Prayer is No Substitute For Obedience

6 De-churching Trends: When the Local Church Is No Longer Central in the Christian Walk

One of the least obvious—and yet most tragic—changes Christianity has experienced in the past fifty years is the diminishing of the centrality of the local church in the life of many Christians. The Lord’s Day, once considered a special day dedicated to the worship and service of God, is now treated like any other day by many professing believers. And local church life, once considered the center of indispensable relationships within our spiritual family whom we love, encourage, and to whom we remain accountable, is now treated like an extra-curricular activity rather than an essential ingredient of the Christian life. 

The signs of the diminishing priority of the local church are many. However, I will only mention the six trends that Kent Hughes highlights in his book, Set Apart: Calling a Worldly Church to a Godly Life.

1. Hitchhiker Christians: “The hitchhiker’s thumb says, ‘You buy the car, pay for repairs and upkeep and insurance, fill the car with gas—and I’ll ride with you. But if you have an accident, you are on your own! And I’ll probably sue.’ So it is with the credo of many of today’s church attenders: ‘You go to the meetings and serve on the boards and committees, you grapple with the issues and do the work of the church and pay the bills—and I’ll come along for the ride. But if things do not suit me, I’ll criticize and complain and probably bail out. My thumb is always out for a better ride.’”

2. The consumer mentality: Many of today’s Christians shop for a church like they build their supper at a cruise ship buffet. “Ecclesiastical shoppers attend one church for the preaching, send their children to a second church for its youth program, and go to a third church’s small group. Their motto is to ask, ‘What’s in it for me?’” This has often been rightly called, Cafeteria Christianity.

3. Spectator Christianity: “Spectator Christianity feeds on the delusion that virtue can come through viewing, much like the football fan who imagines that he ingests strength and daring while watching his favorite pro team. Spectator sports and spectator Christianity produce the same thing—fans who cheer the players on while they themselves are in desperate need of engagement and meaning.”

4. Drive-through Christians: “The nice thing about drive-through restaurants is that you can get what you want in a minimum of time with no more effort than a turn of your power steering.

Midweek Humor

HT: Pastor Ray

Intervening in Crisis Marriages

Photo Credit: Muzmatch

Intervening in Crisis Marriages by Dr. Ernie Baker.

"The situation could be a shock to the church or it could be a shock to one of the members of the marriage. Either way, something has happened that is now life-threatening for the marital relationship. Over the last year, I (Dr. Baker) have faced more of these relationships than any other time in ministry. As a result, I have spent a significant amount of time thinking of strategies for intervention. What can a church do? Is church discipline/restoration (Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5) the only option?[1]

Before we get to some suggested steps, I’ll attempt to define a crisis marriage.  Definition of a Crisis Marriage: I am not using the term crisis marriage to describe a relationship that is having brush fires break out. The marriages I have in mind are full-blown wildfires. Divorce is threatened or papers have actually been filed. Violence has become public. An affair has been revealed. A struggle with a secret sin has become known. Therefore, the crisis marriage is a shock to you or to one of the partners and is causing stress on the marriage so that it is unraveling.

Motivations for Getting Involved: Because marriage represents Christ’s relationship to His Church, it is worth intervening sacrificially. A lot is on the line here, including the name of our Lord. Not only that, but also the health of the couple’s children is at stake. They hear that the gospel is about love and forgiveness and grew up believing their parents actually believed these things, but now they fight rather than offer love and forgiveness. The consequence—children mock Christianity and end up cohabiting because they don’t want the pain of a failed marriage. There are many other reasons to get involved with crisis marriages. For the love of Christ constrains us… (2 Cor. 5:14).

Principles to Help

Remember the advantages of having a one-anothering culture in the church — Within a one-anothering culture, it is much more natural to have the necessary conversations when these crises happen. It is also harder for the people involved to resist if there has been prior investment in the relationship. Maybe the first thing you need to work on in the ministry is one-anothering as a long-term solution to many soul care issues (see Rom. 12:4-21). Your appeal will be potent in the context of personal relationship.

10 Biblical Principles for Marriages and Marriage Counseling

Gospel-Centered Marriages and Marriage Counseling by Dr. Kellemen. 

"I’ve done a lot of marriage counseling lately. Consistent biblical themes keep arising. I’ve collated them into 10 foundational principles for marriages and for marriage counseling. The first 8 principles are for both the husband and wife. The final 2 are more specifically for the husband (# 9) and the wife (# 10).

Notice that the last two principles are where a lot of couples and a lot of counselors start—with biblical roles in marriage. Obviously, this is a vital biblical area. Yet, Paul did not start Ephesians with Ephesians 5:21. He started it with gospel-centered principles of salvation, daily Christian living, and relationships. Then, building upon those foundations, Paul moved toward the roles, responsibilities, and callings of husbands and wives. With these 10 principles, I’ve sought to do the same—laying out a gospel-centered foundation for marriages and marriage counseling. I now regularly hand out these 10 principles as a one-page guide for the couples that I’m counseling. Feel free to do the same—with small margins, you can make these 10 principles all fit on one page! To prove it, click here for your one-page PDF document. You can send it to others using this shortened link: http://bit.ly/MarriageMC10

10 Biblical Principles for Marriages and Marriage Counseling

1. Both of You: Keep Putting Jesus First; Keep Loving Jesus Most: Matthew 22:35-38

Love God most with your most: with all your heart, soul, mind, and spirit. Repent of anything you put on the throne above Jesus. Put Jesus before yourself. Put Jesus before your children, your work, your ministry. Put Jesus before your need to be right. Put Jesus first. Love Jesus most.

2. Both of You: Be Empowered, Changed, and Comforted by the Trinity—Be Filled by the Spirit, Empowered by the Son, and Comforted by the Father: Ephesians 5:18; 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 1:3-8 

Paul surrounds his marriage counsel with Ephesians 5:18 and 6:10-18. Spouses change as they are filled by the Spirit (5:18). Marriages change as spouses become more like Christ in Christ’s resurrection power (6:10-18). In your marital wounds and hurts, be comforted by the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-8).

3. Both of You: Remember Who Your Enemy Is—Satan!: Ephesians 6:11-12 

Your struggle is not against your spouse. Your enemy is not your spouse. Your joint enemy is Satan! He wants to destroy your marriage. Join together as spiritual warriors to defeat Satan in the Lord’s mighty power.

