It has been a little while since I have provided anything like a family or personal update, so I thought I would do so today. Also, I have received quite a number of questions about the Canadian truckers and their Freedom Convoy, so wanted to offer a few observations on that.

I am under some very heavy writing deadlines just now. I’m also in the season of pastoral ministry when I arrange personal visits with a good many members of the church so I can learn how they are doing, how the pastors can better serve them, and so on. It has been busy but blessed days!

I wrote a lot of blog articles over the past month or so and got those all queued up so I could then spend a couple of weeks focused entirely on books—one that is in the final stages of editing, one that needs to be completed in the next few weeks, and one that has suffered various delays but is now finally getting underway. The first of them will be released in September of this year with the others coming in 2023. This has kept me from being able to dedicate the time necessary to organize my thoughts and find something helpful to say about the truckers and their Freedom Convoy. So today I’ll offer just a few brief observations and then direct you to some articles that you may find interesting.

It’s my assessment that most Canadians, and especially Christian Canadians, are at least somewhat sympathetic to the core concern of the truckers—the mandate that keeps unvaccinated truckers from entering Canada without a mandatory two-week quarantine. Not only that, but it seems that a growing number of Canadians—generally a very cautious and compliant people—are ready to be released from nearly all the pandemic mandates and restrictions. The various provinces are steadily ditching the provincial measures and this makes the federal ones appear more out-of-step by contrast. (Note: the United States has recently begun to forbid unvaccinated Canadians from entering at all, so even if the Canadian government cedes to the demands, I don’t think it will fully resolve the situation.)

All that said, there are still many Canadians who are extremely concerned about COVID-19 and many others who fear anything that smacks of protest or rebellion, and for that reason this has become a very polarizing issue in families, churches, and broader society. That’s especially the case as the protests have stretched into weeks and have extended to actions that have much lower levels of popular support, such as blockading border crossings. Some people see tyranny in the government, some see anarchy in the protestors, and some see a combination of the two. If you know Canadians who are not speaking loudly and publicly about their convictions, it may be that they are being discreet lest they alienate family members, offend friends, hinder witnessing opportunities, and so on. It would be unwise to take silence as either support or condemnation.

Whatever else this situation has done, it has almost universally convinced people of the weakness of our government, especially on the federal level. The various minority political parties are united in their condemnation of the way Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party of Canada have handled it. The fact that a relatively small number of people has been able to essentially take over the core of our nation’s capital—and that no one has been able to do anything about it—is making our leaders a laughing stock. The Prime Minister’s insulting statements about these people and his unwillingness to show any compassion toward their plight has only increased their tenacity. It is probably accurate to see the truckers as especially representing the working class in a kind of non-violent uprising against the elite political class, for while the politicians (and the civil servants they oversee) quickly pivoted to working from home and saw their pay cheques unaffected throughout the pandemic (and, indeed, often saw substantial increases), much of the working class was laid off, had their hours reduced, and so on. This explains the symbolic significance of transport trucks dominating streets that are usually trod by only the political elite.

This situation has already cost a police chief his job and the head of the opposition party his leadership. There is much conjecture that it may also cost the Prime Minister his position. His recent decision to invoke the Emergencies Act, a move few people deem wise, necessary, or legitimate under the circumstances, is being widely perceived as a sign of weakness rather than strength—possibly the action of a man who is in his political death throes. Then again, he has survived plenty of scandals in the past and it’s not implausible that he will survive this one. (Update: new polling actually suggests a majority of Canadians may support his decision.)

If you are concerned for Canada, please do pray for peace and justice within the nation. You might pray also for peace and unity within the church. If Canadians have all their freedoms restored or even increased while the church crumbles, there will have been no great victory. If people who lean toward one side or the other have their view vindicated, but along the way become alienated from their fellow Christians, the cause of Christ will still have suffered. If you’d like to pray for more than that, perhaps pray for the truckers and residents of Ottawa who are Christians and for the various groups and individuals who are deliberately going wherever the crowds are gathered to preach the gospel. And why not pray that the first response of Canadian Christians, no matter the situation, would be to get on our knees and plead for wisdom, love, and divine help.

For some helpful reading consider:

• Tristan Hopper’s primer on Canadian politics which helps explain some of the ways in which our political system is different from that of the United States. For example, “we have a regularly scheduled event known as Question Period where the prime minister takes his usual seat in the House of Commons and is assailed with abuse by members of the opposition.”
• Raymond J. de Souza on Justin Trudeau invoking the Emergencies Act.
• Jonathon Van Maren on “Let Freedom Honk.”
• Clint Humfrey & Yanick Ethier on the Freedom Convoy as a form of lament.

Phew! There’s so much more I want to say, but I hear my book projects calling me again. So just briefly, let me turn to family news.

Abby’s wedding is coming up in just three months and much of her attention, as well as Aileen’s, is focused on that occasion. It’s my understanding that the planning is going well, but also my understanding that it’s best if I don’t get too involved! Abby and Nathan will both have school to finish up, so intend to remain settled in the Louisville area for at least another couple of years before re-evaluating. I expect this means I will continue to have good reason to shuttle back and forth on a regular basis. Abby asked Michaela to be her maid of honor, so she is getting ready to fulfill all of the duties that come with it. Meanwhile, she’s pressing on in high school while anticipating the day she can follow in the footsteps of her siblings and attend Boyce College. Nick’s fiancée Ryn remains part of our family, of course. She will graduate from Boyce in May and, the very next day, be one of Abby’s bridesmaids. What a day that will be!

Thanks for reading the blog, and thanks for reading to the end of this rather long article!

I was asked the other day what I was thankful for in the midst of a pandemic. My answer surprised even me. “I’m thankful for government.” It was surprising, but true. Even as I sit at home during a long, forced lockdown, even as I wonder whether anyone really has a master plan, even as I scratch my head at some of the measures being enacted, even as I grow in my concern about some of the liberties being curtailed, I’ve never been so thankful for government. I’d even say, “I’ve never been so thankful for God’s good gift of government.”

As Christians, we understand that God is the ultimate authority over all that is. We understand as well that rather than exercising this authority directly, God delegates it to human beings. He delegates some of it to civil governments, some of it to the church, some of it to parents, and so on. As Paul insists at the beginning of Romans 13, “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” This puts a clear calling on each of us: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” If we wish to submit to God, we must submit to the authorities he has established. Said otherwise, obedience to God manifests itself in obedience to government.

Christians may dispute the exact parameters of governmental authority, but surely we can at least agree that matters of public health fall under the jurisdiction of the state. It is the role of government, not church, to enact policies that protect and preserve the health of the nation. And when the government enacts such policies, it falls to us to submit to its authority. After all, whether our governmental leaders know it or not, they are acting out an authority that has been conferred to them by God. And right now, I’m thankful that God had the wisdom to institute government for times and situations like this. I’m thankful government has accepted the responsibility and is acting on it. I’m experiencing the joy that comes with obeying God’s duly-appointed authorities as they act within their mandate.

That’s not to say I necessarily understand every decision or that I necessarily agree with every action the various levels of government have taken. But that’s the very nature of submission. God doesn’t call us to follow leadership only when we fully agree with it. It has struck me that the New Testament’s posture toward civil leaders is generally positive. It seems to nudge us toward the assumption that governments are acting wisely, not foolishly; that our opinion toward their actions should generally be favorable, not skeptical; that our words about them should be supportive, not rebellious; and that our response to their decrees should generally be submissive, not resistant. Romans 13:1-7 is not about the limits of governmental authority, but about the goodness and necessity of Christian obedience. The same is true of 1 Peter 2:13-17 and Titus 3:1, not to mention Matthew 22:21.

Of course there are times when obedience to a higher authority means we must disobey a lower authority. “Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:29). But we may do this only when that lesser authority is overstepping its bounds or when obeying government would be disobeying God. For every other occasion, God gives us a sober warning: “whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” When government acts within its mandate, we must obey. When we fail to obey, we risk judgment—God’s own judgment as it is carried out by the state. But, conversely, when we obey, we gain joy—the joy that always comes with obedience.

But even then, we owe more than mere obedience. We also owe respect and honor. As every parent learns from their children, it is possible to act in strict obedience, yet in a way that is disrespectful and dishonoring. It is in the context of the Christian’s relationship to government that Paul commands, “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” In the very same way that we must pay the full measure of our taxes, we must “pay” the full measure of respect and honor.

When I put all of this together—God’s delegated authority, the necessity of submission, the role of government in acting to protect and preserve the health of the people, the call for respect and honor—I find myself joyful, grateful. I am joyful to obey the mandates of my government as it tries to lead through a gruelling, opaque situation. I’m grateful for God’s good gift of government, and grateful even for my government. Behind it, I see him. In its authority, I see his. Of course this government will lead imperfectly. They will make poor decisions. They will make mistakes. They will even act sinfully at times. They are, after all, human beings and subject to every kind of frailty, sin, and limitation. But God was not unaware of what was in the heart of men when he commanded through Peter “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme or to governors as sent by him” (1 Peter 2:13-14).

One third of the world’s population is now in lockdown. Across the globe, people everywhere are staying at home with their families and trying to find a new normal behind closed doors (while trying not to drive each other crazy)! But what about those living alone? They are dealing with the lack of physical touch for weeks on end and have no one to keep them company in-person. If you or someone you know is living alone and is about to go into lockdown, you’ll benefit from hearing wise words from those who have been living alone in lockdown for 10 days or more. From strict lockdowns in the Middle East, to tiny apartments in Paris or Rome, here are some thoughts about how seven single believers are handling this reality. My thanks goes to Lauren Moore (in France) who took the lead on interviewing others and compiling these pointers.

Do Not Be Afraid

While anxiety around COVID-19 is all around us, the idea of going into lockdown also provokes fear in many who live alone—the fear that they will face a deeper kind of isolation. And yet, 10 or more days into lockdown, despite a few ups and downs, lockdown is not proven nearly as bad as most had expected, (even for the extroverts!). Jason, (on lockdown in Rome, Italy), says “I think as a single person, depending on how long you have been single, one may already be somewhat well-equipped to handle the isolation aspect.” If you live alone, you already have many of the tools and skills necessary to deal with the isolation that comes with lockdown. So do not be afraid. You’ve got this!

Allow Yourself to Adjust

In France, lockdown was announced at 8pm on a Monday night and was in effect by 12 noon the following day. In the Middle East, one believer shares that grocery stores were initially open and then with less than 24-hours notice they were closed indefinitely. There is often no time to mentally prepare or even properly plan before a lockdown. And so that first week in lockdown is when all the adjusting happens. Be kind to yourself, digest the changes and give yourself permission to slow down and adapt. At first, you might hold onto the end date of lockdown as a “life raft”. Taylor (in lockdown in Trent, Italy) says “The most crucial thing for me has been to consciously accept that this is the new normal”. Lockdown is a new life rhythm, albeit temporary but open-ended. It will take time to adjust.

Routine and Exercise Are Vital to Reduce Stress

Being disciplined and developing a routine, even for those who are not naturally self-disciplined, is key to staying sane during lockdown. Days and evenings spent alone can be long, so breaking the day up by putting a routine in place can help a lot. Catherine (in Marseille, France) tries to continue getting up at the same time every day, Hannah (in Capbreton, France) tries to keep to a similar (but adjusted) weekly schedule for her ministry (now online), while Rachel (in Paris, France) recommends wearing “real” clothes to trick your mind out of “vegging mode”. Lauren adds that being tidier and cleaner than usual is helpful. You’re stuck in your apartment all day every day until further notice, so no one else will notice if you’re wearing your pajamas to church under that sweater, and technically only the bookshelf in your Skype background needs to be tidy. But disciplines and routines serve to create a safe environment and decrease stress.

