Here We Go Again: The "Camp Quest" Flyer Flap

A reporter from the Charlottesville weekly The Hook called yesterday to get my reaction to the latest flap over the Albemarle County school policy of allowing any non-profit to send home flyers in children’s backpacks. I was oblivious to it till she called.

WorldNetDaily had an article on May 25 titled "Teachers rebel over atheist promotion." The flyer promotes "Camp Quest" as "the first residential summer camp in the history of the United States for the children of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists, Brights, or whatever other terms might be applied to those who hold to a naturalistic, not supernatural, lifestance. Campers are encouraged to think for themselves and are not required to hold any particular view." The promotional brochure entices potential campers: "Take the CAMP QUEST CHALLENGE. Win a god-free $100 bill! Be the first camper in CQ history to disprove the existence of the two invisible unicorns who live at camp!"

The camps are located in Ohio and Michigan, and it is unclear what local group presented the flyers for distribution, though my guess would be the humanist subgroup at Thomas Jefferson Unitarian-Universalist emboldened by the success of NatureSpirit’s November 2006 holiday flyer (see my previous post "Happy Holidays? Pagan Evangelism and the many comments).

Here are a few reflections:

1. This episode once again illustrates the absurdity of the policy of allowing any group to send home promotional materials through the schools.

2. It also is a warning reminder to Christian parents of the mind-numbing secularity of the public school administrators with regard to religion. Just consider what this "all is one" philosophy does to the quality of children’s academic education, not to mention the development of their character. As Al Mohler sagely noted back in 2005, the time is now for a responsible "exit strategy" from public schools for committed Christians (and anyone else, for that matter, who might have any serious convictional beliefs).

I would offer a modest suggestion to the Albemarle County School Board:

Please consider changing your policy and do not allow any non-profits to send home promotional flyers (whether Humanist, Baptist, Boy Scout, or Little League).

Or, adopt a reasonable guideline to weed out flyers like the one above. It might include some of the following limits:

1. Promotional flyers must be for events and activities that take place in the local area (Charlottesville-Albemarle).

2. Groups allowed to send out promotional materials must meet some basic criteria as a local, viable, accountable, public, non-profit organization. These might include:

• A verifiable minimum number of participants in the organization who are residents of the local area;


• Proof of the existence of a functioning board of directors or trustees which has oversight of the organization;


• The organization’s proof of ownership or rental of property within the local area from which its organization operates.
  

The School Board could easily create an application process for any group that desires to send home such flyers and applicants could then be approved in public meetings, allowing for citizen feedback.

My guess is that if the County would implement such a policy this would quickly eliminate such frivolous, agenda-driven, promotional materials.

Veritas, JTR

New Blog: For the Brothers

JPBC's Steve Belcher has entered the blogosphere. You can read his thoughts here. Steve has based his blog name on 1 John 3:14 and dedicates it to his two physical brothers (both of whom are serving in the US military) and his spiritual brothers at JPBC. I look forward to reading it.

JTR

Spring 2007 Evangelical Forum Newsletter posted

The Spring 2007 issue of the Evangelical Forum Newsletter has been posted online (here). Bonnie will be sending out the hard copy edition soon.

JTR

Memorial Day Weekend and Religious Freedom

The past two issues of World Magazine reported the recent arrest and trial of Nguyen Van Dal. This 38 year-old Christian lawyer has been defending persecuted believers in Vietnamese courts for years. Nguyen, a member of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam, belongs to Advocates International, a global network of some 30,000 Christian lawyers who work to ensure religious freedom in their home nations. In 2004 and 2005 he gained international attention for his defense of the "Mennonite Six," a group of Vietnamese Mennonites who were arrested and tortured for their faith.

On March 6, 2007, however, Nguyen was himself arrested, along with a 28 year-old colleague, Le Thi Cong Nhan, for "propagandizing" against the Vietnamese republic. After a four-hour trial in Hanoi, the two received prison sentences of four and five years, respectively.

As we approach the Memorial Day weekend, we ought to pause for at least a moment and consider some of the benefits of religious freedom that we take for granted. No police informants are secretly infiltrating our church services. We do not have to ask the government’s permission to publish books or religious tracts. We do not face the risk of arrest or torture for assembling to worship. No censor must approve the messages that are preached.