4. Both of You: Take Personal Responsibility: Joshua 1:6-9; Philippians 4:9

You’ve been given more spiritual tools than most people on the planet. Use them. Be mature and courageous and do what God commands. What you’ve heard in the Word—do! Put it into practice!

A Fervent Christian Walk

A Prayer of Forgiveness and Consecration

Russell Moore's Social Justice Crusade is Flawed

Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile's infamous "pro Bernie Sanders" Tweet

With far too many white (American) believers, "normal Christianity is white..." so says TGC's beloved Russell Moore. 

Friends, don't buy into everything that Dr. Moore and friends are actively promoting under the banner of so called "Gospel-Centered" ministry.  Let's use our minds to think critically and biblically about this multi-layered issue.  Let's first understand what critical race theory is before we begin to call it a Gospel-centered mandate of the Church.  

One can love and show grace to ethnic minorities without embracing the social justice gospel.  For example, Grace Community Church in Southern California (and many other churches) that DO NOT EMBRACE Critical Race Theory or TGC's progressive understanding of "social justice" are ethnically and economically diverse.  If that fact shocks you, you are likely spending too much time watching MSNBC and perusing the Huffington Post's website.  Here's another real life example.  My former congregation (which did not embrace TGC's version of social justice) overwhelmingly affirmed an Indian Christian to serve over them as a key lay-leader (which is what Moore advocates for in this video); We rolled out a red-carpet when a precious Mexican family visited and later joined our Christian fellowship.  In our midweek youth and Awana ministries, and during our Sunday School hour, we regularly demonstrated the love of Christ to countless children and families (the vast majority of whom were not white skinned).  For some church leaders, to be "color blind" is itself a racist form of white privilege.  On a personal level, my wife and I regularly had low income, single-parent family children over for meals (even on holidays like Father's Day or Easter).  We took ethnic minorities with our own children to the local ice cream shop, or to the movies with us, I plowed snow for our African American neighbor, and the list goes on and on.  Here's another example that confirms my central point.  A predominately white evangelical congregation in Pennsylvania is currently taking care of six children who have been removed from the care of their African-American mother; (this single mom is trying hard to improve her particular life situation).  Many of my "conservative white friends" have adopted children from Asia, Africa, and from the struggling neighbor across the street.  What's my point?  One doesn't have to imbibe "critical race theory" in order to love one's neighbor.  Gasp! I know.  It was MLK himself who famously said,  “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

And STILL those who don't buy into TGC's interpretation of biblical justice (i.e. critical race theory) are called "ignorant fools" or worse.  Tim Keller recently said that white evangelicals aren't jumping on the MLK50 bandwagon because of the "stubbornness of the sinful heart."  Many who agree with Voddie Baucham, James White, John MacArthur, Robert Gagnon, Ardel Caneday and yours truly are afraid to speak out and push back against this TGC trend because they don't want to be marginalized (or to be unfairly labeled a "racist.")  Trust me, I get it. My experience is not unique.  However, we pastors must fear God more than man and should speak out if/when the church is drifting from the true mission of the Church (Col. 1:28-29; Eph. 4:11-16; Matt. 28:18-20).  For starters read this helpful series and this helpful article.  This "movement" is a big deal within the larger, Bible-believing, Christian church right now.  It's the primary reason I have invested so much time researching and writing about it.

Weak Christianity

Pastor Voddie Baucham's four minute sermon blurb is spot on and is worth listening to. Emotionalism, Mysticism, Sentimentalism, and Anti-Intellectualism continue to plague the contemporary church.

“I’m more offended by the fact that you confronted that sin than I am that that sin offends God. This is where we live today, especially in younger generations.”

“My faith is all about my experience. It’s all about what I feel. It’s all about what I know on the inside. We’re more like Mormons to be honest… These things are true because of my internal witness to these things. And in this mysticism or anti-intellectualism, we don’t often gauge the rightness or wrongness of things by the facts that are presented, but instead…based on the emotions that we experience…”

Pastors, "just preach what the Bible says!"

Does Your Heart Run on Hype? The Emotional Power of Ordinary Sundays

Does Your Heart Run on Hype?
The Emotional Power of Ordinary Sundays by Matt Merker

"Have you ever felt like the odd one out at a church service, the only one who’s not 'feeling it;? Does it sometimes seem like everyone else is on the emotional mountaintop and you’ve been left behind in the valley?

For some time now, many churches have structured worship gatherings to heighten natural emotional stimulation. Dim the lights. Pick songs that tug the heartstrings, despite their thin context. Make sure the choir or band swells at just the right moment. Deliver the sermon to land with a poignant climax, a welling up of feeling that may not even necessitate the new birth.

All of this may be well-intended. But we will not find any evidence in Scripture that a marked emotional “high” is the normative experience for Christian worship. Will we be moved emotionally, and often? Yes. And hopefully with spiritual affections, not simply natural feelings. Can we depend on a weekly jolt of euphoria? I don’t think so.

In corporate worship we find something far better than a typical rush of feeling. Here are three reasons why we shouldn’t expect each Lord’s Day to produce an off-the-charts mountaintop experience, and why we can instead delight in the regular, ordinary, supernatural joy of engaging with God together.

Ordinary Means, Extraordinary God

First, God has ordained that churches worship him through ordinary means. The elements of a Christian service are quite plain: texts recited and preached; prayer; human voices singing out loud; bread and wine; the water of baptism. The churches of the New Testament didn’t model their worship primarily on the rich ceremonies of the temple, with its incense, sacrifices, and golden trappings. Rather, it seems that they adapted the simpler format of the Jewish synagogue meeting, where the focus was on hearing the word of the Lord (Worship: Reformed According to Scripture, 36).

MLK50 and Social (Justice) Gospel Concerns Mount

From South Carolina PCA Pastor Jon D. Payne:

"I am honestly scratching my head over this panel discussion at T4G. It adds to my concerns that the broad evangelical church's focus on social justice is becoming unbalanced and unclear. No one disputes the fact that Luther King Jr. held deeply unorthodox views on the Christian Faith related to the inspiration of Scripture, the divine Sonship of Christ, the virgin birth, the resurrection, etc-- all essential Christian doctrine. Nor does anyone dispute the fact that MLK had numerous extra-marital affairs -- many of whom were prostitutes. Evidence has also recently come out that there was a significant misappropriation of funds within his civil rights organization. Nevertheless, in this panel discussion MLK is held up as a supreme "example of Christ's love" and a man who held "a deep theology of the cross" and who "won a hearing for Jesus Christ." Rather than give serious warnings to the 12,000 ministers and church leaders about MLK's sexual exploits and unorthodox doctrine, MLK's infidelities were spoken of as that which is too often viewed as a "smokescreen and diversion" to discount his important message and movement. In an age where we are trying to help Christians see the high priority of essential Christian doctrine and help ministers to understand that living in secret sexual sin (yes, porn also) is utterly unacceptable for a minister of the gospel, I find this conversation to be very unbalanced and potentially confusing for ministers -- especially young zealous ministers who want to make a difference in the world.