Speaking of stress, exercise is crucial to combating it. Several of those interviewed do jump rope on their balconies, others take their ID cards and official outing form to go for short runs, and others follow some online high-intensity interval training. Exercise means you can enjoy more of those lockdown snacks you’ve been rationing, but it also eliminates stress. In addition, without the physical touch of hugs and handshakes, those living alone need to find additional ways to reduce stress.

Have Fun

Start a new hobby. Learn to speak the language of your migrant neighbours. Master the art of breadmaking. But don’t go overboard with a million new hobbies! Catherine reminds us to be realistic and keep the pressure off: “No, I won’t read all the books on my shelf during lockdown, and I won’t be mistaken for a native speaker after lockdown. And that’s ok.” Listen to music, have your own dance party. Get all dressed up just because you can! Lockdown is the gift of time, so don’t feel guilty about having downtime even though that mile-long To Do list you made isn’t finished. And yes, Netflix (in moderation) does help some of the time pass. (After all, it’s not like we can play board games!) But also be doubly conscious of how what you’re watching affects your thought-life—this includes how much news you read and watch.

Staying Connected

Remaining in contact with people has never been easier. Most of us living alone have actually felt more connected with those near and those far away. Suddenly everyone has become conscious of our mutual need for connection and also more aware of those who live alone and away from family. Since lockdown happened, we’ve all been in more contact with friends and family “back home” more often and local believers are connecting more outside of church time. If you’re an introvert you might find yourself needing “alone time”, even living alone! So turn off your phone occasionally and connect above all, with the Lord.

Above All, Press into the Lord

Above all and by far the best thing about lockdown has been time with the Lord. There is a lot of practical and fun advice everyone could share, but almost unanimously, whether in the Middle East, Italy or France, being alone in lockdown has been a precious time to draw closer to Him. We are no longer a time-poor people. We have more freedom to spend time in His Word, in prayer and just simply with Him. This is more important than getting overwhelmed with the plethora of church services and worship sessions now available online. These are great blessings especially when you’re overseas, but as Catherine reminds us “we need to be careful not to let that replace personal study of the Word and personal, humble, searching prayer before God.”

Taylor sums up beautifully what the Lord is teaching many of us during this season: “Lockdown has been the ultimate experience of relinquishing control over my life. And an excellent reminder that despite all the chaos and uncertainty, God is sovereign and faithful. My trust in him has grown so much through all this.”

No one should waste this opportunity to press into the Lord, to grow in relationship with Him and to increase in the knowledge of His Word. As a believer in the Middle East puts it: “Take advantage of this sweet time to be with your first love as much as you can. It would be a waste coming out of this season feeling tired and dry in our souls.”

Last week I shared some tips on surviving lockdown from a believer in Italy. I’ve since heard from quite a number of other Christians there and wanted to share some of their tips and experiences. As so many of us across the world face the possibility of lockdowns, this information may help us be better prepared.

I’ll begin with some general tips I compiled from common themes. The first and biggest is this: Don’t panic and don’t be anxious. The Bible reminds us that God is in control, not the virus! God has a perfect plan even in this dramatic situation. We can rest in his sovereignty.

For individuals and families:

• Be disciplined. Develop personal and family routines and stick with them, even if they seem a little over-the-top. You will do better with structure than without it.
• Take these restrictions in a serious way in your family and with your friends. Many will die if you do not. Submit to the guidance and leadership of your government and consider how you can co-labor with them for the good of the community.
• Keep praying and keep trusting the Lord. Keep reading the Bible and go to his promises. Keep family worship central in the life of your family. Perhaps focus on Psalm 91 (a lot of Christians here are quoting it inappropriately saying the sickness will not come to our tent) and have an appropriate understanding as Christians about Christian suffering and sickness. Be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us. There are a ton of scared people and this is a great opportunity for us to bring hope.
• Focus on your spiritual, physical, and mental health. All will be tried during this time, but all can actually be strengthened. Also expect that you will gain some weight during lockdowns, so try to find some form of exercise while watching how much you eat.
• Wash your hands well multiple times during the day, and every time you go outside or come into contact with people who are not part of your household.
• Do your best to stay in touch with people in your church and neighborhood. For church, stay in touch electronically; for nearby neighbors, try to speak to them in ways that maintain appropriate distances.
• Prepare to ride out the storm for a long period of time. Take time to rest as a family and find fun activities to do with your kids. Learn to be okay with quarantine, knowing that it will end.

For churches:

• Remember the elderly people in your church and family as they may become depressed. Young people, on the other hand, may find themselves suffering from exhaustion and nervousness.
• Make sure you are intentional in having lists of numbers of people in your church to make phone call connections. We have to get creative to pastor from a distance.
• Consider video recording short devotionals that you can send out to your congregants to keep them in touch with you as their pastor.
• Upload PDFs of kids ministry material that parents can use on Sundays as they do church from home. Equip the parents.
• Keep in touch with believers (WhatsApp, email, hangouts, live YouTube for sermons) much more than before, since there is more serenity and much less hurry.
• Consider appointing certain days for fasting and prayer as a church.

Now here are some specific experiences.

From a Wife and Mother

As far as protecting ourselves against the virus, we are following the rules imposed by our government. Going out is strictly forbidden unless you can prove you are driving or walking to work, grocery shopping (one person per family) or you are seeing a doctor for a serious health condition. For some of us, life has dramatically changed. Other people continue working (against their will), especially in our area. My husband is a factory worker and he is still working with hundreds of co-workers from central Italy.

Every day they take their temperature before allowing the workers in. They gave them one disposable mask each, and that is it. Next monday the factory will shut down for one week. As for myself, I am staying home with our seven-month-old. I am doing as much as I can to protect him, but when my husband is at work and the dog needs to go out, I am forced to take the baby with me. This actually isn’t a big deal considering no one would even consider coming close to somebody else these days. Our baby doesn’t normally go to daycare, so we’re used to having him home. Church services are forbidden but we are allowed to go to our church building (those directly involved in the service) and live-stream a service. Our pastor is streaming Bible studies from his living room on Wednesdays and Fridays . Our youth group leaders and Sunday school teachers are meeting the kids via Zoom on Saturdays. I am meeting the other members of the worship team via Zoom as well, on Mondays.

As church members, we find ourselves longing for fellowship and have deep affection for each other. We have a church WhatsApp chat and we call one another on a daily basis. My husband and I are reading the same books we were reading before the quarantine stage began. We keep reading our Bibles as per our reading plan. My husband is preparing his next sermon on Romans 8. Encouraging non-believing families and friends is the greatest challenge. Many are angry at God, some are simply paralyzed by fear. Others are all-of-a-sudden self-proclaiming atheists and a great amount are devoted to Mary. We are thankful for the leadership of our local church that is taking extraordinary care of us and grateful to God for how clearly He is showing His sovereignty over everything. He is using this event to make us desire eternal life more ardently.

My personal prayer request is, that in preaching the Gospel we guard ourselves against the horrible sin of watering it down. We greatly appreciate your affection and your interest in the advancement of the kingdom of God in our country during this unprecedented emergency.

From Another Wife and Mother

From Turin our current life is as follows: We stay at home and do not go out except for shopping or medicine. We work from home—I specifically have a husband, mother and 28 year old daughter at home and she is currently a teacher via the web. We have a church chat which we use each day to share passages of the Word, exhortations, encouragement and even news.

On Sunday we connect to different Christians who have a YouTube channel to follow preaching. Encouragement is done via telephone, through social networks. We also try to evangelize. The books I read continue to be those of before (I have not directed my interest on specific topics of the moment). But the most important thing is certainly the prayer which, we can see, is greater in the moment of suffering. There are groups of Christians who, via WhatsApp, organize common prayer in a common time.

These are all initiatives which, in my opinion, are perhaps bringing believers around the nation closer together. My daughter is included in prayer groups with some young people of Milan and also with the GBUs (University Biblical Groups). I must say that there are many initiatives and this strengthens us despite what is happening #andràtuttobene because the Lord is with us. Let us pray that the unconverted may soon find peace with Christ.

From a Pastor & Father of Five

When COVID-19 arrived in Italy and the government started to put serious measures into place, it felt like the “perfect storm”. My wife and I have five mostly young children (youngest is almost 2, oldest is 12) who are now at home all day. We just purchased a home so are starting some renovation work and preparing to move, and our church is about one month into a leadership transition. We rejoice and rest in God’s sovereignty.

Once we could no longer meet as a church body, a local videographer who we have worked with for many years was able to get us the equipment necessary to begin streaming almost immediately. Right now we are holding two services a week via streaming, and we plan to resume our men’s discipleship groups this Sunday via video conferencing.

We are trying to keep tabs on the members of our church, especially those who are older or who do not have believing family members. The father-in-law of a woman who attends our church just tested positive for COVID-19, and he is not doing well. Her family (her husband and children) are in isolation for two weeks, they are not even allowed to eat together. Her husband and in-laws are not believers; we pray that God will use this to bring them to salvation.

My prayer is for wisdom to know how to navigate this moment, to appreciate the increased opportunities to grow in shepherding my wife and children (having more time together at home has been a blessing), as well as wisdom to shepherd the church family (even though we are not able to physically be together). I have tried to lead our church in reflecting on our mortality and the fact that we exist for God’s glory.

I have been encouraged to see how much they have missed being together as a church body. This was something I was taking for granted; I was viewing church more as “work” and not so much as a “family” that I need. In this way God has admonished me about my own incorrect thinking, along with convicting me (again) of my own arrogance. If I could borrow part of a phrase from Spurgeon, “anything is a blessing that shows me my own arrogance”.

This moment has been a great lesson in humble gratitude. I must be thankful, not because I determine that something is good, but because God has sovereignly ordained it.

From a Mother of Three

I’m a mother of three children between the ages of two and nine. Being a mother is my main occupation, but I dedicate part of my time to doing some activities for the Coram Deo Ministry and for the praise ministry in the Sola Grazia Church of Porto Mantovano.

Since the Italian government imposed the closure of the schools, we have had to reorganize our days and I must admit that the time I used to dedicate to other activities has been almost completely absorbed by my family. Thank God we have a big house with a garden that allows us to let the children out, even though we have to stay on our property. This allows them not to be overly affected by the now nagging imposition of a restricted home. Their day is therefore marked by games, homework, family relaxation and reflection. They are serene, but they have sensed that something anomalous is happening and it is a good opportunity to talk to them in a deeper way about Jesus.

My husband has also been working from home for two weeks through remote connections. This allows us to have more time to spend together and to have the peace of mind that we are all united and little exposed to the danger of contracting the disease. We go out once a week (only one of us at a time) to do the shopping, trying to wear DIY masks (because you can’t find any more on the market), respecting the limits imposed and taking care of personal hygiene.