The best marking of the Memorial Day weekend will likely not come in going to a soccer tournament, having a cookout, watching the big race, or visiting the newly opened pool. It is more likely to come in bowing our heads in prayer to thank God for the sacrifice of many of our fellow citizens who fell in battle—from the Revolutionary War, to the Civil War, to the great World Wars, to current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq—to secure for us and others the freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience.

It would also be fitting to remember in prayer before the Father the members of the persecuted church, including men like Nguyen Van Dal. In the Parable of the Great Judgement in Matthew 25, Jesus has the sheep ask the King, "Or when did we see You sick or in prison, and come to you?" (v. 39). And the King answers: "Assuredly, I say to you inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (v. 40).

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

Evangel article (5/23/07).

Baxter on Education

The Puritan Richard Baxter (1615-91) on the attempt to do education apart from a knowledge of God:

Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is any study well managed, nor to any great purpose, if God is not studied. We know little of the creature, till we know it as it stands related to the Creator: single letters, and syllables uncomposed, are no better than nonsense. He who overlooketh him who is the 'Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,' and seeth not him in all who is the All of all, doth see nothing at all. All creatures, as such, are broken syllables; they signify nothing as separated from God. Were they separated actually, they would cease to be, and the separation would be annhiliation; and when we separate them in our fancies, we make nothing of them to ourselves. It is one thing to know the creatures as Aristotle, and another thing to know them as a Christian. None but a Christian can read one line of his Physics so to understand it rightly. It is high and excellent study, and of greater use than many apprehend; but it is the smallest part of it that Aristotle can teach us.

Source, Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor (Banner of Truth [1656 original] 1974): 56-57.

JTR

The Apprentice

As promised at Body Life yesterday evening, here is a photo of JPBC's Sheri States and her pal "the Donald" (along with Sheri's sister and another friend). They met Trump at the Furniture Mart in High Point where he was promoting his new line of furniture. I'm sure it's "high class all, the way." Anyone want to suggest a caption?

JTR

In Memoriam: Jerry Falwell

News is breaking today that Jerry Falwell has died (see the Fox article here). As the writer of Ecclesiastes said, "For man also does not know his time" (9:12). Whatever one's take on Falwell's theology (he was outspoken in opposing Calvinism in recent years) or politics (not all Baptist evangelicals shared his views on church-state issues) one has to admire his tireless work as a Pastor (founder of Thomas Road Baptist Church) and educator (founder of Liberty University), his stand and passion for his convictions (on issues like opposition to abortion and moral decline in America), and his visionary institutional leadership (Who would have thought that Lynchburg, Va would be the lauching pad for a national religious-political figure?).

I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Jerry last December while visiting his church's annual Christmas program with some friends. He was amiable, warm, and accessible.

Let's join in lifting up his family and friends as they grieve his death.

JTR

The Crazy Youth Conference Season Approaches

The approach of summer means the coming of evangelical youth conference and camps galore. Our church gets its fair share of promotional flyers.

I just got one for the upcoming BGAV sponsored summer YEC event. This year the acronym has changed from the traditional "Youth Evangelism Conference" to "Youth EnCounter." The theme is "Transformation."

Why does this bother me?

Maybe, the thing that rubs me wrong are the photos promoting Christian entertainment. Here's one of a puppet guy who will be there:

Then there is this photo of the band "Skillet" that will also be there:

Question: Just what exactly do we want the youth who attend this event to be transformed into? What is the difference between the posing of this group and a secular rock group? What does the name "Skillet" indicate anyway? Is this really an example of not being conformed to this world but being transformed by the renewing of your mind? At least they've taken the word "Evangelism" out of the title.

I don't mean to to pick on the BGAV or YEC in particular. This is par for the SBC and evangelical youth ministry course, whether "conservative" or "moderate."

My observation, however, is that there is an emerging younger generation who want more than wordly music and mindless "Christian" entertainment. They want solid doctrinal teaching, clear ethical guidance, and authentic Christian community. They want to know that being a Christian means separation from the world, not getting as close as you can to it and still thinking yourself Biblical in worldview and life practice. They will not respond to these kind of shallow events in droves.

JTR

Congratulations to Ben and Vanessa!

JPBC's Ben Parziale and Vanessa Garvey are engaged to be married! Here's a photo Sheri States sent me that was taken at their house last Saturday evening soonafter Ben popped the question. We, of course, rejoiced with them on Sunday morning. Ben and Vanessa graduate from UVA next weekend and both will serve ministry internships at JPBC this summer (Ben as Pastoral Intern and Vannessa as Children's Ministry Intern). We are glad they plan to be around C-ville and JPBC to begin their married life together.

