a Bible-believing Christian, stand for my beliefs in the public square and I’ll not be shamed into the corner for doing so. The Old Testament revealed that a marital union was to be between members of the opposite sex. The New Testament plainly clarifies that marriage should be between one man and one woman, thereby excluding polygamy. For me, as a Christian, there is only one alternative - marriage must be preserved as between one man and one woman alone. If a Federal Marraige Amendment is what it takes to protect this timeless institution from the threat of jucial activism (a reality, not just a “Bush term”), then so be it.