Meetings with the church have been suspended as imposed, but we try to hear the brothers and sisters of the church through messages and video conferences to encourage and join in prayer. I find it very useful to listen to music with texts taken from the Word, which encourage, strengthen and nourish our thoughts and our hearts with the hope that we find only in Christ. At a time when we are assailed by negative news and fears, singing the Word is like a soothing balm. The opportunities for witness are many and we know that Italians will not be the same when all this is over. We pray that this circumstance will be an opportunity for the Italian people to awaken.

From a Pastor/Missionary in Milan

Things here in Milan evolved extremely rapidly and were changing on an almost daily basis at the beginning. This virus brings much uncertainty and I believe those of us who are less flexible would be well served to prepare themselves mentally for not being able to have your calendar planned out.

Here are a few thoughts about preparing for lockdown and living it well:

1. Think about home projects. My wife and I went to a hardware store on Saturday because we were getting ready to do two projects at home. We decided to wait until Monday to get everything we needed so that we can have a few days to think about our decisions. The following Monday was lockdown. Oh, well. They will have to wait. Even to have made a list of smaller projects to make sure I had everything I needed would have been helpful.
2. We sat down with our kids and told them with more time in the house we are going to have to think through ways to be productive. I told them to think about some skill they would like to learn and/or develop. I even told them that we were willing to buy books or video lessons if need be (for a reasonable price of course). My older son has offered his video editing skills on Upwork and is seeking to improve his knowledge of Adobe Premier. My youngest son has been working on learning piano and has tried his hand at baking. My youngest daughter has been watching training videos on time management.
3. Our work as missionaries means we are with people a lot. So what do we do now? I have shifted my work focus to preparation and planning. That is, I am getting ready for what I want to do once the lockdown ends. People may want to think through what resources they need in order to prepare sermon series, special classes, etc. Or go through some online training.
4. My wife says she wishes we would have planned for the worst-case scenario. We were just thinking a few days and everything would get back to normal.
5. Our church has been meeting via Skype on Sunday mornings. These last two weeks have been a blessing seeing each other even if online meetings are not optimal. For churches that are bigger you might want to think of having small groups get together online. Also, we are changing from Skype to Zoom this Sunday. If we would have had time, we would have made sure everyone was set up prior to lockdown. Some people need extra help when it comes to technology. We have kept things simple as there tends to be a lot of confusion on these calls. Italians like to talk over each other and on Skype this reaches new heights! We have taken time to listen to God’s word and pray together. Here again, watch expectations. This is not a normal church service and will not be perfect. But in the confusion, as more than one person is talking at once, as one person’s audio is delayed or fades in and out, there is a joy to “be” with God’s people!
6. At the beginning of February we had started a new program called “a friend in prayer.” We put everyone in the church in pairs and they were supposed to pray for one another daily and get together physically at least once a month. My friend and I decided to call each other each day to pray together on phone for 10 minutes. It has been a rich time of fellowship as I did not know this brother that well before this. Now with the lockdown happening, it is even more precious. Obviously we cannot get together physically as originally planed, but we have sure prayed.
7. In our church we have a chat group on WhatsApp. It has really been active now that more people are at home. It has also proven to be a place where people can use their gifts. One lady in our church really has a gift of writing and communicating deep theological truths. She has posted a few short messages and yesterday she decided to record a vocal message reading what she had written. One word of warning is that I have also noticed people forwarding a lot of messages. Sometimes they are innocent (like the announcement about John MacArthur’s sermon being live-streamed in Italian this past Sunday), but other times they are fake and conspiratorial. I would rather see messages of encouragement that come from our people personally.
8. As far as grocery stores, the problem is not a shortage of food (and fortunately for us there is no shortage of toilet paper either!), but the lines getting in are long. We waited an hour to get into the store last Friday. This is simply due to the stores having to enforce a minimum distance between customers of 1 meter. So, people may want to make a more detailed list and even buy for a few extra days simply to not have to go back to the store that often. You don’t want to stand in line for an hour just to buy milk.

Unfortunately, we have lost someone in our church to the coronavirus. At this time we cannot have a funeral and will have to wait until this crisis passes. The other elder in our church is close to the family and has been in contact with them. Churches may want to think about how they can comfort people who lose loved ones.

A year ago, or even a month ago, I wouldn’t have believed I’d ever be facing the possibility, and perhaps even the likelihood, of living in near or total lockdown. Yet already here in Ontario we’ve been instructed to venture out as seldom as possible and are just waiting for further restrictions. Meanwhile, parts of America and swaths of Europe have already seen significant lockdown measures put into place. To learn how to do this well, and to prepare as much as possible, I wrote to everyone I could think of in Italy to ask them for tips. This, after all, has already been their reality for at least a couple of weeks. The first response came from pastor Clay Kannard, whom I’ve met during visits to Rome. His tips may be especially helpful for families.

Two weeks ago we received notice that all of the schools would be closing in Rome. The cases of COVID-19 in the north were multiplying and the nation’s leaders were quickly beginning to understand the severity of the situation. Just one week prior, the news began to break about the cases in the north and the new quarantines that were being implemented for that part of the country. As you would expect, the supermarkets were overwhelmed by panicked shoppers. We all watched from Rome in disbelief.

While some might call me paranoid, I saw the need to be prepared and asked my wife, Lauren, to purchase enough non-perishable foods to last us a couple of weeks. At the time she considered my request to be an over-reaction, however, it did not take long to realize that being prepared was not a fearful response but a wise one. When the quarantine was extended to the entire nation, we did not have to participate in any panic shopping. Praise God, food supply chains are not being impacted.

So what can we do? We can still go to the grocery store, but only one person from our home is allowed to exit the home to do our shopping. Additionally, we can go to the pharmacy, take the dog for a brief walk or go on a brief run, and if your workplace has not closed you can go to work, as long as social distancing is possible. If you have a garden/yard, you are able to go out and get some air. However, most of us live in densely populated neighborhoods, in apartments, and only some with small balconies. Every time we leave the house, we are required to take a government issued document explaining our motive for leaving the house. The permitted motives are listed on the form, and this form is to be given to the police if the police stop you. They are on patrol and ready to fine citizens over 200 euros for violating quarantine.

This initial quarantine went into place on the 12th of March and was set to expire on the 25th of March for the public and businesses, and until the 3rd of April for schools and universities. However, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has since announced that those deadlines will be extended, and the lockdown requirements will become stricter due to the fact that too many people are still out and about. So for the moment we still don’t know when this will end.

What has been somewhat more challenging is adjusting to life in quarantine as a family of 6. We have 4 kids between the ages of 4 and 16. In fact, our daughter Ava will be celebrating her 14th birthday in quarantine. As students in the Italian public school system, we have been patiently and graciously waiting on the schools to organize and work with teachers who, although having little to no training in distance learning, are now being asked to choose an online platform and ensure their students can continue in their studies.

Then there is the fact that all of us are now at home together with a 4-year-old named Kian. He has not left the house since the quarantine, is full of nuclear levels of energy, and bouncing off the walls. In fact, as I write this to you I can hear my 10-year-old daughter screaming, “Daaaaaad! Kian is being crazy in our room and won’t calm down! He’s messing with the dog!” Usually we would take him outside to burn some energy. However, our only option now is the balcony and that just sounds incredibly dangerous for a bouncing 4-year-old!

So, this is a new, once-in-a-lifetime (I hope) experience and we are learning as we go. What are some of the things we have learned in these past weeks since lockdown began?

• Keeping a routine is crucial
• Find creative ways to keep kids busy
• Use the extra time to teach life skills, lessons, and profound truths about God
• Engage with your church family constantly and do it as a family
• Those boardgames the nerds like to play are actually super fun!

Keeping a routine is crucial. We all need a routine. We cannot stay up all hours of the night and sleep until noon just because we don’t have anywhere to go. There is still schoolwork, housework, and spiritual work to do. Whether or not my two older children, whom I have now dubbed the quaranTEENS, feel as though keeping a schedule is important, it is for the good of the family to do so.

For that reason we send them to bed at the times we normally would. We wake them at the times we normally would. We still expect that they begin their day with the normal routines. They then have to commence with their homework and online class activities. They practice their musical instruments like they normally would. We eat lunch and dinner when we normally would. We participate in the weekly activities of the church like we normally would, albeit via Zoom.

The same goes for Lauren and I. She tends to her work in the home and my office is now located in our bedroom. Rather than meeting face-to-face with colleagues and church members, we do it online. The point is that in the midst of new norms and great uncertainty, there is a stable routine at home.

We are finding creative ways to keep our kids busy…and active. Once the schoolwork for the day is finished, it is too easy for our kids to want to turn on YouTube, the Xbox, or stare at their devices. Before all of this began, we had protections and time limits set in place for our family use of tech. While there may be a few exceptions, we pretty much keep to the same pre-lockdown limits.

What we have found, however, is that there are many enriching ways to keep our kids busy via tech. Rather than playing a videogame, they can take virtual tours of museums from all over the world, watch a live orchestra perform, follow an art tutorial, etc. The last thing we need to do during this lockdown is disciple our kids into being couch potatoes and passive consumers. What we need to be better at is a daily physical activity plan.

We have more time to teach life-lessons and deep spiritual truths. It seems that there is more time now to teach spiritual and practical life lessons. I am probably mistaken, as it is more likely we have fewer distractions and are together always. This quarantine has motivated us to share in the work it takes for being a family. Lauren has spent a lot of time teaching, including the kids in baking and cooking. In fact, Lauren and the girls have gotten really good at bread-baking. The big kids engage their little brother more often. And while we have practiced family worship and catechism during mealtimes, we are especially engaging with our kids on a spiritual level during meals. We try every day to gauge how they are doing in this crisis and to talk about the hope we have in Christ.

As the daily increase in numbers of COVID-19 cases rolls in, it would be hard to slip into silence and try to ignore what is happening. And while we don’t share every tragic headline with our kids, we do discuss the seriousness of the situation in order to talk about God’s sovereign rule over the virus, and sovereign choice of placing our family, and church family, in this city for such a time as this.

We no longer have to ask, “What did you do today?” We know exactly what everyone has been doing all day! Instead we spend more time praying for our church, city and the world, and talking about the hope we have in Christ. Psalm 24, 27, 29 and 46 have been read aloud and prayed through many nights during our dinners.

We engage with our church daily as a family. We spend time throughout the day thinking about our church family, writing them messages, video-chatting, and even inviting them over for dinner—virtually. Zoom has been really useful to at least spend some facetime with our church family. Apart from our online worship, prayer groups, etc, we are trying to be creative in how we spend time together, especially with the singles in our church. In fact, we are currently organizing a game-night in which we will fellowship and play a game together with the singles of our church via Zoom.

Additionally, with the enormous impact this has had on work and the economy, many of our church members are unable to work. Some are not even certain if they will have a job when this is over. As church leaders, we are already communicating with our people that we will share what we have with those in need.

All of this has provided a special opportunity for our children to think about ways they can encourage our brothers and sisters and be the church. We are God’s people in this city. We have the message of hope this city needs. We need to be engaging one another, encouraging one another, and preparing one another to be the testimony God has called us to be in this storm. This lockdown has highlighted the importance of community for us all.