JTR

Exposition of Jude: Part 3 of 25

This series is an occasional, verse-by-verse commentary on the book of Jude.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Why is Jude writing this letter? In v. 3 we have the purpose of this epistle explained.

First, Jude says he was diligent to write to these "beloved" (the called, sanctified, and preserved believers [see v. 2]) concerning "their common salvation." The adjective "common" in Greek is koinos. It reminds one of the noun for "fellowship" [koinonia]. As believers we are joined in fellowship by a common experience of salvation. What are we saved from? The Bible says we are saved not merely from ourselves, or from our sin, but from the wrath of God! In John 3:36 we read that the one "who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Second, however, Jude notes that it was necessary for him to encourage (from the Greek parakaleo; we might use the stronger verb: "to exhort") the believers to contend earnestly for the faith. What is "the faith once for all delivered to the saints"? Here "faith" refers to core doctrinal content and not merely to the experience of believing in Jesus. Jude, like Paul in his letters, is urging the defense of right doctrine about who Jesus is. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Paul reminds the church at Corinth of the seminal facts of "the gospel" which he had received (including the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of Jesus) and then faithfully communicated to this church. Paul warned the Galatians not to accept "a different gospel" (Gal 1:6). Jude, likewise, is in a battle with false teachers bearing counterfeit ideas about Jesus. We must always be on our guard against error and compromise in doctrine. Jude urges us to make a spirited defense of Biblical truth.

Practical application:

1. Have you ever noticed an immediate common bond with a new acquaintance who is a believer? How is this attributable to your common experience of salvation?
2. What are the core Biblical doctrines that must be defended?
3. How does Jude 1:3 support the practice of a church setting down its fundamental beliefs in a confession of faith?
4. How does Jude 1:3 debunk the notion that one can be a Christian without getting "bogged down" in doctrinal precision?
5. Do you know enough about the Christian faith to resist false teachers and false teaching?

JTR

Beckwith crosses the Tiber

One breaking story over the weekend was that Francis Beckwith, a philosophy professor at Baylor (who gained his tenure at the moderate Baptist school with some controversy over his conservative, pro-life views) and current President of the Evangelical Theological Society (I'm a member), announced he had converted (or returned--he was apparently Catholic till his teen years) to the Roman Catholic Church. See his post "My Return to the Catholic Church" on the Right Reason blog and the numerous comments. Apologist James White responds here. A Baylor student from Beckwith's new church who is also a Catholic convert gives her take here.

Beckwith soonafter offered his resignation as ETS President, since the group is clearly evangelical, acknowledging in its minimal confessional standard: "The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs. God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory." There will, no doubt, be great discussion on this in days to come.

JTR

Noblit on Church Discipline

Jeff Noblit is Paul Washer's Pastor at FBC-Muscle Shoals. He also has a ministry called "Anchored in Truth."

He has a two part series on Church Discipline online that is worth hearing: Part one; Part two.

JTR

Call to Worship: The Elephant in the Sanctuary

Below are notes from the Call to Worship last Sunday (4/29) morning:

Did you read the article in the Daily Progress this morning? It was titled, "Henrico church service features live elephant." The article tells about a church outside Richmond that is bringing in a 34 year old elephant named Minnie to its services this morning.
The article (edited) begins:

A Henrico County church is bringing in a real heavyweight for its Sunday service.
The featured guest is so big—7,000 pounds—that the church is setting up chairs outside. Besides, an elephant it sure to attract a crowd.

"It’s literally traffic-stopping worship," said the Rev. Jim L., pastor of the (church) near Short Pump….

He said the elephant will help illustrate the children’s message: "How big is your God?"
The church is investing $20,000 in the service which includes the cost of leasing the elephant, rentals, supplies, and advertising….

The chairman of the Church Council is quoted as saying:

"The vast majority of people who are in our church have come there as the result of this type of outreach…. When you’re talking about evangelism and bringing people to church, you need something that grabs their attention… An elephant will do that."

Is this what is has come down to? We have to have an elephant to get people come to worship? Friends, something is deeply wrong with this picture. We do not come here to see an elephant. We do not come to worship to be entertained. We do not come to worship because it has a wiz-bang music program, or a good children’s ministry, or to hear an eloquent speaker.

We come here to meet with our God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ.