Growing up in Santa Clara, California, I went to school and played soccer with and lived next to people from dozens of ethnic backgrounds. Racism was a foreign concept to me.

Assistant Pastor Update- Lake Country Bible Church (April 2018)

Pastor Kent and Marie

Having received an official call from the members of Lake Country Bible Church it is our privilege to announce that Pastor Kent has prayerfully accepted our Assistant Pastor invitation. Kent and Marie bring decades of ministry experience and are especially known for their Christian hospitality.  Kent will help the pastoral staff and elders with shepherding, counseling,  teaching, and discipleship.

God has already answered many prayers. We planned on sharing this good news with you on Sunday but an ice storm prevented us from worshiping together. Stay tuned for more information. 

Good is good, all the time!

Jesus Was NOT a Social Justice Warrior (John MacArthur)

"Jesus was not a social justice warrior."  The following video by Pastor John MacArthur is short and to the point.

In the past 50 years no expositor has spent more time studying the life of Christ then Pastor John MacArthur.  30+ years of his pulpit ministry have been devoted to the verse-by-verse exposition(s) of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (twice through).  As such, his perspective on this controversial subject is worth considering.

Spring New Members Class at LCBC

19 believers have signed up for our Spring "New Members Class" at Lake Country Bible Church.  If you'd like to learn more about the ministry here, our history, core values, and doctrinal convictions please join us at 12:30 pm in room 101.  This informal context is a great venue to get to know other like-minded saints.  If you have not signed up it's not too late to join us.  Please call Pastor Caleb if you have any additional questions or speak with someone at our welcome center Sunday morning.

Our SS hour begins at 9 am and our morning Worship service starts at 10:15 am.

"To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Eph. 3:21)

The Goal of the Preacher...

1 Corinthians 4:1-2

1

The Social Justice and Critical Race Theory Bandwagon: Should You Hop On it?

If you have not been hanging out on a remote island you have no doubt heard and read over and over again about the so called "gospel mandate" to fight the systematic oppression against African-Americans that is still rampant in our  nation and to expose "white privilege" and other forms of racism that are (allegedly) alive and well in the "conservative white evangelical" church today.

As you try and sort out what this all means, what the root problems are, and what the biblical way forward looks like for a "Gospel-centered" congregation I would encourage you to listen to Pastor Charlie Dates sermon from the MLK50 conference.  I do not agree with much of what Mr. Dates communicates in this passionate message but it's important that we understand where the "other side" is actually coming from; lest we construct "straw men arguments."  As if an entire conference on this subject wasn't enough.  This same issue was promoted again at another mega-conference the very next week.  People with power and influence are pressuring pastors and congregants alike to jump on the social justice bandwagon...Should you hop on it?

As you likely know, many evangelical leaders (John MacArthur, Tom Ascol, James White, Voddie Baucham, Robert Gagnon, yours truly, etc) have warned the evangelical church that "critical race theory" is grounded more in progressive ideology and in worldly thinking then in actual biblical proof texts.  This same camp has also warned the masses that the unintended consequence of all this will be to unnecessarily divide the Body of Christ.  This is not just speculation.  One Pastor admitted at the same MLK50 conference that 300 members left his church when he started emphasizing social justice theology.  This celebrity pastor quickly noted that it was necessary subtraction however because "ignorant fools" will never accept this teaching.  For men like Charlie Dates, Russell Moore, and Matt Chandler these are Gospel-centered matters (not political disagreements).  The recent MLK50 conference made this point loud and clear.

Though all sides in this debate agree that true racism is wicked and sinful (and thus has NO place in the Church-Galatians 3:28) there is a huge chasm when it comes to whether or not "racial justice, white guilt, white supremacy, systematic oppression, racialization, illegitimate hierarchies of segregation that continue to hold down people of color?

The Racialist Lens Distorts True Christian Unity (by Dr. James White)

Photo Credit: TGC ERCL MLK50

Irrespective of "the content of your character" if you question the biblical legitimacy of critical race theory as advocated by the Gospel Coalition you will likely be branded a racist.  As Dr. James White pointed out today, Ironically, the Racialist Lens Distorts True Christian Unity. 

Case and Point:  A black pastor in Illinois (who filled my pulpit on two occasions) publicly labeled me a "racist" when I dared to disagree with him over the BLM narrative- Ferguson race riots (post Michael Brown).  Now evangelical Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile (who once suggested that Bernie Sanders was the best candidate for African American voters), has called out John MacArthur's Assistant Pastor (Phil Johnson); while renown Christian evangelist/apologist James White is under fire from MLK50 speaker Kyle J. Howard on similar charges.  United Christian congregations will increasingly become divided if this social justice gospel trend continues.  Faithful churchmen need to stand up and warn the flock of Christ (even if means enduring slanderous charges).  The world already believes the Holy Bible is homophobic and sexist so what's one more unfair pejorative?

When evangelicals today talk about "racial reconciliation" (from a progressive point of view) and "social justice" causes you need to understand exactly what it is they are calling for and where this ideology/terminology comes from.  Sadly, many church leaders are jumping on this bandwagon having done very little research.  More importantly God's Word is often set aside and/or is routinely misapplied in effort to promote what are now en vogue political/social science theories.

Not All Black Christians Agree with TGC's MLK50 Narrative

Photo Credit: Baptistmessage.com

Though I do not agree with every little point Mrs. Spratt makes her perspective needs to be heard.  It's not just conservative "white" evangelicals who believe that certain well-intentioned believers are needlessly dividing the Christian Church.  Before you swallow the social justice gospel search the Scriptures, read a few articles from the other side, and pray!  Here is an article posted at baptistmessage.com just today. 