Those long-lasting boardgames the nerds like to play are really fun! Lauren and I have never really been into playing boardgames. She, in fact, still isn’t. However, when the lockdown began, I purchased several boardgames via Amazon Prime. Now instead of once-a-month, or once-a-week, we have game time every evening. This allows us to avoid the tech and the tube and instead laugh together as we race to Eldorado, or build our citadels, or construct our gizmos, or avoid exploding kittens. Rather than passively consuming a movie together, we are engaged in conversation, talking smack to one another, strategizing, and thinking critically as we try to crush our opponents’ dreams of victory! I am already thinking about new boardgames we would like to buy, seeing that the quarantine’s end is nowhere near in site. Any recommendations? [Tim’s note. Yes! We enjoy Ticket to Ride, Lost Cities, Power Grid, Dominion, Clue, Smallworld, and Carcassone.]

Lastly, Guard your mind and your time. It’s too easy to visit every major news site throughout the day when you should be working. It takes discipline to stay focused on what really needs to be done.

I hope this helps. Maybe it’s too long, and not exactly what you were looking for, but it is what we have been learning since our lockdown. We are trusting God and trying not to waste it.

p.s. I wish I had bought more bacon.

Clay Kannard (Communications Director) is a missionary and pastor sent to Rome, Italy from Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, through WorldVenture. Clay and his wife, Lauren, were commissioned and sent by their church to serve as a resource to Italians in communicating and living out the Gospel, developing new leaders, and planting new churches. They are members of Breccia di Roma in Rome. Clay earned a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute and a Master of Theological Studies with emphasis in Preaching and Pastoral Ministries through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Twitter: @claykannard

You’ve got to be careful reading the news at times like this. Media outlets have a vested interest in getting us to visit their sites, and they know the kind of words that will draw us. Today’s keywords seem to be “panic” and “chaos.” To read the news you’d think there has been panic at every grocery store and chaos at every airport.

There’s no doubt that there have been some moments of poor behavior as people have realized they may not be able to easily purchase some of life’s necessities. Hence, “Panic As Shoppers Fight Over Toilet Paper!” There’s no doubt there have been moments of confusion as airport lineups have swelled in response to stricter policies—“Chaos at America’s Airports!” But it seems to me—and I have been following the news very closely—that such moments are relatively few and far between. When measured across America, or North America, or the Western world, we see very little true panic and very little true chaos. To the contrary, the great majority of people are acting in measured and responsible ways.

One thing we need to carefully guard against at a time of uncertainty is the irresponsible use of hyperbole. Just because people are behaving in different ways, does not mean they are behaving in panicked ways. Just because things are not normal, does not mean they are chaotic. Fifty people queuing to get into Costco may be surprising and even alarming, but, as long as those people are waiting their turn calmly, it is not panic (“sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior”). People responding to government advisories by heading home from overseas and flooding O’Hare airport’s customs hall does not constitute chaos (“complete disorder and confusion”). Preparation is not panic and confusion is not chaos.

The problem is that we are the problem. You and I respond to the media headlines that proclaim panic and chaos. They draw our eyes, so they gain our clicks. Not only that, but we add to the problem by looking for an empty shelf in the grocery store, Instagramming it, and describing it as “panic,” even when many other nearby shelves are full, and even when there is a whole truckload of food waiting at the unloading dock. It’s the people who meet five-hour lineups at the airport who snap the photos of the “chaos,” not the people who land at another airport and breeze right through. Be responsible in the news you read and the stories you share.

There can be a cost to all this hyperbole: If everything is panic, nothing is panic, and if everything is chaos, then nothing is chaos. There may be times ahead when chaos comes and panic spreads. I’d suggest we reserve such strong words for such terrible occasions. Unfortunately, we may need them in the future—so we’d best hold on to them for such a time.

If you believe there is panic and chaos and are determined to find evidence of it, you’ll undoubtedly find it. But I hope you’ll be even more diligent to look for calmness and order, because I think you’ll find these in much greater measure. There’s a lot of uncertainty about the days ahead, though it seems likely that they will be difficult and trying at times. It will help us to live them well and get through them best if we continue to describe them accurately and realistically, not through the false lens of hyperbole.

Conferences tend to come in seasons, with the great majority grouped in the spring and fall. While there are some exceptions, it is quite rare to see a Christian conference very early in the year, very late in the year, or around the same time as vacations and holidays. Glance at a calendar and you’ll see that we are just now entering into prime season. Over the next few months there will be hundreds of conferences large and small. And, as it happens, they are coming during a time of some uncertainty about the wisdom of traveling and gathering. They are coming during a time when it seems likely we are facing a true pandemic.

You’d have to be living under a rock to not have heard about coronavirus COVID-19 which began in China and has since made its way to every continent save Antarctica. You’ve likely heard some people speak about it as if it’s an existential threat to humanity, and others speak about it as if it’s no more noteworthy than the common cold. I think the majority of us are somewhere between those extremes. Most are keeping a wary eye on it and, for now, taking just the most basic of precautions—perhaps trying to wash our hands a little more and touch our faces a little less.

Personally, I have been thinking about the coronavirus a lot because of some upcoming travel, most of which is for conferences, but some of which is for other purposes. In just a couple of weeks I am due to head to Greece. I’ll be transiting through Vienna, spending some time in Athens and a couple of other Greek towns, then heading home via Rome (where I plan to make the most of a 24-hour layover by visiting a couple of the usual tourist spots). Every single country on my route is on the virus map, though to this point the outbreaks in all the nations (save Italy) are minor. When that trip is complete, I have a couple of conferences to attend in America before heading back overseas, this time to Romania (which is also on the map).

I’m not overly concerned about contracting the virus. Obviously I’d much rather not have it, but it is still very rare when measured across whole populations and still doesn’t seem like it’s likely to sound the death knell for someone like myself who is relatively young and relatively healthy. But what does concern me is being exposed to it in some way, perhaps on a plane or a train, or in a hotel or an airport. Many countries have imposed advisable but sometimes borderline-draconian measures to attempt to stop its spread. This largely involves mandatory quarantines for anyone who may have come in contact with it. While I understand the purpose and possible effectiveness of such a course of action, I really do not want to be swept up in one! And who can blame me? I could gladly face two weeks in my own home, but hate the thought of two weeks in a Greek quarantine center, followed by two weeks on a Canadian military base. Many other frequent travelers feel the same way.

I was speaking to a gentleman recently who is a fixture at conferences within his industry. This month alone he was due to attend four of them across three different continents. But all four have been canceled. What’s interesting to me is that they were not canceled because the conference organizers deemed them too risky and decided to shut them down. Neither did governments demand they be shuttered. No, they were canceled because so many attendees decided not to come and, once a certain number bailed, the economics of the events no longer made sense. Similarly, the major airlines have stopped flying to many destinations in Asia not so much out of concern for the virus as that there are so few passengers to fly. A recent flight between Hong Kong and Vancouver, usually a packed-out route, had no less than 350 empty seats. Not surprisingly, Air Canada has announced they will shut down the route until the passengers return. It is possible that their flights to South Korea and perhaps even to Japan will soon go the same way. It’s not outside the realm of the possible that some of their European routes will also be put on hold.

It is this kind of uncertainty that is sweeping the world. While officials in all nations and on all levels of government are planning for various contingencies and taking action where necessary, it is also individuals like you and me who are making self-interested decisions. The response to this viral outbreak is, in some ways, being led by the little people and by their fears and concerns. As with me, most are not afraid of getting the virus as much as getting swept up in the response to the virus.

We are into a strange and unprecedented situation here, aren’t we? I’m two weeks away from a planned overseas trip and will need to be watching closely and monitoring the situation carefully. At this point I still intend to do all I had planned to do and go everywhere I had planned to go. But things keep changing out there. When I began thinking about this article there were zero cases in Greece, as I first put my fingers to the keyboard there was one, and by the time I finished typing it, there were three. I expect that by the time I post it there will be more than that.

And now, with all this said, I’d love to hear from you (perhaps by leaving a Facebook comment). Do you intend to stay the course with any conferences or other events you’re attending, or are you thinking of canceling? If you have non-essential travel plans in the next couple of months, are you considering canceling them? And if you were in my position, knowing what we know today, would you call and cancel your tickets, or would you set out and assume everything will be okay?

Jesus tells us—in fact, he solemnly warns us—that our words matter. Every single word we speak has significance. “I tell you,” he says, “on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:36). Not most of those careless words. Not some of those careless words. All of them. This is a terrifying thought for those of us who are prone to speak often, speak hastily, or speak harshly. It calls us to repent, then to guard our mouths and, equally, to guard our hearts, for it is out of the abundance or overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks. Just like vomit reveals the contents of our sickened stomachs, our words reveal the contents of our sinful hearts.

If people will give account for even the careless words they speak, how much more the deliberate? Surely Jesus is making an argument here from the lesser to the greater! If there is significance in the words that spontaneously fly out of our mouths in moments of great pain or surprise, how much more the words that are spoken thoughtfully, solemnly, deliberately? If even the words count that we speak off the record, how much more the ones that we speak on the record?

A couple of days ago, U.S. senators were each given an opportunity to speak. They were not expected to say much—just one little word—but they had been given plenty of time to consider it. This would not be an idle word or a spontaneous reaction, but one that had been carefully weighed and considered. They were to speak a simple yea or a nay, a yes or a no, as their vote in favor of or against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a bill meant to extend basic human rights to infants who might survive an abortion procedure. Of the 97 who voted, 53 chose to speak “yea.” 44 chose to speak “nay.” And when the tally was complete, the bill was blocked, falling short of the 60 it required. There will be no protection for the most vulnerable.

There have been many reactions to this bill’s defeat, and they span almost the full range of human emotion. What is delightful to one is agonizing to another. What is an occasion of deep sorrow for some is a cause of celebration for others. I, like so many Christians, am both grieved and outraged. But I am also … is it chilled? I find myself reflecting on those 44 people who chose to speak that one word, that one calculated word, to defeat this bill.

Today they stand before American voters, but the day will come when they will stand—or fall to their faces more likely—before the Judge of all the earth. They will be called upon to give an account for that word, that one-syllable, three-letter, packed-with-significance word. I can’t help but wonder how that “nay” will sound before the throne, before the one who creates life, who loves life, who tells us to protect life. I can’t help but wonder whether that “nay” will resound through their minds—whether it will echo through their hearts—for all eternity as they face the appalling, unfathomable, eternal consequences of saying it. I can’t help but wish and pray and plead that before that day they will turn to the One who is willing and able to forgive even so great a transgression.

Update: An earlier version of this article flipped the vote tally.

The West is becoming increasingly post-Christian. Many of the more progressive nations are not merely overlooking or ignoring their Judeo-Christian heritage, but actively destroying it. They are making their way through their laws and constitutions, their definitions and traditions, to divest it all of any remnants of the biblical principles and assumptions upon which these nations were built. There is nothing that is sacred, nothing that can’t or won’t be touched in this great scouring.

Those of us who live in these nations are having to operate with some new assumptions. Some of these pertain to the way churches operate: We have always assumed that when we give money to churches and ministries we will receive a tax receipt, but those days may soon be over for organizations that will not bow before one of society’s sacred cows. Some of these pertain to family: We have always assumed that as parents we have the right to educate our children as we see fit, but it’s not hard to foresee a future in which that is no longer the case. Some of these pertain to marriage: We have always assumed that marriage is between one man and one woman, but now marriage has been extended to same-sex couples and many assume polygamous relationships cannot be far behind. It extends through education, business, politics, and everything else. Because Judeo-Christian values are so deeply embedded in the warp and woof of our nations, there is really no area that can’t or won’t be changed.