When the temple was dedicated in Jerusalem, Solomon prayed: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!" (1 Kings 8:27).

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

(Evangel article, 5/1/07)

Socratic Soap

Speaking of Steve Belcher, he brought me a bar of Socratic soap, "The Soap of the Greek Gods," that he picked up on a recent trip to Chicago.

Amicus Socrates, sed maior "soap."

JTR

Vain Jangling

So, we started this new "tradition" at our Deacons meetings this month of reading through the Pastoral epistles (which is a great idea--thanks Chris Marshall for the suggestion!).

We started reading in 1 Timothy going around the circle with everyone taking a couple of verses in turn. Everyone had the JPBC authorized version (the NKJV) except Steve Belcher. When we got to chapter 1, verse 6, Steve providentially read: "From which [faith] some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling."

For some reason the phrase "vain jangling" (the NKJV has the very unremarkable "idle talk" here) stood out. For the rest of the evening, we heard comments like this:

"I don't mean to swerve into vain jangling but shouldn't we consider...."

"I don't want to be a vain jangler but ...."

"At the risk of vain jangling, might I suggest ...."

"Is the opposite of vain jangling, jain vangling?"

You get the drift.

That got me thinking of other notable KJV phrasings. Anyone want to share a favorite?

JTR

Commentaries on Judges

This Sunday, Lord willing, I will preach from Judges chapter 21 the 22nd and last message in our series on the book of Judges that started back in September 2006. The audio files for the series are here.

As I have worked through the book of Judges I have been helped by reading three excellent commentaries:

1. Dan Block's Judges, Ruth volume in the New American Commentary Series (Broadman & Holman, 1999) has provided cutting edge Old Testament scholarship and theological insights from an evangelical perspective. Block wrote this while at SBTS but now teaches at Wheaton.

2. Andrew R. Fausset's Judges volume in the Geneva Commentary Series (Banner of Truth, 1999; reprint of 1885 original) provided creative exegesis and exposition from a traditional, Reformed theological outlook. Fausset (1821-1910) was an esteemed Irish churchman.

3. Dale Ralph Davis' Judges: Such a Great Salvation (Christian Focus, 2000; reprint of 1990 orginal) is a popular-format work that provided wit, sharp homiletical insights, and insightful practical application. Davis is a former OT Professor at Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson, Mississippi) and now a Presbyterian Pastor.

As I have preached through Judges on Sunday mornings and Leviticus (we're still in chapter 19 at this point!) on Sunday evening, we have definitely been immersed in the Old Testament. To quote JPBC's Mr. Rudulph: "I hear that Chris Marshall is the one responsible for his preaching in the Old Testament!" Some have suggested a name change to "Jefferson Park Baptist Synagogue." Another asked why we never see a "Law Baptist Church" or a "Torah Baptist Church," while "Grace Baptist Church"es abound. When Judges is complete, however, we will return to a New Testament book on Sunday mornings.

JTR

Reading Recommendation: "Heidi"

That’s right, I recently read the children’s book Heidi. I am very secure in my masculinity! I kept seeing it on bookstore shelves among classic children’s literature and wanted to find out what it was about.

Johanna Spyri (1827-1901) was born in the village of Herzel, Switzerland, near Zurich. Her husband, Bernhard Spyri, served as the town clerk of Zurich. She was the mother of one son, also named Bernhard, who suffered from poor health, much like the character Klara in Heidi. Mrs. Spyri began to write stories in her home. Heidi, the first of her longer stories, was published in 1880.

The book is about an orphan girl, Heidi, who goes to live in the remote Swiss Alps with her gruff, cantankerous grandfather. She also goes for a time to live in Frankfurt with a wealthy household to be a companion to a sick child, Klara. By kindness and pluck, Heidi is able to win the hearts of the adults and children who come into contact with her. Heidi finally returns to live with her beloved grandfather on "the Alm." When Klara comes for a long visit she is miraculously restored to health from salubrious country living.

As I read the book I was struck by its overt religious and spiritual themes. Aside from obvious messages, like the duty to be kind to orphans and widows and the importance of family, one might say that the major theme of the book is the Providence of God.

Here are a few glimpses (quotes from Companion Library edition, Grosset and Dunlap, 1963):

• When Heidi is home sick in Frankfurt, Klara’s grandmother comforts her and encourages her to pray:

"Come, my child," she said, "I want to tell you something. When we have a sorrow we cannot speak to anybody about, then we tell the dear God in heaven, and ask Him to help us, for He can take away every sorrow that troubles us. You understand that, don’t you? You pray every night to the dear God in heaven, and thank Him for everything good, and ask Him to keep you from all harm, don’t you?"