Russell Moore does not represent me, a Black Christian.  From the desk of Lorine Spratt (posted by Will Hall). QUOTE

"From the desk of Lorine Spratt

To SBC Pastors & Dr. Russell Moore:

I am a born-again Christian, Conservative, Black attender of a White, Southern Baptist, Evangelical Church in Louisiana. In fact, I not only attend, I also work there and I am very concerned about the narrative that I’m hearing from our ERLC leadership. I am absolutely appalled by the comments made by Dr. Russell Moore concerning racism within the White Evangelical churches.

I, and many other Black congregants, attend a predominately White, Southern Baptist Evangelical Church. We attend there because we are free to do so, we’ve been welcomed, and we’re seen and treated as brothers and sisters in Christ. I truly believe that I could attend any White Evangelical church and be welcomed. However, there are born again Black believers who choose to attend Black evangelical churches and worship within their culture and they are free to do so. We are exercising our freedom to choose. We are not commodities to be bargained with or exploited or used to promote an agenda or boost quotas.

White churches are not advocating racism but Dr. Moore is. He is fueling racial tensions. I view his comments as divisive and antagonistic. His words do not promote unity!

Beth Moore Repents For Not Being a Better Feminist

Rick Warren & Beth Moore-Photo Credit Relevant Magazine 

This is not clickbait.  This is not Babylon Bee Christian satire either.  I wish it were.  Prior to speaking at The Gospel Coalition's (progressive social justice) MLK50 conference Beth Moore took to Twitter to publicly repent of two sins.  1) For not being a better Christian Feminist and 2) For white racism and white supremacy; (this second confession was made on behalf of all white evangelicals).  You can't make this stuff up.  Read Moore's tweets for yourself: (quote):

Beth Moore‏Verified account @BethMooreLPM Mar 27
"Lord, I repent of ways I’ve been complicit in and contributed to misogyny & sexism in the church by my cowardly and inordinate deference to male leaders in order to survive rather than simply, appropriately respecting them as my brothers. Forgive me for being part of the problem."

Beth Moore violates God's original and marvelous design for men and women (per Genesis 1-2) and ignores clear cut passages of Scripture (see 1 Timothy 2:9-15; 3:1-7 and 1 Corinthians 11:1-16).  She embraces Christian Feminism (i.e. Egalitarianism), and in effect, repents of not being more bold in her sin.  In effect what she is saying is this- "Lord, one some occasions I've submitted to male leadership as your apostles so directed the Church.  Forgive me not being more brazen in my feminism."  To undermine the Word of God is to disregard the God of the Word.

"Feed My Sheep!"

It is a blessing to preach God's Word to hungry believers (1 Peter 2:2) Sunday after Sunday. 

I love this photograph because many in the picture are studying their own copy of the Scriptures-like faithful Bereans!

"The pastor's goal is not to please the sheep, but to feed them- not to tickle their ears, but to nourish their souls.  He is not to offer merely light snacks of spiritual meat, but the substantial meat of biblical truth.  Those who fail to feed the flock are unfit to be shepherds (Jer. 23:1-4; Ezekiel 34:2-10)."

Like Paul in 2 Timothy 4, Charles Spurgeon warned that “A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats."'

Jesus commands pastors to "Feed My sheep!"

20 Reasons I Don’t Take Potshots at Fundamentalists: by John Piper

This is Dr. John Piper at his best.  20 Reasons I Don’t Take Potshots at Fundamentalists.  In view of recent conflicts over social justice issues it's a timely post to be reminded of.

As context allows: "1) They are humble and respectful and courteous, and even funny (at least the ones I’ve met).

2)They believe in truth.

3) They believe that truth really matters.

4) They believe that the Bible is true — all of it.

5) They know that the Bible calls for some kind of separation from the world.

6) They have backbone and are not prone to compromise principle.

7)They put obedience to Jesus above the approval of man (even though they fall short, like others).

8) They believe in hell and are loving enough to warn people about it.

9) They believe in heaven and sing about how good it will be to go there.

10) Their “social action” is often helping the person next door (like Jesus), which doesn’t usually get written up in the newspaper.

Easter Dinner Fellowship 2018

My wife worked long and hard to bless our family and to encourage many within our Christian family with a wonderful Easter lunch.  We wish we could have invited the entire church; but we tried to invite those who did not have any Easter plans after worship.

The Body of Christ is such an amazing gift.  We thank Jesus for saving us and for giving us spiritual brothers and sisters to walk through life with. 

We have never been able to live close to our own families while serving Christ in full-time ministry the past 13+ year...but God has always give us Christian brethren.  PTL!  He is Risen- and this historical reality changes everything!

Matt Chandler Calls Social Justice Dissenters "Ignorant Fools." A Pastoral Evaluation of Chandler's MLK50 Sermon

Photo Credit: Christian News- Matt Chandler at MLK50

Just yesterday the Gospel Coalition asked Pastor Matt Chandler of Acts 29 ministries to preach a confrontational sermon specifically aimed at white pastors and white Christians.  The sermon was titled, A House Divided Cannot Stand: Understanding and Overcoming the Inconsistencies in White Evangelicals on Racial Issues. Matt Chandler has been a leading voice within "conservative evangelicalism" with regards to subjects like white privilege, the majority culture, racial reconciliation,  systemic racialization/oppression, institutional racism, and housing, police, and legal discrimination against people of color, etc.  Now if you went to public university, read the Huffington Post, and/or watch CNN or MSNBC, you are already very familiar with critical race theory. The Gospel Coalition has presented countless numbers of articles on this subject. But for those who are not familiar with this ideology, what is critical race theory anyways? 

Harvard University summarizes it as follows: Critical race theories combine progressive political struggles for racial justice with critiques of the conventional legal and scholarly norms which are themselves viewed as part of the illegitimate hierarchies that need to be changed. Scholars, most of whom are themselves persons of color, challenge the ways that race and racial power are constructed by law and culture. One key focus of critical race theorists is a regime of white supremacy and privilege maintained despite the rule of law and the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws. Agreeing with critical theorists and many feminists that law itself is not a neutral tool but instead part of the problem, critical race scholars identify inadequacies of conventional civil rights litigation. Critical race theorists nonetheless fault critical legal scholars as failing to develop much to attract people of color and for neglecting the transformative potential of rights discourse in social movements, regardless of the internal incoherence or indeterminacy of rights themselves.