As so many nations revoke their heritage, Christians will need to learn how to live in a post-Christian world. We will need to learn to live in a world where the laws inhibit our ability to worship freely rather than assist it, where traditions oppose the Bible instead of complement it, where the assumption is no longer that Christian people and their churches are a help but a hindrance to a thriving, prosperous society.

It may be an intimidating time, but we won’t be alone in it. There will be help for us if some of our brothers and sisters are willing to offer it and if we are willing to receive it. Though the West is becoming post-Christian, much of the rest of the world is either pre-Christian or a-Christian. Much of the rest of the world is either just beginning to embed Christian values in their laws or constitutions, or never has. And the believers in these nations already have a lot of knowledge and a lot of wisdom about how to live the Christian life in contexts where that is far more difficult than it has traditionally been in the West. They have never enjoyed many of the privileges we take for granted—respect, tax receipts, the Ten Commandments on the walls of our courthouses, national anthems that proclaim the name of God, the option to educate at home or in Christian schools. They have had to address issues that have not been pertinent to us—infanticide, polygamy, shame-respect culture, forbidden assemblies, and generosity that provides no tax benefit. In many ways, they have been where we are going. They’ve got knowledge where we’ve got questions. They can instruct where we are ignorant. They’ve explored and applied biblical truth we haven’t yet been forced to grapple with.

So I suppose this is a call for those of us in the West to take comfort and confidence in this: there are Christians who can assist us. There are believers elsewhere who can guide us into this territory that is foreign to us but familiar to them. And it’s a call for those of you outside the West to be willing to help. Where you have wisdom and experience, please share it. We will be looking to you for comfort, for wisdom, and for guidance.

As was true of so many other children of the 70s (and surrounding generations), Laura Ingalls Wilder played a surprisingly prominent role in my childhood. Her “Little House” books were first read to me by my mother. Then, when I was old enough to read on my own, I went through them so many times I lost count. As far as I was concerned, she was the consummate pioneer. Her descriptions of frontier life were vivid and exciting and, to my mind, perfectly true.

But when I had children and began to read the books to them, I quickly came to see they weren’t quite as true as I had thought. I understood that her books were fiction as much as fact—a mix of true and could-be-true that told of frontier life in a way that would appeal to children even at the expense of reality. I also realized that her books were troubling in parts. She was a woman of her time, and some of what was considered normal in the late 1800s when she lived and even in the mid-1900s when she wrote had since been seen in clearer light. Though the books are primarily still childhood stories merging into a coming-of-age tale, they contain threads of racial superiority. Famously, an early edition of one of her books says, “there were no people. Only Indians lived there,” while characters sometimes repeat the mantra, “the only good Indian is a dead Indian.” There’s also that blackface scene and the references to black people as “darkies.” And then, of course, the whole premise of a couple of the books is that white settlers deserve the Indian’s land and are right to displace them and take it for themselves.

Wilder and her books are back in the news this week. Since 1954, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal to writers or illustrators of children’s books who have made a lengthy contribution to children’s literature. Last week it was announced that henceforth the award would be renamed the Children’s Literature Legacy Award. ALA President Jim Neal and ALSC President Nina Lindsay released the following joint statement:

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books have been and will continue to be deeply meaningful to many readers. Although Wilder’s work holds a significant place in the history of children’s literature and continues to be read today, ALSC has had to grapple with the inconsistency between Wilder’s legacy and its core values of inclusiveness, integrity and respect, and responsiveness through an award that bears Wilder’s name. Wilder’s books are a product of her life experiences and perspective as a settler in America’s 1800s. Her works reflect dated cultural attitudes toward Indigenous people and people of color that contradict modern acceptance, celebration, and understanding of diverse communities.

For those reasons, the award will no longer bear her name, though they make it clear this should not “be construed as censorship, as we are not demanding that anyone stop reading Wilder’s books, talking about them, or making them available to children.”

Here’s what I’d like to do today: I’d like to ask you for your thoughts on this and have you submit letters to the editor. Is it a right or a wise decision to rename this award? How should we consider the legacies of people like Wilder? Are you still comfortable reading her books or having your children and grandchildren read them? In a few days I will print some of the best and most thought-provoking of these letters. Start right here: Letters to the Editor.

(Recommended reading on Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder . It’s tough to read at times, mostly because so much deals with her daughter Rose who was, frankly, a terrible person. But it’s interesting and informative nonetheless.)

On April 6, 2018, the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League boarded a bus for the two-hour drive to their playoff game in Nipawin. They had no idea that their obscure little hockey team from small-town Saskatchewan would soon be known around the world. At about 5 o’clock that evening their bus collided with a semi truck, causing utter devastation to the vehicle and the 29 passengers within it. Fourteen died immediately and two more in the days that followed. Most of those killed were in their teens or early twenties.

This tragedy has gripped the nation of Canada and made headlines far beyond. Crowdsourcing campaigns have raised millions. Unofficial tributes, like leaving hockey sticks outside the front door of homes or wearing hockey jerseys to work and school, have swept the country. There is something so essentially Canadian about this tragedy, something so very painful, that all of Canada is feeling it very deeply. We all grieve for the families who have so unexpectedly lost someone they loved. We all grieve for that small town that has been crushed by such a heavy blow.

As I have reflected on the disaster, there is a thought that continues to haunt me. It’s the thought of young people who have heard the gospel, but haven’t yet decided what to do about it. I know many people who are in the age-range of those players, people who are in their teens or twenties. Many of them have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, but have not yet responded in repentance and faith. They haven’t outright rejected the gospel—they just haven’t decided yet whether or not they believe it.

This is not unusual for young people. It is not uncommon for them to hear the good news but to hold off, to delay, to wait for what seems like a more opportune time. They are young, after all. They’ve got years still, don’t they? Perhaps not. I’m sure every young man on that bus had dreams for the future. I’m sure every one was convinced he had time left to live. But he didn’t.

What haunts me is young people—perhaps young people like you—who haven’t yet made up their minds. They have heard about Jesus and are perhaps convicted that he really is the Savior, but they haven’t yet put their faith in him. They are waiting for another day, waiting for a better time. Here’s how I want to challenge them, to challenge you: God does not promise you another day. He doesn’t promise you another moment. He doesn’t call you to turn to him tomorrow or next week or at some unspecified point in the future. He calls on you to turn to him now, in this very moment.

It is my prayer that this tragedy serves as a sobering wake-up call to young people across the nation and across the world. It is my prayer that it will stir many to consider that the call to the gospel is urgent, that it must be heeded today. God promises you salvation now and heaven forever if you’ll turn to him. But he does not promise you tomorrow.

This weekly column is devoted to discussing some of the themes that were common topics of discussion among Christians the week before. This week began with many discussions of the film Black Panther, but very quickly turned to Billy Graham upon the news of his death at age 99.

Billy Graham

I landed in Sydney, Australia, after a 16-hour flight to find my phone almost exploding with news and notifications of Billy Graham’s death. Christianity Today had a long and detailed obituary while Gene Veith called Graham’s passing The End of an Era: “In addition to being the supreme evangelist, Billy Graham did much to establish evangelicalism as a potent and popular force in American culture. But his death at age 99 marks a new era, one that has already been taking shape, in which evangelistic Christianity must cope with the loss of its cultural popularity.” Al Mohler‘s remembrance was titled The Preacher: Billy Graham and American Evangelicalism. “I first became aware of Billy Graham watching him on television when I was a child. I later came to know him personally when he spoke at my inauguration as President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. From those days watching him as a child even to my inauguration, Graham was characterized by one great message, the salvation provided by Jesus Christ.”

Some writers wanted to ensure we didn’t forget about some of the concerns with Billy Graham’s legacy. Tom Ascol shared a quote by R.C. Sproul in which he graciously assessed Graham’s strengths and weaknesses. Chris Anderson wrote Grace, Truth, and Billy Graham: “I have friends who can’t believe anyone would say something negative about Billy Graham. And I have friends who can’t believe anyone would say something positive about Billy Graham. Actually, both are possible—and both are necessary.” Jemar Tisby tweeted, “I think we can say Billy Graham was less racist than many of his peers yet he still fell far short of being an anti-racist advocate or activist. We can do so without completely discounting the good he did, his importance to American history, and without mischaracterizing him.”

In the mainstream media, some focused specifically on what they consider his irredeemable flaws. Denny Burk responded to an NBC article on Graham’s “painful legacy for LGBT people” while Samuel James responded to various critiques by saying, “What I saw in dozens of tweets from accounts with shiny blue checkmarks was hatred of the simplest and most unembarrassed kind. It bothered me, not least because it threw me: This is Billy Graham we’re talking about. Not a politician, not a culture warrior. Is it even possible to be meeker and milder as a Christian than Billy Graham was, and still actually believe the gospel?” In Defending Billy, Owen Strachan responded to George Will‘s column at the Washington Post. “Will may well disagree with evangelicals over key theological ideas and claims. This is his prerogative. But his portrait of Graham as a bumpkin is unwarranted and unfair; it’s a tired trope, really.”

Black Panther

I will be honest: I had never heard of Black Panther (the movie, the character, or the comic book) until the movie released and people began talking about it. I don’t have any real interest in superhero films, but did take notice when my Twitter feed began to fill with accolades for the movie.

Sam Sey wrote I Took a Trip to Wakanda and said, “I think that’s one of the reasons why Black Panther resonates with so many Black people. For many Black people, the movie rediscovers a picture of Africa—a picture of ancestors—they’ve lost. For Africans like me, the movie reminds me to hold on to what I haven’t lost from Ghana—what I still hold on to—more tightly.” Jasmine Holmes wrote Emissaries of a Glorious Nation and she said, “The narrative of a little black girl who grows up in the suburbs in Houston and wishes that she could be a shame-free princess in a majority-black context full of pride and promise? That’s mine.”

Writing for Desiring God, Sam Morse wrote At Home in Wakanda: “Having watched a civil-rights documentary beforehand, I found the ideologies of the two main characters to be thought-provoking. And although Black Panther has good action scenes, strong characters, a decent narrative, and helpful questions about global responsibility, the enchantment of the movie for many blacks in the theater was not, in my estimation, about the hero per se, but about the society. I left wanting to be like the Black Panther. But I left wanting to be in Wakanda even more.” Chris Williamson also wrote about the movie for ERLC: “For two black boys growing up in the hood, the Black Panther increased our sense of somebody-ness before we fully comprehended why we even needed that boost in our psychological development. There was something about seeing the Black Panther on the colorful pages of those comic books that caused me to hold up my 9-year-old head a little bit higher.” Also see The Gospel Coalition and The Wardrobe Door.

During the recent EPIC trip to Ireland we held an event in Belfast where we opened the floor up for questions. Here are a few of the questions and answers from Ireland. (Strangely, as I post this I’ve just returned from a similar event in Sydney, Australia.)

Transcript

How can we reignite the passion for evangelism within reformed theology?

That question of Reformed Theology and evangelism is a tricky one because we know in our heads that Reformed Theology has within it what should propel us to mission, right. Look, we understand Reformed Theology ought to be propelling us, and yet somehow it seems to make us lax and that’s something those who are not reformed often hold against us, and I think rightly so.