"Oh no, I never do that!" answered the child.

"Have you never prayed, then, Heidi? Do you not know what it is?"

"…You see, Heidi, the reason you are so sad is because you know no one that can help you. Just think what a good thing it is, when something troubles and distresses you in your heart, that you can go any moment to the dear Lord and tell Him everything, and ask Him to help you, when no one else can help you! And He can always help you and make you happy again" (p. 114).

• Klara’s kind grandmother teaches Heidi to read using a story book version of "The Prodigal Son."

When Heidi returns to her rough grandfather she reads him the story, exuding, "Isn’t that a beautiful story, grandfather?" That night, after Heidi is tucked away to sleep, the grandfather bows his head and prays with tears rolling down his cheeks, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son!" (p. 165). The people of the village are shocked the next Sunday when the notoriously anti-social "Alm-uncle" and his little granddaughter attend worship at the local church. When Heidi notes a change in his appearance, the grandfather replies, "Well, you see, Heidi, I feel happy because I am on good terms with people and at peace with God and man; that does one good! The dear Lord was good to me when He sent you up on the Alm" (p. 169).

• Heidi strikes up a friendship with a doctor from Frankfurt who is grieving the death of his only child.

When he asks the child what one should do with his sorrow, Heidi replies, "He must tell everything to the dear Lord, if he does not know what to do."

The Doctor responds, "But if what makes you very sad comes from Him, what can you say to the dear Lord?"

The precocious theologue answers: "Then you must wait, she said after a while with assurance, "and keep thinking: ‘Surely now the dear Lord knows some joy which is to come out of this by and by, so I must be still for a little and not run away from Him.’ Then all at once it will happen so that you will see quite clearly that the dear Lord had nothing but good in His mind all the time; but because you could not see it so at first, and only had the terrible sorrow all the time before you, you thought it would always remain so" (p. 195).

Later, when Heidi and Klara look at the twinkling stars, Heidi observes they shine, "Because they see up in heaven how well the dear Lord directs everything for people, so that they need have no worry and can be safe, because everything will happen for the best…. But you know Klara, we must not forget our prayers; we must ask the dear Lord to think of us, when He is directing everything so well, that we may always be safe and never afraid of anything" (p. 242).

My guess is that Heidi’s popularity has slipped in recent years for the very reason that it is so "Christian" in its outlook. Sadly, many in our jaded culture would also likely see its hopeful message as hokey or naïve. Maybe that’s all the more reason to promote its reading to our children.

You can even read it online in English or German.

JTR

Job's Complaint Against Violence

Last night at Body Life we were studying the book of Job. I was struck by Job's complaint about violence on the earth in Job 24.

Job laments:

Job 24:12 The dying groan in the city, And the souls of the wounded cry out; Yet God does not charge them with wrong. 13 There are those who rebel against the light; They do not know its ways Nor abide in its paths. 14 The murderer rises with the light; He kills the poor and needy; And in the night he is like a thief.

At the end of his speech, Job adds:

Job 24:22 But God draws the mighty away with His power; He rises up, but no man is sure of life. 23 He gives them security, and they rely on it; Yet His eyes are on their ways.

Then he throws in a final taunt:

Job 24:25: Now if it is not so, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech worth nothing.

JTR

How to have a worship service without God getting in the way: Reflections on the Virginia Tech Convocation

I watched part of the convocation at Virginia Tech from Tuesday (April 17) and found much of it to be very spiritually curious (see the video here).

How do you have a service of mourning with no clear commitment to belief in any particular religion or view of God? The painfully politically correct service was hard to watch. Here are some reflections.

Most disconcerting was the segment when four leaders from the religious community" were asked to speak. They were Dr. Riyad (sic?), a leader of "the local Muslim community," Julie Still (sic?), from the Living Buddhist group at Va Tech, Sue Kurtz (sic?), from the Hillel Society, and Bill King, the Lutheran campus minister.

The Muslim read from the Koran in Arabic; the Buddhist quoted the Dalai Lama; the Rabbi read from Ecclesiastes 3 in Hebrew; but the mainline Lutheran minister never mentioned the name of Jesus, though he did make an out of context quote from the gospel of John ("The Light shines in darkness but the darkness does not comprehend it"-John 1:5) without any reference to its location in the New Testament (contrast the pains taken by the imam to locate his Koran quotations) or its true Christological meaning.