Let me say from the get go that in my wide circle of pastor-friends from around the country none of these ministers (to my knowledge) are "uncomfortable confronting real racism" nor do any them oppose genuine Gospel-centered "racial unity" in the Christian church.  We all glory in the heavenly scene of worship in Revelation; as believers from around the globe worship the Lamb who was slain for our salvation (see Revelation 5:9-14).   My pastoral network all support local and global missions because we serve a Global-minded God.  Most of our churches have sent out many missionaries and our short-term missions teams; etc.

Matt Chandler however says this is not so!  By Chandler and TGC's definitions, white Christians are largely "ignorant" and/or are "just plain fools" (i.e. racist).  Chandler said "I don't hate my people" (referring to whites) "I just hate fools!" (i.e. those who don't view this issue the way that I now do).  I realize that some readers will accuse me of putting words in brother Chandler's mouth.  Brother-pastors if you have not listened to Chandler's sermon at MLK50 and read TGC's many articles on this subject please reserve judgment until you have done so.  My aim in this final blog is to evaluate Pastor Chandler's TGC message against the back drop of the Word of God and to share my pastoral perspective along the way.  

Before his MLK50 message Chandler's Village church praise team presented a social justice praise song titled "Walk With You."  This worship song begins with a quote from Dr. King.  You can listen for yourself by clicking here.  The lyrics of this song set the stage for what Matt was about to share in his talk.

In yesterday's MLK50 sermon that was broadcast around the country, Chandler said that Christians who are uncomfortable confronting racism are part of a “cascading effect, and it starts with ignorance. … They don’t know what they don’t know and they are part of a system that encourages their not knowing.”  Chandler then talked about how much of this stems from what is not being taught in the public schools.  He suggested that private schools are worse (as the audience chuckled).  Chandler believes Church leaders need to fill in these gaps with regards to black history and with regards to present day systemic racism.

Here Pastor Matt swears in public and expresses his perspective

Let's think through this loaded accusation.  If you are familiar with two of the leading churchmen of our era you know that Pastors John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul do not share TGC's perspective concerning various  aspects of critical race theory/the social gospel.  This partially explains why faithful white pastors like this, as well as courageous black pastors like Voddie Baucham, did not respond to the Ferguson riots the way many Gospel Coalition leaders like Thabiti Anyabwile, Tim Keller, and Matt Chandler did.  From that whole ordeal it was obvious that the conservative Evangelical church is divided over this subject.  But ask yourself this, "Does Chandler really believe these giants of the faith are ignorant (by experience and learning)?"  Or is it possible that certain Christians simply view this multi-layered issue differently than TGC does?  Calling fellow (in many cases, like-minded) Christians "ignorant" is a bold charge.  Labeling people who don't agree with you as "fools" is strong language.  You readers will need to examine the evidence Chandler provides to see if these things be so (be sure to read the Christian perspective from the other side too).

In his message Chandler went on to say, “If I preach the sermon out of the book of Isaiah on justice, my inbox would fill with their glee that I would broach the subject. But if I applied it to the subject of race, then all of a sudden I was a Marxist or I’ve been watching too much of the liberal media. If I spoke on abortion, I was applauded as courageous, as a ferocious man of God, and yet when I would tackle race I was being too political … If I quoted the great reformer Martin Luther … never did I get an email about his blatant anti-Semitism. But let me quote the great reformer Martin Luther King Jr., and watch my inbox fill with people asking me if I’m aware of his moral brokenness.”  

Let's consider this lengthy quote for a moment.  It is important to point out that the common "buzz words" that many Gospel Coalition authors/speakers use today are not original to them.  One of the things thinking Christians need to do is to study where do these critical race theories originate from?  I am talking about controversial concepts such as "white privilege."  The same principle is necessary when a believer studies "psychology."  It is vitally important that one understands Freudian thought before one determines whether or not you should integrate biblical principles with secular psychology.  More on that another time.   

Regarding Chandler's comparison between quoting Martin Luther and citing Martin Luther King Jr. in sermons and getting much different responses from his mostly white congregation.  I have heard plenty of Christians from various denominations express their appreciation for Luther's heroic boldness in defending the gospel doctrine of "Sola Fide" (justification by faith alone) against the Roman Catholic Church.  But I have also listened to plenty of believers and pastors point out the tragic anti-Semitic thought in Luther's later writings.  Luther, like so many of us, sometimes struggled to control his tongue.  Those who embrace Premillenialism eschatology tend to be be especially grieved over the sinful rhetoric in Luther (not to mention his actions against Anabaptists).  For more on the great Protestant Reformer's warts read Future Israel: Why Christian Anti-Judaism Must Be Challenged. To get a balanced portrait of this Christian theologians strengths and weaknesses watch this new Luther documentary.  Suffice it to say, when Matt Chandler claims that no one in his church mentioned Martin Luther's warts but many white people were quick to point out Dr. King's unorthodox theology and his sexual  immorality it's really not that compelling of an argument.  Chandler's experience at the Village Church is not universal and the theological and moral differences between the two men are not comparable.

Chandler quickly noted that his address is not aimed at "FOOLS."  He has no time for them.  He went on explain who the fools are and then differentiated between white Christians who are IGNORANT versus those who are just ignorant FOOLS.  This very popular conference preacher went on to say that his local church lost about 300 members when he started focusing many of his sermons on social justice, racial reconciliation, white privilege, systemic oppression, etc.  What shocked me was when Chandler referred to these 300 Christians as being FOOLS.  Chandler said his elder board did not shed a tear when these ignorant people left Village Church.  If you want a first hand account of what type of FOOLISH believer Chandler attacked in this address you can peruse this Christian police officers firsthand account.  In it you will read many of Pastor Chandler's public Tweets that certain church members took issue with. Some of these public statements have been included in this article.

Matt Chandler- Posted by a former Village Church member

Quoting Chandler again from MLK50, “There is nothing about how the majority of white men and women are educated that would lead us to believe that Africans and African-Americans are intellectual, innovative or creative except a couple a y’all in sports or entertainment.”  Say what?  Many of my white friends and family members believe Condoleezza Rice is one of the smartest geo-political minds in the world today.  We would only wish that our nation's Supreme Court would be chaired by nine Clarence Thomas'!  Faithful black preachers like Voddie Baucham and Conrad Mbewe can fill my expository pulpit anytime they desire. Our nation overwhelmingly elected an African-American President (twice over).