That, in our church, it’s very much our experience that people get saved into Pentecostalism. They’re the ones who are really reaching out and doing the hard ministry and sharing the gospel and drawing people in. Now many of them get saved there and then a lot of those who are truly saved develop a hunger and they realize they’re not being fed and so they migrate over to a church like ours. But it’s been to our shame as a church that we’re just kind of, I don’t want to say sheep stealing, that’s not the right expression. We’re truly feeding people who need to be fed, but we want to be the people who are sharing the Gospel and seeing those results.

So, I don’t know what we do about that other than just dive deeper and not allow ourselves to be complacent.

I think some of the evangelism in the non-reformed world happens for poor motives, but it still happens.

I think we need to look back to the heroes and, you know, we can look at the Whitefields or people who were truly reformed. Most of the great missionaries were truly reformed in their theology and that propelled them to mission.

I think we tend to lean on them a little bit. I’d rather be able to say, look at my church and my life as proof that Reformed Theology propels mission, versus having to say, yes well look at Whitefield and look at John Paton and all those people, but yes, I think that’s something as a Reformed movement, Reformed church, whatever, Reformed Christians, that is to our shame. It’s not universally true. There are some people out there who are really, really doing that hard work, but I don’t think it’s as common as it ought to be.

What do you think is the biggest problem the church faces theologically?

The biggest problem the church faces in a theological sense; I think, what we tend to fear as Christians is outside encroachment in the church, right. And so today we’re hearing lots of talk about new sexual norms, transgenderism, all of these things. I think we sort of have that mentality of, we need to hold all that at bay. I suspect that’s just a great distraction so Satan can undermine the church from within. He’s always done his most effective work from within.

So there’s a deep sense in which our apathy, I think, is our great enemy. If we’re not continuing to dive deeper into truth, if we’re not really arming our people, I think Satan can sneak in from the inside. So, our defense there, I believe, is really to equip our people theologically, and yet at the same time to continue to grow the church, to continue to develop evangelistically as well.

But, I really do fear, and in Canada, we feel a lot of that. You know the government is going to take away our rights. The government is going to come in and deny us this or pull away that, but I really fear that the true damage is being done from the inside and we’re just too focused outward. Historically of course, as the government cracks down on the church, it tends to actually spread the Gospel, not hinder it. But the real hindrance to the Gospel comes from Christians being apathetic, throwing away truth.

How much focus should the local church have on modern forms of communication?

Well, the sad reality or just the reality is, that’s where the people are. So if you want to reach people, you’ve got to reach them through social media. That’s where people are spending time, that’s where people are engaging, that’s where people are sharing ideas, that’s where people are encountering ideas.

100% of the people who come to our church have been to our website before they visit. So, we’ve got to have a good website. It doesn’t need to be hipster, it doesn’t need to be over the top, but we have to be able to answer the questions that they’re … we have to try and understand what questions are they bringing to this website, that they want answered in order to come in.

And a lot of that is, who are you like? So, it’s not, they don’t care if we’re Reformed Baptist or Reformed Prespaterian. They want to know who we’re associated with. Because they’ve encountered someone online, they’ve listened to a Paul Washer sermon and they’ve grasped that kind of theology. Now they’re coming and saying, is your church kind of like Paul Washer? Or, they’ve heard John Piper, and they’re saying, you know, is this like a Piperesque type of church? And those connections, I think, are very important.

So, on our website, we have a little listing of, we like this ministry or we like this person for these reasons. And that’s just a helpful way of giving people a little hook into our church. That’s the questions they’re asking.

Another question is, what do I wear to church, right? A very intimidating thing. If you’re unchurched, or you’re from a different tradition, you don’t want to be the guy who shows up in a suite, when everybody else is in jeans. Or the guy who shows up in jeans, when everyone else is in a suite.

Social media is a great way of breaking down that barrier. Just answering those kinds of questions that may keep people from actually encountering church. So, the big difficulty or one of the big difficulties with social media is that the young people migrate to it before the older people. And so churches that have stopped sending out a printed newsletter or a printed church directory, and do it all through a website now, have essentially taken something away from the elderly people in the church.

They’ve also perhaps taken something away from the very young people in church, whose parents may not be allowing them onto those things.

Or the kids, I mean when grandma got on Facebook, the grandkids got off, right. It just wasn’t cool anymore. And so you start to keep people apart. Something like paper, you can always give to everybody equally, and they’ll all have access to it.

So, I think we need to weigh things carefully before we make those big and sudden shifts, to make sure we’re still reaching everybody in the church, and serving everybody equally. But, if you want to go where the people are, you’ve got to have some social media presence, a website at least, and probably some presence on Facebook and Twitter. But we found that our Facebook for the church basically just becomes like a Craigslist kind of thing; I’ve got this junk, do you want my junk? And so, it becomes a little bit weird too.

This weekly column is devoted to discussing some of the themes that were common topics of discussion among Christians the week before. I often have a lot to work with, but last week there was just one major theme I picked up on, so will provide information on that while also offering a quick personal update.

Personal Update

On the personal front, you may know that over the past few months I’ve been dealing with some significant nerve problems in my hands that have slowed down the pace of my writing and nudged me into video. Over the past few weeks a number of you have asked how I’m doing and I’ve been able to express some cautious optimism.

However, I was in Ireland last week completing research for my EPIC church history project and, while there, fell hard and heard something in my arm go “crunch.” I went to a nearby hospital where x-rays seemed to show I was okay; however, two days later the hospital called to say a radiologist had looked at the x-rays and recommended getting checked out again. I was home by then, so went to the local hospital and, again, the first doctor said I was fine but the specialist caught something. It turns out my arm is fractured (which, I suppose, explains why I couldn’t—and still can’t—straighten it). For now I’m in a hard cast and we will reevaluate in a week or two.

Obviously a fractured arm is by no means a devastating injury and I’ll be back to normal in a few weeks. However, typing has become more painful again and is also quite awkward because of the position of my arm. I’m rather concerned about causing a flare-up of my nerve issues. I guess I’ll just have to keep working toward mastering voice dictation software and relying on the help of Aileen and others. In the meantime, your prayers are much appreciated. To be frank, I’m feeling very discouraged about the whole thing. It has been a long, long time since I’ve been able to just sit down at my computer and type freely and without pain–one of those things in life I most love to do.

Jordan Peterson

The one theme that was prominent among Christian writers and readers this week was Jordan Peterson. His now-infamous interview with Cathy Newman and his new book both generated a lot of responses. Why the interest in this man? I think it’s because he’s not a Christian, yet he’s boldly saying the kinds of things that Christians have been saying. He is not a believer, but has clearly been shaped by the Bible in many ways. He gains a hearing because of his secular credentials but then says things that, though not perfectly consistent with scripture, are often not far off. He’s truly a fascinating character.

So here are some of the things that were said about him:

• Matthew Hosier wrote a solid review that provided a lengthy overview of Peterson’s new book 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, which became an immediate bestseller.
• Later, on the same site, Andrew Wilson responded with 12 Rules for Jordan Peterson. Here’s one of his rules: “You should meet Tim Keller some time, if you haven’t already. Both of you are father figures to a generation of young, bright males looking for wisdom; he’s a preacher who sounds like a professor, and you’re a professor who sounds like a preacher. If you ever meet for coffee, I’d love to be a fly on the wall.”
• Alistair Roberts wrote an article on six things pastors ought to learn from him. “Peterson is, for a great many young men in particular, the father they never had. He is someone prepared to speak into their situation with a compassionate authority. His authority is not an attempt to control them or to secure his own power over them, but functions to direct them towards life. He isn’t wagging his finger at them, but is helping lost young people to find their way.”
• Jacob Reaume had a couple of articles, first commenting on Peterson’s new religion, then focusing on the fact that he provides morality without gospel. “Peterson offers temporal salvation in morality. He knows enough to know how to survive as best as possible in this world. Take personal responsibility, work hard, and be honest. That’s a great mixture for a great life. The problem is that it’s not enough for eternal life.”
• As is often the case, the Babylon Bee got into it with an article titled Jordan Peterson Convinces Pile Of Clean Laundry To Sort Itself Out.
• Finally, Stephen McAlpine provided tips on What to Say When Someone Says “So You’re Saying”. “The non-sequitur argument is increasingly employed by those who see the Christian position as wrong simply because it is the Christian position, a position that consequently requires no intellectual repartee, but a rather dismissive reductionist slap-down. So how can we prepare ourselves for it? Here are four ways to behave…”

As one week gives way to another, I like to provide a roundup of the themes that were prominent among Christian readers and writers in the week that was. This week people were discussing John Piper’s thoughts on female seminary professors while also discussing Rachael Denhollander’s remarkable victim impact statement from the sentencing of Larry Nassar.

John Piper and Female Seminary Professors

In episode 1149 of Ask Pastor John, John Piper answered this question: Is there a place for female professors at seminary? His answer, not surprisingly for those who are familiar with his understanding of complementarian principles, was no. “Just to be clear, the issue is not whether women should attend seminary in one of its programs and get the best biblical grounding possible. The issue is whether women should be models, mentors, and teachers for those preparing for a role that is biblically designed for spiritual men. That’s the way I’m posing the question. … You can hear in that sentence another assumption about the nature of what I think seminary teaching should be. Namely, seminary is not just the transfer of information. Machines can do that. But machines can’t form a man for the pastoral role by being those who, in their teaching, embody that role and model that role and inspire for that role through their active involvement as elder-qualified men in the church.”

Denny Burk, President of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, wrote an article at his personal blog to demonstrate that this position is not novel. “For example, my own denomination (the Southern Baptist Convention) was facing this very issue back in 2007. As a result, the Southern Baptist Texan interviewed presidents of SBC seminaries asking them to describe their seminary’s practice regarding female professors. They all answered basically in the same way.” In a second article he provided a “mere complementarian” understanding of the key passage, 1 Timothy 2:12. And in a third he demonstrated what the debate is not about. Of all the articles, this may be the most clarifying.

Stephen Kneale wrote On John Piper and His Prohibition of Female Seminary Professors in which he outlined four broad complementarian positions and how they inform questions like this one. Michael Bird penned what was mostly a level-headed response from a theological conservative who is also not-quite-egalitarian. What jumped out at me is his assertion that women can only be safe in an environment where authority is shared between men and women. “Gosh, if you believe in total depravity, and if you read the news (#AndySavage), you cannot trust men to police other men when it comes to women. So it is a pastoral necessity and a duty of care that female students have women role models and women advocates in any faculty.” However, he failed to back this assertion with Scripture. He also went way too far when he included this outrageous statement: “My first piece of advice for women preparing for seminary is that you should approach an all-male faculty with the same level of caution you would use sharing a cab ride with Harvey Weinstein.”

Bethany Jenkins, until recently a very consistent contributor to The Gospel Coalition, tweeted her disagreement and a look through the long thread that follows will prove enlightening to those trying to get a survey of popular opinions.