The words from these leaders (except the Mulsim and the Rabbi, to some degree) were blandly humanistic. The Buddhist informed us that "the message of all religious teachings is the sacredness and value of human life." She also noted that ‘we are born into this world with an inherent good nature" and "we must restore our faith in humanity."

The mainline Lutheran told the audience that one of their purposes for coming together was to "drink deeply from religious streams." Note the plural. The "all is one" spiritual philosophy was the only view on display. He also affirmed what he called "the sovereignty of life over death" but said nothing of the sovereignty of the God of the Bible.

On one hand, one might say that the representation of various religions was appropriate (the victims did include those from diverse religious backgrounds). On the other hand, it seems odd that no evangelical Christian Minister or Pastors of local Christian congregations (the Lutheran is a campus minister) were on stage (perhaps some were invited and declined to be part of the "interfaith" experience). Also, the choice of representatives supposedly from the "local" religious community was so obviously and cloyingly politically correct. Once wonders, in reality, how many practicing Buddhist are really in Blacksburg or Montgomery County, Virginia? Check out the religious stats for Virginia, Roanoke, and Montgomery County. The largest group (evangelical Protestants) and even Catholics were not included at the Convocation podium.

The few overt Christian aspects of the convocation included the instrumental version of "Amazing Grace" and the unison recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.

The Convocation ended with a poem by Va Tech Professor, Nikki Giovanni. This was one of the most surreal aspects of this convocation. First, this "Black Panther" poetess came to the podium dressed as a man with a dark androgynous suit, white shirt and black tie. Her poem, "We are Virginia Tech" was presented in the oratorical style of a black preacher. She shouted, "We did nothing to deserve it" (contrast Jesus’ reaction to unexpected evil in Luke 13:1-5 and his challenge: "But unless you repent you too shall perish."). She encouraged, "We are better than we think." And she compared the human losses at Va Tech with a baby elephant losing its family to ivory poachers! Wasn’t the whole point of the convocation to decry the devaluing of human life?

When no preachers of the gospel are allowed to speak, I guess a woman poet dressed up as a man is the best a secular world can offer.

The convocation also reflected the secular university’s undying confidence in "counseling." A senior administrator encouraged students to go where they could get the best hugs. When you do not have the body of Christ, I suppose counseling and hugs are the best you can do.

The convocation was a fascinating look into what human-centered spiritual life looks like without all the encumbrance and strictures of the God of the Bible. As Jeremiah lamented in his day, "They have healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace." How do we find real peace? See Romans 5:1: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

JTR

Prayers for Virginia Tech

The news of what is being called "the massacre at Virginia Tech" last Monday has sent shock waves through the nation. Here in Charlottesville, it seems we are hit especially hard by the news. We live in a college town much like Blacksburg and our UVA alumni enjoy a good natured and spirited rivalry with Virginia Tech. This event did not happen a world away or across the country, but right here in our Commonwealth. News of the senseless killings at Tech made us consider that the victims were likely people much like those who are members and attendees of our college town church: university students, faculty, staff, and community members. As someone said, "This week we are all Hokies."

You can be sure that there are Christians who are involved in serious ministry in Blacksburg this week. There are churches, campus ministries, and individual believers who will be comforting the victims, their family members and loved ones. They will also be sharing Christ. Let’s join in lifting up our fellow believers this week as they minister in these trying circumstances. We will devote time in our 10:45 am worship service this Sunday to lift up the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg community.

As I have reflected on this event, I was reminded of the passage we read in worship last Sunday from Judges 19. That chapter describes an outrageous situation in Israel when an innocent woman, the Levite’s concubine, was killed by lawless men. When news spreads of this travesty, the author of Judges describes the reaction of Israel as they exclaim: "No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day" (v. 30). Every once in a while, even in a morally jaded and spiritually insensitive culture, some things happen that are so reprehensible in their ungodliness that they evoke outrage. Events like these remind us of the unpleasant reality of sin and evil.

At the close of Judges 19, the scriptural author intones: "Consider it, confer, and speak up!" (v. 30). Let us take his counsel to heart as we reflect on the sad events of this week at Virginia Tech.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

(Evangel article, 4/17/07)