Ultimately, Chandler said that the solution moving forward is for churches to talk about race and racism—despite potential blow-back: “There is no way forward if white pulpits won’t talk.”   By "talk" Chandler means you need to help your congregations see that how our "coalition" views social justice issues is in fact the gospel truth. Follow my example brother-pastors.  Do what I have successfully done at Village Church (listen to the sermon friends).  White Pastors need to go into their mostly "white churches" and drive out foolishness while informing the ignorant.  Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King, the pastor of The Village Church said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends."

Chandler added that he had a difficult time sleeping the night before because he knew what he was asking of some of them.  If you apply what you heard in this conference you might be criticized, bullied and fired pastors.  Implied in this rhetoric is that some of you will be persecuted for righteousness sake as you champion these social justice convictions.  TGC obviously believes it is the truth about racial justice that is diving certain white evangelical churches (not error).  Stop and think through these implications and exhortations friends.

Chandler encouraged white pastors to begin by preaching on the Bible's view of ethnicity and unity. "Ethnic harmony is one of the great themes of the Bible. This is the refrain of the Bible over and over and over again," he said, adding, "Jesus consistently confronted broken thinking about ethnicity."  The underline theme of this message is that white churches are ignorant of their white privilege and are often unaware of their racism.  Chandler encouraged white evangelicals to find black evangelicals who think differently then you do about these issues and to listen to them (minute 20) that you might "champion their position."  Chandler did not encourage his audience to apply this same principle.  He then took, what appeared to me to be a veiled shot at faithful black leaders like Voddie Baucham, when he said blacks that think like white evangelicals do on this subject "are probably trying to win your approval or a position."  Chandler's said if we're to move forward public school "textbooks must be revised.  Structures must change."  Black leaders must be given legitimate places of authority and board positions in our Christian schools, seminaries, churches, and para-church ministries.  "We do not want to put on ministry events where anglo-communicators outweigh people of color."  Chandler noted that white evangelicals are often guilty of "tokenism."  "What I share today does not flow out of "white guilt" or out of "political convictions."  "This is about the gospel!"  Many evangelicals conduct is not in step with the truth of the gospel!  This is sin and you (white evangelicals) need to repent.  Chandler closed by saying you can't rescue a fool but many whites are just plain ignorant.  And ignorance leads to immaturity which sometimes leads to hostility or withdrawal.  I am not giving white people a pass I am just trying to help my African-American understand.  Some of you pastors are going to get fired as you bring this message into your white churches.  Such biblical fidelity, Chandler added, will put in the Hebrews 11 hall of faith chapter."

Personal Perspective and Recent History-  In my last ministry our 173 year old Baptist Church was located near the lower income part of town (in an economically depressed city).  Over nine years my family and I reached out to many low income children and families.  My wife and I took many precious black children with us to get ice cream at Union Dairy, we had needy children over to our home on holidays like Father's Day, we paid for low income black children to go to the movies with our own four children, handed out morning and afternoon snacks to the kids when we lived next to Blackhawk school.  Our daughter's closest friends were black, white, and brown and they were also precious children.

Our local church, though small, had a vibrant outreach ministry via Awana and Youth Group.  In fact, before I transitioned to a new ministry, of our 50-60 children and teens that joined us on Wednesday night, 85% of them were from the community and the vast majority of them were not white.  Whoever came we tried to reach for Christ.  I saw our congregation provide scholarships, meals, and do genuine gospel-centered evangelism.  I also watched my flock lovingly welcome a Mexican family into our church family; (in fact the husband/father became my closest friend).  I proudly witnessed our congregation overwhelmingly affirm an Indian believer as one of the main lay leaders in our local church.   Despite the content of my character I have been publicly called a RACIST by fellow TGC-minded believers- simply because I do not agree with all the conclusions and solutions of either critical race theory or the Gospel Coalition's vision of social justice.  What's happened to me has happened to many others.  Where does this type of thinking stem from?  In my humble opinion, I believe TGC has unintentionally brought unnecessary division within the American Church.  If true, this would be the ultimate (tragic) irony. 

Friends, we saw first hand how broken the family unit is in our city.  Many of the great challenges public school teachers and bus drivers had in Freeport often came back to serious behavior issues.  I felt the pain associated with drug and alcohol addictions (and saw how it impacted children).  I witnessed the epidemic of promiscuous sexual behavior among kids and adults and watched how children followed in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents.  I heard first hand accounts of what nurses saw in the hospitals.  I observed how so many men from 18-55 walked the streets or hung out at the local library day after day.  This is a multi-layered issue with many different root problems/challenges.  

Ironically and sadly, the evangelical Church seems to be dividing more as a result of this "social justice" emphasis that has become so en vogue these day.  Once united churches and Christian friends (Gal. 3:28) are beginning to distance themselves from one another.  I grieve over this (per John 17).

Why do I write these articles?  I do so because many of us are concerned that the church is (unknowingly) drifting from her central mission and chief message (Col. 1:28-29; 1 Cor. 1-2).  Before jumping headfirst on this social activist bandwagon please consider the perspective of two veteran missionaries to Africa (read article here).  Listen to what wiser shepherds like John MacArthur have to say concerning this often explosive subject.  Read about MacArthur's own gospel ministry during the height of segregation in the Deep South wherein he was arrested in Iain Murray's biography (note John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock, chapter ).

I've written this series because I have witnessed a double standard and selective demonizing at TGC that seems to be more political in nature (than theological).  (see this post)

FINAL PLEA- Before calling white Christians who view this multi-layered issue ignorant fools, or closet racists please consider their lives and the content of their character.  Let us write clearly, listen humbly, and speak and act in Christ-like ways.

The entire Scripture is summarized in two commands.  Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength" and strive to "love your neighbor(s) as you love yourself."  Christian love believes the best and rejoices in the truth.

The best quote that summarizes my overarching perspective on MLK50 and TGC's longstanding position on social justice was said by another godly Pastor (Tom Ascol).  His quote is to the point and is great counsel for all of us to try and live by.  May God grant His Church wisdom, courage, humility, and grace as we discuss these issues before a lost world.

"I regularly remind myself and people I love that we have enough trouble dealing with real sins, we do not need to try to manufacture more according to our own proclivities."  Pastor Tom Ascol

TGC Conference: Update from Pastor Phil Johnson

TGC MLK 50, Social Justice, and Gospel Centered Ministry: A Review

TGC's MLK50: a Review

As I have stated in many blog posts, Martin Luther King Jr. was courageous in his stand against racism and segregation during the height of the Civil Rights movement in America.  For that faithful legacy- true believers are most grateful!  This is not what this current debate within evangelicalism is all about.

For some time now the Gospel Coalition has been posting hundreds of articles on social justice causes (mostly from a leftist perspective) that have concerned quite a few evangelical pastors, professors, and lay people.  Some are too afraid to say anything in public for fear of being called a "racist."  No one wants to be called that.

The primary reason why I have felt the necessity to write so many response pieces is because I have witnessed far too many people get swept away in what TGC calls "true Gospel ministry."  Churches that were once united in Christ (Galatians 3:28) are beginning to become divided over related "social/political" issues.  My heart breaks over this.  In many ways this is really not a complicated issue (one would not know that when listening to many Christian seminars on this subject).  We are commanded by our Lord and Savior to love God and to love our neighbors.  We are to love people created in the image of God as the Word of God defines love, not as the world so often defines it.

A Christian professor-friend of mine corresponded with me recently about many of these hot topic issues which are being promoted far and wide via TGC's MLK50 conference and social media.  This Christian professor's insights are worth your consideration (even if you do not agree with all of his conclusions).

"The FBI’s file on King’s sex life was dauntingly thick, Berl L. Bernhard, staff director of the US Commission on Civil Rights from 1958 to 1963, said in an oral history at the Kennedy Library. 'I do think the president was aware of it, and I know [darn] well some people in the administration were aware of it,' Mr. Bernhard said...The hagiography that some evangelicals have created around MLK, due to his great civil rights achievements, does not comport with reality."

Before one attacks another person's theology or character they need to provide factual research/data to back up their conclusions.  Agreed? 

Heresy, Infidelity, Courage, and Influence: Evaluating the MLK50 Conference

A multi-million dollar para-church juggernaut (the Gospel Coalition) is hosting a huge conference this week.  This highly promoted event is championing social justice causes under the banner of true gospel ministry, while at the same time, trumpeting "the prophetic witness and life" of Martin Luther King Jr.  Over the past few years TGC's endless barrage of social justice articles has been received with mixed reactions.  Regardless of where you land politically believers should stop and think before swallowing anything.  Charles Spurgeon once noted that "Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong.  It's knowing the difference between right and almost right."  The following "getting to know you" article was posted by the pro-MLK, Gospel Coalition (and was written by a TGC author who has no axe to grind with Dr. King).  Keep this in mind as you read the article below.  

In this short TGC blog post Joe Carter fairly promotes both the best of Dr. King (his heroic Civil Rights leadership, his phenomenal oratory skills), while also owning up to Dr. King's heresy and his serial infidelity.  The progressive-leaning SNOPES website, also acknowledges this pattern of loose/lewd sexual behavior, noting (quote): Ralph David Abernathy did acknowledge in his 1989 autobiography, And the Walls Came Tumbling Down, that Martin Luther King engaged in extramarital affairs (evidence of which was sometimes recorded by the FBI through hotel room bugs), but said absolutely nothing in his book about King’s supposed “obsession with white prostitutes,” (end quote).

This inconvenient fact puts TGC in a very awkward position.  How so?  If TGC wants to blast Donald Trump for his past Stormy Daniel's affairs- FINE! (Bible believing Christians should have no problem with this criticism per the testimony of Proverb 5; Heb. 13:4).  Having said that, TGC has no high moral ground to stand on when they then host an entire conference in blessed memory of Reverend King (per King's own sexually deviant history).  You can't have it both ways. To make matters worse Dr. King was also a pastor (see 1 Tim. 3:1f), while "the Donald" is/was a unsaved billionaire businessmen (see Jer. 13:23).  

It should be pointed out here that none of my pastor friends who voted against Clinton/Kaine (and for Trump/Pence) believe Donald Trump is a genuine Christian.  Defending the indefensible is a poor witness (no matter what side you land on).  That point needs to be made as TGC often make it sound as if Robert Jeffress and Jerry Falwell Jr. represent a widely held viewpoint among TGC's more conservative readership.   

Having said that, most fair-minded political experts have noted that Trump has (thus far) promoted a very faith-friendly agenda (contra to what most Never-Trumpers warned). Trump is very blessed to have an evangelical Vice President by his side.  As good as these two things may be for believers and for our nation, implementing socially Conservative political policies does not get anyone into heaven (see Romans 1-5).  I once compared Mr. Trump to the rich, old ruler and Mrs. Clinton to queen Jezebel.  But now I digress.

What's truly disturbed various evangelicals has been TGC's blatant hypocrisy (and obvious biases)- as they shamed Christians who voted against Hillary Clinton (and for Trump) suggesting that the Trump Presidential victory was a stain on the Church; (like Esau "we have sold our birthright").  Dr. Robert Gagnon patiently pushed back against TGC's selective demonizing (per this public response).  I have yet to read an adequate rebuttal to the serious concerns that have been raised against TGC on any of these matters.   

From my vantage point, it seems clear that the Tim Keller-led TGC has found a niche posting center-left (leaning) political articles under the banner of "racial reconciliation" and "gospel-centeredness.  If you think I am exaggerating search "racialization and TGC" on Google and see how many articles come up (note this).  Those with center-left political preferences finally have a "Christian MSNBC" blog-site; (Christianity Today and other magazines offer similar perspectives). 

Here is TGC's own article that highlights 9 things you should know about MLK:

1. The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968, but Martin Luther King, Jr. Day did not become a U.S federal holiday until Ronald Reagan begrudgingly signed the holiday into law in 1983. (Reagan was concerned that a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive.) Only two other persons have U.S. national holidays honoring them: George Washington and Christopher Columbus.

2. King’s literary and rhetorical masterpiece was his 1963 open letter “The Negro Is Your Brother,” better known as the “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” The letter, written while King was being held for a protest in the city, was a response to a statement made by eight white Alabama clergymen titled “A Call for Unity.” An editor at the New York Times Magazine, Harvey Shapiro, asked King to write his letter for publication in the Magazine, though the Times chose not to publish it.

3. While much of King’s philosophy of nonviolence was derived from Christian — especially Anabaptist — sources, a significant influence was the work of Indian leader Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi. While in seminary King’s gave a presentation he prepared for a class entitled “Christian Theology for Today,” in which he included Gandhi as one of a number of figures he identified as “individuals who greatly reveal the working of the Spirit of God.”

Rethinking "Racial Reconciliation" (Church) Services

The Southern Baptist Convention, Tim Keller's Gospel Coalition and local churches in the Presbyterian Church of America have adopted much of what Pastor Sam Murrell (of Little Rock, Arkansas) refutes in a recent article titled, "Why I No Longer Participate in Racial Reconciliation Services."  Some of the things Sam argues for may be heard by those who disagree with him simply because Sam is not blinded by "white privilege."  Here are some helpful excerpts from Murrell's thought provoking article:

"Nothing that I am about state should be construed as my advocating for people of different ethnicity to worship separately. Nothing I say here should be understood as an advocating of what is commonly referred to as ‘racism’. The Body of Christ is one, and the Church should visually reflect the reality of that ‘oneness’ to the degree that the world yearns for what they observe that we are enjoying. It is unfortunate that, for far too long, the Church has followed the lead of the world when it comes to recognizing and addressing hatred amongst the various tongues, tribes and nations.

Years ago, I participated in my first ‘racial reconciliation’ worship service. It was a well-integrated gathering of black and white folk. The service, while very moving, left me feeling very awkward as white strangers approached me to confess their racism toward me and “my kind”. It wasn’t that I had never experienced unfairness or injustices because of the tone of my skin. On the contrary, the issue was that the confessions came from people who had never done any wrong towards me in particular. So, I was left not knowing what I should do for them in response to their confessions; I was young and so chalked my discomfort up to my inexperience. Since that gathering, I recall participating in at least two other instances of worship services that were focused primarily on racial reconciliation. And I have actually worked for a church where “intentional racial reconciliation” was part of the mission statement. Over the years, I have come to a greater sense of clarity regarding my uneasiness with such event. Here, in no particular order, are the few reasons that I no longer take part in “racial reconciliation” services:

1) Too often, the premise of the worship service is that Whites are guilty because they are White. This is evident in the fact that the white people present at such events are expected, even pressured, to confess the sin of racism even if they cannot recall any specific instances of racist action that they have perpetrated. The assumption is that because you are white then you must have knowingly, or unknowingly, caused offense towards Blacks (and maybe other ethnic minorities too). An example of this guilt-by-association is that, although you may be unable to find any instance of slave ownership in your genealogy, you are held accountable for the history of slavery in the United States of America. The black person stands as representative of the innocent victim of so-called racism and thus serves a priestly role for the white confessor who is guilty because of a lack of melanin in the epidermis. The white person’s pigmentation carries with it a privilege, and that is enough to require repentance.

Will the Sunday(s) After Easter be a Letdown? (It Doesn't Have To Be)

The following article by veteran music leader Bob Kauflin addresses an all too common experience and answers a really important question:  Will the Sunday(s) After Easter be a Letdown?  Enjoy.

"Many pastors, music leaders, and tech personnel are breathing a deep sigh of relief after this past weekend. After all the planning, strategizing, prayer, preparation, and practice, the Good Friday/Easter weekend service(s) finally happened. Everything came together and people were well served. The music was moving, the preaching powerful, and the effect exhilarating. And throughout the world, thousands of people were baptized and saved for the glory of God.

But you may be starting to wonder what you’re going to do next Sunday. Maybe you’re even asking yourself, “How do I keep this coming Sunday from being a major letdown?” The anxiety is already setting in.

Here are some reasons why we can be tempted to think next Sunday might not be quite as “amazing” as this past Sunday:

A) No doubt your church was like most in that you saw an increased number of unbelieving guests, visitors, and family members who think that Easter and Christmas are the only appropriate times to fulfill their religious obligation.

B) You probably don’t have as much in the budget for this coming Sunday as you did for Easter. That means you and others might not to put as much effort or thought into it.

C) The people in your church probably received daily reminders last week that Easter was coming. This coming Sunday will probably sneak up on them like it does every week. They might not prepare as much nor look forward to it so eagerly.

D) After the hyper-preparation leading up to Easter maybe you’re really looking forward to the opportunity to get back to normal. Some leaders won’t think as carefully nor intentionally about the cross and resurrection and will pick songs that people just enjoy.

The Gospel Coalition's (selective demonizing) Problem

Forthcoming "GOSPEL Coalition" Conference

The Gospel Coalition's (selective demonizing) Problem.
I personally have no issue with celebrating the Civil Right's achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  As a public school student my K-12 educators took a week each school year teaching us about the Civil Right's movement in American history.  Dr. King was always presented as a hero.  In speech class I remember choosing King's historic, "I Have a Dream" monologue. 

Providentially, the Lord used Dr. King's courage and God-given oratory skills to help root out deep racial prejudices and evils within our nation, (particularly down South).  Having said that, if the Gospel Coalition/Desiring God ministry is going to scold and/or condemn Christians for voting for Donald Trump (over and against Hillary Clinton) or Roy Moore (over and against Doug Jones) you have a serious consistency problem.  Dr. Robert Gagnon has expressed this same concern repeatedly the past few months.  In the interest of time, and because Gagnon is a more skilled communicator, I post this article from the pen of my (Facebook) friend Dr. Robert Gagnon:

"I would actually like this publicly explained by Joe Carter (a senior editor at The Gospel Coalition) and other friends of mine from the TGC who agree with his TGC editorial "The Nonpartisan Solution to Our Roy Moore Problem," that on the one hand it is "a prime example of hypocrisy" and "the opposite of integrity" (Carter) for Christians to vote for Roy Moore as an effective vote against pro-abortion, pro-transgender, pro-"gay marriage," anti-religious-liberty Doug Jones but on the other hand perfectly acceptable for TGC to put on a "MKL50" conference in April 2018 celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr., a man who engaged in incredibly profligate sexual behavior throughout his years as a civil rights leader?

This is a genuine question. If it is a question that I have, I'm sure many others will be puzzled as well.

Don't get me wrong: I'm glad that TGC is having the conference. Racial harmony and rooting out racial prejudice is important for the church. Yet it seems like a gross inconsistency with the stance taken against fellow Christians who, while disturbed by the allegations made about Moore's four-decades-old behavior, prefer to cast an effective vote against Jones. Perhaps I'm missing something.

I'm sure the response would be something like: This conference doesn't endorse MLK's immoral sexual life but rather seeks to build on the positive legacy of his civil rights work in promoting racial justice and harmony. Sounds good to me. Now why not apply the same reasoning to voting for Moore: Those who do so are not condoning sexual assault but rather acting out of concern for the immorality of abortion and the "LGBT" agenda as well as concern for protecting religious liberty.