I’m a complementarian and *strongly* disagree with this conclusion. My disagreement stems from a high, not low, view of the local church and the authority of Scripture; we should not extend it beyond where and what it teaches. https://t.co/wbE3rsWOyl

— Bethany Jenkins (@BethanyJenkins) January 23, 2018

Rachael Denhollander’s Victim Impact Statement

A second popular topic of discussion was former gymnast Rachael Denhollander and her victim impact statement about Larry Nassar. Donhollander was the first woman to go public with accusations of sexual misconduct and she was given the last word before he was sentenced to lifetime imprisonment. Her statement was lengthy, at times graphic, and heartbreaking. What stood out to many people afterwards was the way she pleaded with Nassar to turn to Christ and be saved. You can watch it here (beginning at 27:00 or so if you’d like to watch the part where she speaks of forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ Jesus):

Al Mohler led with the story in his January 25 edition of The Briefing and concluded this way: “But what so many in the world missed is that the moral clarity that was so evident in that courtroom yesterday cannot really emerge from a secular worldview. It can only emerge from a biblical worldview. And yesterday it wasn’t just the witness to good and evil that appeared. In the voice of Rachel Denhollander, there was a powerful witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Gospel that speaks so honestly about sin, and the Gospel that so honestly promises in Christ salvation from sin.” In “Gymnasts, Prophets, and Us” Rebecca VanDoodewaard said, “These three things—doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God—are things that are missing from the discussion around this case and other sexual abuse situations.” Aaron Earls also wrote about it and pointed out, “Many Christians have rightly pointed to Denhollander’s presentation of the gospel to Nassar, but we miss the depth of what she did—and of the gospel itself—if we jump to that first and only stay there.”

Writing for TGC Australia, Murray Campbell made some important observations, including this: “We should not be so quick to dismiss the efficacy and goodness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ today. In a court of law, and in circumstances addressing the ugliest of human affairs, a woman spoke with quiet dignity, sharing her pain, calling for justice on behalf of countless girls, and speaking grace to a man who deserves none. Rare? possibly. Contrary to human wisdom? Yes. Attractive and causes us to ponder? Absolutely.” And, once again, Denny Burk commented, this time relating her situation with abuse-prevention training and programs.

As one week gives way to another, I attempt to provide a roundup of the themes that were prominent among Christian readers and writers in the week that was. This week people were discussing Cathy Newman’s embarrassingly terrible interview of Jordan Peterson, the #MeToo movement inside and outside of Christian circles, and the supposedly “sickening danger” of homeschooling.

Jordan Peterson: Hero?

The internet was buzzing after Jordan Peterson’s interview with Cathy Newman. The interview (which includes a handful of “damns” and “hells”) is well worth watching in its entirety. Peterson is not a Christian (in an interview linked below he was asked, “Are you a Christian? Do you believe in God?” to which he replied, “I think the proper response to that is No, but I’m afraid He might exist.”). However, he has clearly been deeply shaped by Christianity and, for that reason among others, has been able to stick his head up above so much of the fray today, and speak with remarkable clarity. In a strange way, many Christians find that he speaks for them. Here’s the infamous interview:

Newman has clearly misunderstood Peterson’s position, his intellect, and his ability to respond to her ideological attacks. Rod Dreher said, “The interview ought to be shown in journalism classes as an example of what happens when a journalist believes that ideological ardor substitutes for reason, and that contempt for her interview subject should rightly override professionalism.” In Jordan Peterson and Powerful Men, Alastair Roberts offered some very insightful analysis. “Within society today, men are increasingly taught that their power is toxic and problematic, that they need to step back to let women advance. The sort of male spaces in which men develop and play to their strengths are closed down and the sexes integrated. The suggestion that the male sex rather needs to step up and play to its strengths, and not just function as meek, compliant, and deferential allies to women, is one that instinctively appalls many. ‘Powerful man’ is seldom heard as anything but a pejorative expression.” And again, “Newman seems to be expecting to deal with another man-child who is acting out against the matriarchal forces in society, some puerile provocateur like Milo Yiannopoulos, perhaps. Encountering a manly adult male instead, she seems to be wrong-footed. By the end, she appears to be charmed by Peterson, despite herself.” It’s hard to overstate how important and insightful Roberts’ article is.

Writing for The Spectator, Douglas Murray said, “Whatever else anybody might think of him, Professor Peterson is a man of remarkable learning and experience, and does not appear to have arrived at any of his views by the now common means of ‘I reckon’. Yet Newman, who approaches the interview with the trademark sourness she employs for everyone she expects to disagree with, treats this is just another chance to burnish her own social justice credentials and expose her guest as a bigot. Big mistake.” Stephen Kneale quoted some of it and pointed out, like Rod Dreher, that this interview is a “clear example of how much modern discourse tends to run” and, in that way, and important bit of viewing for Christians. Be sure to also watch and read this interview with Christie Blatchford of the National Post and this article that discussed some of the ideology Peterson is battling against. This one from The Spectator grapples with Peterson’s unexpected star power and what makes him such a popular figure, especially among young men.

Peterson’s new book 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos releases next week and is sure to generate a lot more discussion and controversy.

#MeToo

Christians continue to discuss the #MeToo phenomenon that has swept the world over the past couple of months. The recent (sexually explicit) exposé of Aziz Ansari may have proven one step too far for the movement and has generated a strong backlash from many varied quarters, from liberal feminists to conservative Christians. Writing for First Things, Samuel James wrote about what the sexual revolution has actually accomplished. “The sexual revolution has a well-known masculine bias. Though feminists have won real battles, the outcome of the war has never been in doubt. Unmooring sexuality from the home, from marriage, and from religion has benefitted nobody more than lecherous, grasping men.” Specifically about Ansari he said, “At the heart of the #MeToo moment in American culture is the dawning awareness of just how unfair revolutionary sex can be. This isn’t only about raising awareness of violent acts of rape or assault, though it certainly is about that. The architects of #MeToo see the movement as a referendum on something much bigger. This is why, for example, Aziz Ansari has been publicly humiliated amidst allegations that read a lot like sour grapes.”

In last week’s wrap-up I highlighted the recent news about pastor Andy Savage and his admission that he had been involved in a “sexual incident” with a girl when he was a youth pastor. Abby Perry compared this situation to one in the world of entertainment and said, “The Church Needs a Masterclass in How to Apologize for Sexual Assault.” While I affirm what she says about Christians and churches apologizing for sexual assault, I do think we can add this: Whether in churches or Hollywood, many people craft only and exactly the apology they need to maintain their position. I do not mean to pass judgment on the sincerity of either of the apologies she describes, but it’s beyond dispute that many people apologize with the help of PR specialists. This may be especially prevalent in the world of politics and entertainment, but it’s well-established that many people within Christian circles now also turn to PR help when they’ve been caught or exposed.

The “Sickening Danger” of Homeschooling

This week brought the horrifying news of David and Louisa Turpin who had kept their 13 children captive in chains within their home. It soon became known that the family had registered a home school and, in that way, kept their tortured and malnourished children out of the public eye. This prompted Damon Linker to write in The Week of The Sickening Danger of Home-schooling. He said there must be increased government oversight of homeschools, including “annual checks by a state government employee, empowered to look for signs of abuse and evidence that kids are actually being educated, would seem to be a minimum required by a commonsense concern for the well-being of the children involved. Sure, the home-school lobbyists will object. But then they will find themselves in the awkward position of defending the right of the Turpins to torture their kids undetected.”

Alan Jacobs responded with a tongue-in-cheek rejoinder: “Excellent idea! But why stop there? Spousal abuse is surely a greater blight on our society than child abuse by homeschoolers, so I make this proposal: In households of married people, annual checks by a state government employee, empowered to look for signs of abuse by one spouse of another, would seem to be a minimum required by a commonsense concern for the well-being of the adults involved. Sure, some pro-marriage lobbyists will object. But then they will find themselves in the awkward position of defending the right of men to beat their wives undetected.” He went on to tell why he and his wife chose to homeschool their son. Rod Dreher (who, though Orthodox, has a strong voice among evangelicals) also told why he and his wife homeschool. “In my family’s case, we did it not because we wanted to shield our precious babies from the Heathenous Public Schools™, but because we really did (and do) believe that we can do a better job teaching them what we believe they need to know. We have never lived in a state that doesn’t care what you teach kids. Our kids have had to take state assessment tests every year, and they’ve always done very, very well. I think that’s a reasonable expectation from the state, frankly.” He also poignantly described some of his negative experiences with public schools as a child.

Though my family does not homeschool, I agree entirely with Jacobs’ conclusion: “Recommendations like Damon’s exemplify plain, straightforward bigotry against religious conservatives.” Speaking personally, I find it difficult to see given the current cultural climate (especially in Canada) how homeschooling will continue to remain legal in 10 or 20 years.

As one week gives way to another, I attempt to provide a roundup of the themes that were prominent among Christian writers in the week that was. This week people were discussing a pastor who had been called out for sins committed 20 years ago and they were expressing sympathy for the girl he victimized. They were discussing how to properly handle such allegations and wondering whether such sin is a permanent disqualifier from ministry. Christians were also thinking about Oprah Winfrey and whether she may be taking steps toward a presidential run in 2020. These were just some of this week’s headlines and happenings…

Andy Savage and Pastors Who Commit Sexual Sin

A story broke this week that has ignited or reignited a number of important conversations. It was the news of a “sexual incident” involving megachurch pastor Andy Savage. Though he is currently teaching pastor at Highpoint Church in Memphis, Tennesse, this occurred 20 years ago when he was youth pastor at StoneBridge Church in The Woodlands, Texas. At that time he developed a relationship with 17-year-old Jules Woodson that led to him offering to drive her home from church after an event. Instead of taking her home, he took her to an isolated place where they participated in sexual acts. The Washington Post has the full account of what happened then and in the days and months that followed.

Within hours this story had been picked up by many major American media outlets. Highpoint Church quickly came to Savage’s defense and, in Sunday’s worship service, provided him a plattform to apologize and explain. After he did so, the church stood to applaud him in what has since been called “the standing ovation heard round the world.” Though the story broke through blogs, most people learned of it through headlines in the mainstream media like this one: “Megachurch pastor gets standing ovation after admitting ‘sexual incident’ with teenager.” Savage was soon placed on leave of absence pending a third-party investigation while both he and Highpoint’s lead pastor Chris Conlee saw Baker cancel the release of their forthcoming books.

Many Christian blogs and media outlets responded with sympathy toward Jules Woodson and with rebuke for the handling of the situation by Savage and Highpoint Church. Many people pointed out this was not rightly a “sexual incident” but an actual sexual assault because Savage was in a position of spiritual leadership and authority—he was her youth pastor. Though he has since insisted the acts were mutual, this has only highlighted the reality that as a pastor he bears full responsibility for his actions. Authorities have said they will not investigate or charge him because they have no ability to do so under 1998 laws.

Many other writers (rightly) pointed out the impropriety and terrible optics of a church standing to applaud their pastor for his confession while still others discussed whether sexual sin is always a permanent disqualifier from pastoral ministry (I believe it is). Some (rightly) praised Austin Stone Church for taking immediate action in regard to Larry Cotton, a pastor of their church who was at StoneBridge at the time this happened. Their statement read, in part, “In light of the seriousness of these accusations against Larry Cotton, we feel that due diligence is appropriate to ensure Larry’s qualification for his current role of leadership. In order to remove our potential bias from the situation, we have placed Larry on a leave of absence while an investigation by a third-party organization is undertaken. We will provide a full report to the church after its completion.”

Key reading includes Ed Stetzer’s Andy Savage’s Standing Ovation Was Heard Round the World. Because It Was Wrong; Jonathan Leeman’s Forgive, but don’t return repentant pastors to pulpit; and Ruth Graham’s How the Evangelical Culture of Forgiveness Hurts Victims of Sexual Abuse.

President Oprah?

This week also saw the 2018 Golden Globe Awards. The moment everyone was speaking about in the aftermath was Oprah Winfrey’s speech which many took to be an early campaign address on her path to the White House. While many Christian bloggers commented, most left the punditry to a couple of professionals: Ross Douthat writing for the New York Times and Elizabeth Dias for Time.

Douthat wrote a column titled Oprah: Prophet, Priestess … Queen?. He points specifically to the religion Winfrey espouses and says, “her essential celebrity is much closer to the celebrity of Pope Francis or Billy Graham. She is a preacher, a spiritual guru, a religious teacher, an apostle and a prophetess. Indeed, to the extent that there is a specifically American religion, a faith tradition all our own, Oprah has made herself its pope.” Her faith is not aligned with any of the major traditions, but something populist and self-made. “But in between secularism and traditionalism lies the most American approach to matters of faith: a religious individualism that blurs the line between the God out there and the God Within, a gnostic spirituality that constantly promises access to a secret and personalized wisdom, a gospel of health and wealth that insists that the true spiritual adept will find both happiness and money, a do-it-yourself form of faith that encourages syncretism and relativism and the pursuit of “your truth” (to borrow one of Oprah’s Golden Globes phrases) in defiance of the dogmatic and the skeptical alike.”

Meanwhile, Time magazine pointed out that “beneath their vastly different images, Winfrey and [Donald] Trump share the same populist theology. Both preach a gospel of American prosperity, the popular cultural movement that helped put Trump in the White House in 2016. … Winfrey and Trump both preach a gospel of wealth, health, and self-determination, following in the relatively recent prosperity gospel tradition, which broadly speaking says that God wants people to be wealthy and healthy and that followers are responsible for their own destiny here on Earth.”

Al Mohler covered this story in an episode of The Briefing, saying “By any measure, Oprah is a very big factor on the American scene, but it’s really interesting to note that over the last 20 plus years Americans have come to know the major messaging Oprah is trying to send. It is a message perfectly fitted for our postmodern and post-Christian times, a message that is mostly about self-actualization and, for that matter, the development of the self as the primary lifelong project. Oprah is all about affirmation, and, in particular, about the kind of affirmation that is particularly acceptable and celebrated in not only elite culture but in what we can see is the cultural trend line, the trend line towards self-affirmation. And that means that in terms of a moral worldview the center of it actually is the self and the major verb that could be used in a moral sense is indeed affirmation or its close cognates such as acceptance and celebration.” Gene Veith rounded up these stories and a few others. The Babylon Bee took the opportunity to make a jab: Nation’s Progressives Suddenly In Favor Of Electing TV Personalities As President.

Welcome to Headlines & Happenings where I try to pick up some of the themes that were popular among Christians in the week that has just passed. This is actually harder than it sounds, especially in a relatively slow week like the one right after New Year’s!

Resolutions

The Christian blogosphere follows some predictable patterns, and of those patterns is that the end of one year and beginning of the next will see lots of articles about the making and keeping of resolutions. And why not? What better time to resolve to do or be or try something new? To wit, Kevin DeYoung wrote 20 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Make (and Keep) Right Now. Michael Kelley went with One of the Only New Year’s Resolutions Worth Repeating and Jordan Standridge with Rescued from Meaningless Resolutions. Erik Raymond offered The New Creation in the New Year. There was also a video this year with Hershael York giving his take on behalf of Southern Seminary. And these were just a few of the many options.

Logan Paul

Actually, I wish Christians had talked a little more about Logan Paul. The quick version: He’s one of the top YouTube stars and makes millions (some estimates are up to $2 million per month) acting like an obnoxious, immature buffoon for the entertainment of young people. And they love him for it, as evidenced by the fact that he has over 15 million subscribers. Last week he went to Japan’s “suicide forest” and captured footage of a man who had just committed suicide. His video soon elicited outraged responses; he took it down, apologized, and stepped away for a bit to reflect. What makes this newsworthy? A lot. Partly it is the fact that he is massively popular and influential among young people. It’s also what he shows about YouTube and the whole online attention economy.

Chris Martin wrote the one must-read article for parents: Parents, Please Don’t Let Your Kids Watch Logan and Jake Paul. He makes the statement and then defends it by giving some background on Logan Paul (and his brother Jake) and on the whole YouTube economy. Also consider reading The Logan Paul Video Should Be a Reckoning For YouTube from Wired and YouTube is equally to blame for Logan Paul’s video from TechCrunch. The long and the short is that parents need to be aware of what your kids are watching online. And don’t let them watch Logan Paul.

Article of the Week

If there is one article this week that I think is especially worthy of a few minutes of your time, it would be Abigail Dodds who wrote On Being a Christian Woman in the Year of Our Lord, 2018. She describes a theme she has picked up on over the past few years: “I’ve tried to put my finger on what seems to be afoot, particularly with conservative Christian women––for whom the sound of the rumbling is different than its liberal counterparts, yet seems to be aimed in the same basic direction. It seems the culprit is a general sense that women have been underutilized and pigeon-holed in Christ’s body and the internet is the main means by which this problem has found its voice.” She commends this, yet also points out what may be a significant flaw or concern. “We must teach the women to act like Christian women, not door busters. We must teach them that the Christian life is not one of getting our way or forcing our plans or barging in––it’s one of dying daily, humble waiting, prayerful dependence, and unseen service where our right hand is ignorant of our left. That breaking the doors down would be the path toward anything but misery seems obvious enough––which doors are enough, when does it end? Once we’ve broken them down, it’s impossible to open them rightly.” It is well worth reading and reflecting on it.

Here is a brief roundup of headlines and happenings there were topics of discussion and reflection among Christians this week. It was a relatively quiet week on the cusp of the holiday season, but a few common threads still rose to the top.

R.C. Sproul’s Memorial Service

It was a tremendous honor to be among the hundreds or even thousands attending R.C. Sproul’s memorial service. It was a fitting event to honor the legacy of our generation’s great reformer. His friends, including John MacArthur, paid tribute and shared memories while a veritable who’s who of Christian leaders filled the pews. The service was recorded and is available at rcsproul.com. Renewing Your Mind dedicated this week’s broadcasts to special broadcasts in which friends reflected on his life and legacy. James Faris wrote about the service’s ultra-appropriate opening words, while The Gospel Coalition included him in their article on faithful theologians and authors who died in 2017 after having helped shape evangelicals both in America and throughout the world.

The New Tax Laws

Most people take changes to the tax code in stride since they won’t really know what has changed until they file their 2018 income taxes in early 2019. Still, lots of people wrote and talked about it. Christianity Today said big families may get bigger tax bills under the new plan while pointing out that many Evangelicals are lauding the higher child tax credit and the preserved adoption credit. Retirement Stewardship took a look at the implications for those already retired or nearing retirement, saying, “Having some level of understanding about taxes and how they may affect you in retirement is part of wise retirement stewardship. Tax laws have always been notoriously complex, hence our heavy reliance on pricey software or tax professionals and preparers. Even if you use a professional, it’s a good idea to at least understand the basics.” Meanwhile, Gene Veith nicely rounded up some of the praise and critiques of the changes. The Babylon Bee took a swipe at the whole thing with this headline: Nation Furious Over Giving Government Less Of Their Money.

Christmas Is Coming

And, of course, Christmas is coming, so everyone was talking about the incarnation of the Son of God, and rightly so! Crossway offered 10 Things You Should Know about St. Nicholas while The Gospel Coalition offered 9 Things You Should Know about Christmas Traditions. Ligonier went with some classic R.C. Sproul in The Glory of Christmas while Desiring God shared God’s Indescribable Gift from John Piper. Reformation21 mined the origins and Christology of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Once again, the Bee also got in on the action with Santa Claus Converts To Calvinism, Moves Everybody To Naughty List.

Here is a brief roundup of headlines and happenings there were topics of discussion and reflection among Christians this week. Topics range from the death of a giant of the faith, to the bullying of a sweet, young kid, to the coming of Advent.

The Death of R.C. Sproul

Beloved and respected teacher R.C. Sproul passed away on December 14, and this resulted in an outpouring of tributes. I dedicated Friday’s A La Carte to rounding up many of them. My favorites came from John MacArthur, who spoke warmly of the friendship they shared (“No nationally known Christian leader has been a better friend to me than R. C. Sproul.”) and Al Mohler, who was first a student and then a friend of Dr. Sproul’s (“He never made a half-argument, presented a half-correction, preached a half-sermon, or laughed a half-laugh. He was all in, all the time.”). Perhaps best of all was Steven Lawson’s moving and at times hilarious contribution. “No one could go from being so serious about the holiness of God to laughing so loud that all around could hear him. One night at dinner, he laughed so hard with Sinclair Ferguson and me that he literally pulled a muscle in his rib cage. I am serious. We had to call my brother, a physician, to come to the restaurant and attend to him. How many people do you know who have hurt themselves laughing? R.C. did.” Ligonier Ministries repurposed RCSproul.com to serve as a kind of memorial site. Be sure to visit the Remembering R.C. page to see an overview of his life and ministry. A memorial service will be live-streamed on Wednesday.

Keaton Jones and Bullying

One day the whole world felt bad for Keaton Jones, and the next day half the world was castigating his mother. What could have been a good opportunity to discuss bullying was turned into something else entirely. Internet fame is fleeting and often brings terrible, unwanted consequences. The National Post provided a summary and recap of the story of Keaton Jones and his bullying. In the aftermath, Samuel James shared a helpful reminder that children and the internet are not usually a good combination. “My concern is that Keaton’s vulnerable, emotionally fragile moment, a moment that thousands of other kids identify with every day, was broadcast to millions of strangers, the overwhelming majority of whom do not really care about him.” Meanwhile, Chris Martin aptly caught some of the craziness in a Twitter thread.

Think twice before pulling out your phone and hitting “record.” Think twice more before uploading it and hitting “share.” Seriously.

The Season of Books

This is the time of year when avid readers are recapping what they read in the past year and when they are selecting their favorites. I noticed a significant decline in the number of such recaps from years prior, but still rounded up the ones I found. Among the books that gained the most attention in 2017 were Trevin Wax’s This Is Our Time, David Murray’s Reset, and Jared Wilson’s The Imperfect Disciple. Interestingly, there seemed to be much less agreement than in 2016 when quite a number of books were chosen over and over again. Between you and me (and without reference to the three books just listed), I don’t think 2017 was a banner year for Christian publishing.

Advent Reflections

Finally, of course, everyone was talking about Advent. It is, after all, just a week until we celebrate Christmas. Courtney Reissig wrote about Christmas in a Minor Key, saying, “Much like the Israelites who came before us, we are living in a minor key. We are living in a world filled with ache, sorrow, loss, sin, and darkness. Yes, Christ has come, but all is still not right, and we often feel it in our bones.” Kimberly Wagner reminded us that The Nativity Brings a Death Blow: “This year, when you open your mail to find a Christmas card with a lovely manger scene, remember that although the setting appears peaceful, this night brought a warrior Child, the One who would conquer death, hell, and the grave. Make no mistake, this birth brought with it a fatal death blow to the enemy of our souls.” Unlocking the Bible offered 10 Ways to Keep Christ the Center of Christmas while John MacArthur attempted to dispel The Confusion at Christmas.

It seems fitting that I should give the final word on Christmas to R.C. Sproul: