Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 110

The War on Unborn Black Children in the U.S.

Recently prolife advocate Abby Johnson shared the picture below on her Facebook page, along with this caption: “The abortion war against black women is so real. This is on a billboard in Dallas.”

Several years ago, John Piper preached on the question of “When Is Abortion Racism?” He said:

In the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision of 1857, the Supreme Court held that Black slaves were property without rights as free persons. But today, we rightly view that as unthinkable. My hope is that even though the Supreme Court in the Roe v. Wade case of 1973 did not give the unborn the rights of free persons, nevertheless, the day may come when that too is viewed as unthinkable. Racism might—and often did—result in the killing of innocent humans in our history, it often did. But abortion always results in the killing of innocent humans. Between 1882 and 1968, 3,446 Black people were lynched in America. Today more Black babies are killed by white abortionists every three days than all who were lynched in those years (Life Education and Resource Network).

As I’ve shared in the past on my blog, Planned Parenthood’s abortion advocacy was rooted in the eugenics movement and its bias against the mentally and physically handicapped and minorities, all of which are historical facts. This history helps to explain why to this day Planned Parenthood does virtu­ally nothing to promote adoption or help poor and minority women who choose to give their children life rather than abort them. The fact that there are some highly visible African Americans and other minority leaders in Planned Parenthood does not change its heritage or philosophy. It simply makes it easier to carry out its policies among target groups. The same is true of other abortion promoting organizations and clinics.

To clarify, I do not believe that most people who support abortion rights are racists, any more than I believe there are no racists among pro-lifers. I am simply suggesting that a closer look at both the history and present strategies of the pro-choice movement, regardless of motives, suggests that “abortion for the minorities” may not serve the cause of equality as much as the cause of supremacy for the healthy, wealthy, and white. 

BlackGenocide.org shares these statistics about the effects of abortion on the Black community:

On average, 1,876 black babies are aborted every day in the United States.

This incidence of abortion has resulted in a tremendous loss of life. It has been estimated that since 1973 Black women have had about 16 million abortions. Michael Novak had calculated “Since the number of current living Blacks (in the U.S.) is 36 million, the missing 16 million represents an enormous loss, for without abortion, America’s Black community would now number 52 million persons. It would be 36 percent larger than it is. Abortion has swept through the Black community like a scythe, cutting down every fourth member.”

Jemar Tisby, president of the Reformed African American Network, writes this in his article Christian, pro-life and black: Advocating for all of life:

God loves the little children, but black babies are dying by the score. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an African American woman is almost five times more likely to have an abortion than a white woman. In the state of Mississippi, white women had 665 abortions in 2006, or 22.6 percent of all abortions in that state. By comparison, black women had 2,250 abortions or 76.3 percent of the total.

Finally, let me recommend Greg Morse’s excellent article “The Monumental Problem: Hashtag Acticism and Covert Racism.” Here’s a portion of it:

I used to roll my eyes when someone would post articles about abortion. As a black man, it seemed like a distant problem from me and the community. Then it wasn’t.

I remember feeling asphyxiated as I read and studied. The institution has millions and millions of racial skeletons in its closet. When Satan’s spell is finally broken, the abortion clinic will be held in the same infamy as lynching ropes, metal shackles, and slave ships. If not in this life, then most certainly in the next.

The blindness staggers. Cries of racism can be heard at every turn and yet a great silence ensues concerning a multimillion dollar company (Planned Parenthood) capitalizing off of dead black babies? Hmm . . .

It has roots in a racist eugenics program called The Negro Project, check. Sanger desired to limit the population of the “feeble minded” and spoke at a KKK rally, check. Most abortion clinics are in disenfranchised, minority communities, check.

And new minority skeletons are added every day.

Around 950 black children—each with ten fingers and ten toes—are devoured every single day. Forty every hour. Villainous men in hoods—or now without hoods—cannot accomplish the level of carnage that men in white coats inflict daily. No days off. No relenting in this evil institution. This historic relic, this monument to racial supremacy and eugenics, needs to fall.

And we must call for it to fall. We detest racial supremacy in all forms—especially against the most vulnerable minority population on the planet. Our Facebook statuses cannot be filled with tons of outrage over a group of whites hating blacks in Charlottesville, while never saying anything about the abortion clinic down the street that dismembers minority children.

As Ismael Hernandez rightfully said, “Past racists snatched black babies from their mother’s arms and sold them into slavery. Today they snatch them from their mother’s womb and throw them in the garbage.”

Read the rest of the article.

May God continue to raise up African American spokespeople to intervene for unborn black children. And may all of us speak up for the unborn and their mothers of every race and nationality.

Meanwhile, may pro-lifers everywhere also speak up for racial justice. If we stand for the right of minority children to live, that same sense of God-inspired justice should compel us to stand up for their rights as long as they live.

In that regard, here are some blogs I’ve written on racial justice:

Brotherhood and the Color of Our Skin

Charlottesville: Reminding Everyone that Racism is Alive and Ugly

Dream with Me: One of My Heroes, John Perkins

Benjamin Watson speaks at the 2017 March for Life

Photo by iam Se7en on Unsplash

Authentic Love Is a By-Product of Brokenness

We first got to know our dear friend Tami Yeager when she was a part of our EPM staff.  She is a dear sister with a big heart for the Lord and for people, especially believers who are suffering and being persecuted. That heart for others leads her to periodically leave her job at a nearby school here in Oregon to serve refugees in the Middle East.

I found what Tami wrote on her blog touching. And I just love the picture of her with the kids! It’s a wonderful representation of who she is and reflects how she lives out what she writes. May her words encourage all of us, especially those of us who are experiencing suffering, to “love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22, NIV). —Randy Alcorn

Loving from the Center of Who You Are

By Tami Yeager

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle” (Romans 12:9-10, The Message).

The simplicity of loving from the center of who I am is what calls me to the other side of the world, again and again. It’s what compels me to go—and risk and serve and love. Loving from the center of who you are will require courage and bravery. It’ll challenge you to love bigger then fear and dream larger then life.

“God never measures the mind… He always put His tape measure in the HEART.” – Corrie Ten Boom

Some of the sweetest of relationships and communities I’ve tasted are in places steeped in suffering. Community is rich there—we share a common bond—pain and brokenness. In this place being transparent and genuine takes on a whole new meaning. It’s as if the fires of life on this side of eternity have helped to bridge the barriers of culture and difference and misunderstanding. Real and raw and extravagant love weaves our lives together.

I’m convinced that authentic love is a by-product of brokenness.

We were created for community and shared lives and love. The sharing of ourselves with others won’t happen without our showing up and being seen.

This prodigal daughter is well acquainted with my Father’s love. I know His embrace. I’ve experienced extravagant love. He’s never intimidated by my brokenness, failures, or sin. Resting in His arms is familiar territory for me.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:21-24).

God’s love saves me time and time again. He’s graciously taken my broken, tattered, and bruised heart and given me a new one, enlarging my capacity to love God and people.

Recently, I was allowed the honor of sitting with a young Middle Eastern girl named Layla. She was pure joy to be with.

Layla’s sister was kidnapped last year. Sadly, kidnapping of young girls in this area is not uncommon. Christian girls are prime targets. Her sister, Amira, was 14 years old at the time. Her captors planned to force her to convert and marry her kidnapper, a man her father’s age. Layla and Amira are the daughters of a Christian pastor from a poor village. The family lacked the money being demanded by their daughter’s kidnappers.

The Middle East is rich in family bonds and loyalty in communities. Amira’s ransom was raised by her extended family and she was rescued. She was swiftly moved far from home and into a safe house for young girls.

Layla and Amira’s father succumbed to a broken heart and died shortly after the ransom was paid and Amira was safe. The weight of pain that rested upon him proved too heavy a burden to shoulder. The Middle East is a shame and honor society, and even victims bear the shame from atrocities committed against them.

Amira continues to live in a safe house for her protection and that of her family. She is able to have regular visits with her mother, Layla, and other relatives. As for Layla and her mother, they’ve relocated to the home of her uncle.

One would think that Layla would be withered from the trauma she’s met head on in her young life. To the contrary. She shines with a special grace afforded those who’ve traversed through the precipice of suffering and loss. Amidst her heartache, God has graced her with joy and happiness. The fires of suffering having produced in her the purest of gold.

I’ll not soon forget Layla—or her story. Her brown eyes and beautiful smile are forever seared upon my heart. I would have traveled half way around the world to sit with her. We laughed, talked, and cried together. She held my arm tight and laid her head upon my shoulder while saying to me, “I love you,” or in Arabic, “أحب.”

I’m thankful that we we’re not made to travel this side of eternity alone—but with hearts wide open.

“Suffering is nothing by itself. But suffering shared with the passion of Christ is a wonderful gift, the most beautiful gift, a token of love.” —Mother Teresa

My Newest Book: Face to Face with Jesus

Do you remember the day, the moment, you met the Son of God for the first time? No matter how long we’ve walked with Christ, there’s always more to discover and learn about Him. To truly know Jesus and follow His example, it’s essential that we continually study and contemplate His words and the incredible aspects of His character.

That’s why I’m excited about my new book, Face to Face with Jesus: Seeing Him as He Really Is! It includes 200 mini-chapters (one page each) all about Jesus, King of Kings, my Savior and my best friend. Each entry includes Scripture, a devotional thought, and an inspirational quote.

I recently received my advanced copy and have read about 50 of them. I don’t often read my own books, as by the time they come out I’m tired from all the work! But I’ve found God is speaking to me through the Scripture and quotations, and I hope He speaks to you, too.

I believe there’s something unique about Face to Face with Jesus and that it can encourage people who like reading short entries with biblical substance. Please pray with me that God would use the book to touch the lives of all those who read it.

Among other things, it’s an unusually beautiful book and would make a great Christmas present—especially because it’s about the Jesus whose birth we celebrate!

Here are three sample entries:

When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. (Galatians 4:4-5)

God always knew the exact moment he would send Jesus Christ to the earth. When the gospel was manifested in Christ, God made sure the world had experienced enough of life without the Messiah to see their desperate need for the “good news of happiness” (Isaiah 52:7 NLV).

Jesus was the Lamb, the Passover, Priest, Prophet, King, the Bread of Life, the Word. Without history and the Scriptures, we would never have understood the depths of the Godhead.

God designed the world in such a way that he knew to send Messiah at just the right time.

“God hath long contended with a stubborn world, and thrown down many a blessing upon them; and when all his other gifts could not prevail, he at last made a gift of himself.” —Henry Scougal

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

The God who gave us his Son delights to graciously give us “all things.” These “all things” are in addition to Christ, but never instead of him—they come, Scripture tells us, “along with him.” If we didn’t have Christ, we’d have nothing. But because we have Christ, we have everything.

Asaph says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25). This may seem an overstatement—there’s nothing on Earth this man desires but God? But Asaph is affirming the central desire of our hearts is for God.

And when we realize what it means to have Jesus, we’ll never be disappointed.

“There is only one Being who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.” —Oswald Chambers

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces. (Isaiah 25:8 ESV)

David asked God, “List my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?” (Psalm 56:8). David believed his suffering mattered, that God counted it as precious, so precious that the Lord kept track of every tear.

This gives special meaning to the promise that God will wipe away every tear from his children’s eyes. We’re again promised in Revelation 7:17: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” This means God’s hands will touch the face of each child, removing every tear.

Remember, God not only made tear ducts but has them. Jesus as the God-man shed tears (John 11:35). When Jesus wipes away tears with his gentle, omnipotent hand, I believe our eyes will fall on the scars that made our suffering his so that his eternal joy could become ours.

“A Jesus who never wept could never wipe away my tears.” —Charles Spurgeon

We’re Not Just God’s Servants, But Also His Children, Heirs, and Friends

I love to read Scripture, but I also love to listen to it on audio. There are free apps that offer you audio, including YouVersion, but I’ve used Audible.com to purchase and download the Bible read by actor and Christ-follower David Suchet, whose voice and inflections I love. Whatever audio version you use, there’s nothing like HEARING God’s Word. When you’re driving or doing something mindless, why not listen to God?

I was listening to David Suchet reading Galatians, and I kept hitting the reverse button on my Audible app to go back and listen to this verse again and again: “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir” (Galatians 4:7).

The words “no longer a slave” reminded me of what Jesus said: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).

So, if we are “no longer” God’s slaves or servants, why does the Bible continue to refer to us as those in other places? For example:

“So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10).
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Romans 6:22).
“For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord's freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ's slave” (1 Corinthians 7:22).
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16).

I think the answer is we are no longer only slaves or only servants. God looks at us genuinely as both His children and His friends. Incredible! I think this means we should never deny or minimize the fact that we are God’s servants, and should realize that itself is a high calling. But we should simultaneously affirm the wondrous fact that we are His children and His friends—and also His heirs and delegated rulers of His creation. We are all of those simultaneously.

As Nanci and I face the battle with her cancer, we know we are indeed God’s servants, but how encouraging to know we are not just that. We are also His beloved children and His trusted friends, and heirs that will one day help rule the New Earth to His glory! As such we can trust Him fully, and know that what He has for us really is for our good, as Romans 8:28 promises. We are heirs of the family business, which is ruling the universe, a task He is, often through our hardships, preparing us for.

God can and does love His servants, but He certainly loves wholeheartedly His children and His friends. And He intends to do His best for us, even when that best takes a different form than we might have chosen.

Photo by skalekar1992 on Pixabay

Ray Ortlund on Certainty, Openness, and Theological Wisdom

I loved this post below from author and pastor Ray Ortlund, and asked his permission to share it on my blog. It’s a great reminder that we need to examine ourselves and correct ourselves. We who are truth-oriented, or in Ray’s words, “all certainty,” when it comes to every area of theology, need to go out of our way to affirm grace and choose humility. We who are grace-oriented, or as Ray says, “all openness,” need to go out of our way to affirm God’s revealed truth and anchor ourselves to it.

Thanks, Ray, for this helpful post.  —Randy Alcorn

Certainty, openness, and theological wisdom

By Ray Ortlund

Some Christians seem “all certainty.” Maybe it makes them feel heroic. But they see too few gray areas. Everything is a federal case. They have a fundamentalist mindset.

Other Christians seem “all openness.” Maybe it makes them feel humble. But they see too few black-and-white areas. They have a liberal mindset—though they may demonstrate a surprising certainty against certainty.

The Bible is our authority as we sort out what deserves certainty and what deserves openness. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 defines the gospel of Christ crucified for our sins, Christ buried and Christ risen again on the third day, according to the Scriptures, as “of first importance.” Here is the center of our certainty.

From that “of first importance” theological address, we move out toward the whole range of theological and practical and worldview questions deserving our attention. The more clearly our logic connects back with that center, the more certain and the less open we should be. The further our thinking extrapolates from that center, the less certain and the more open we should be. When a question cannot be addressed by a clear appeal to the Bible, our conclusions should be all the more modest.

The gospel requires us to have high expectations of one another on central doctrines, unmistakable views and obvious strategies, and it cautions us to be more relaxed with one another the further we have to move out from the center.

Building our theology and worldview is not like pushing the first domino over, which pushes the next over, and so forth, down the line—each domino of equal weight and each fall equally inevitable. Rather, building our theology and worldview is more like exploring a river. We start out at the mouth of the river. It is wide. There is no decision to make. But then we start paddling up-river. As each tributary forks into the river, we must decide which way to go. Indeed, it may eventually become difficult to distinguish between the river itself and a tributary. But many decisions must be made along the way, not every one equally obvious.

This is why we need a map of the whole, noting the main features of the topography, such as 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides. There are other scriptures that help us globalize our biblical thinking in this way. For example, Exodus 34:6-7 is quoted multiple times throughout the rest of the Old Testament. Clearly, it is an atomically weighted passage that other biblical authors treated as a sort of theological North Star for guidance. There are other passages meant to help us improve our overall theological wisdom and a fair-minded sense of proportion and legitimate expectations of one another.

A church or movement may desire, for its own reasons, to define secondary and tertiary doctrines and convictions as important within their own ministry. That’s okay. But then it’s helpful to say, “We know this isn’t a dividing line for Christian oneness. It’s just a decision we’ve made for ourselves, because we think it will help us in our situation. We realize that other Christians will see it differently, and we respect their views.”

May we become more certain where we’ve been too open, and more open where we’ve been too certain, according to the totality of Scripture. And where it seems helpful to provide further definition on our own authority, may we do so with candor, gentleness, and humility.

This article first appeared on The Gospel Coalition , and is used by permission of the author.

For more on this topic, see Randy’s book The Grace and Truth Paradox, and his devotionals Grace and Truth.

Photo by Julien Lanoy on Unsplash

Increased Persecution in China, and What China’s Digital Dictatorship Could Mean for Christians

For years people have told me, including some who’ve read my novel Safely Home, that there is no more persecution of Chinese Christians. True, compared to earlier decades, religious persecution in some parts of China has not been as extreme. In some places there may be little or no persecution. Local officials may look the other way, even if they suspect Christians are meeting illegally (as most Christians in China do).

In other cases, whereas Christians were once jailed for assembling without permission, they may now be ostracized and prohibited from holding significant positions of influence in government, education, or business. So the severity of their persecution is decreased but still very real.

However, in other places, Chinese Christians have continued to experience extreme persecution. In fact, it’s likely that more Christians in China are currently in prison for their faith than in any other country. Reports from unregistered churches continue to confirm that thousands of Chinese Christians are still imprisoned for following Jesus, and many are still beaten and abused in prison.

When I visited China and was doing background research on Safely Home, a Chinese Christian told me, “Somewhere in China, the sun is always shining, and somewhere the snow is always falling.” In other words, there’s always freedom somewhere and persecution somewhere else.

It is still illegal to teach children under eighteen about God and Jesus. It is still illegal for three or more believers to gather for religious purposes without government approval. A large percentage of Chinese Christians are part of unregistered illegal churches—remaining underground because they recognize only Christ as Lord, and they refuse to allow the atheistic government to control their churches. (A recent Breakpoint commentary, about Chinese pastors taking a stand for Christ, included these statistics on the number of Christians in China: “…the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life counts 67 million Christians of all kinds—35 million independent Protestants, 23 million Protestants in government-sanctioned churches, and 9 million Catholics. Other estimates go even higher.”)

It’s common for Americans, whether unbelievers or believers, to visit China, attend services at a registered church where people carry state-printed Bibles. Often they return home saying, “The persecution is gone. I didn’t see any.” But what portion of China does a visitor actually see?  Visitors rarely go to the still illegal unregistered churches where there is complete freedom of worship and preaching.

They rarely visit the countryside, where much persecution takes place. They will not be given an audience with persecuted Christians. Believers will not step forward to share their stories with visitors who are escorted by or traveling under the favor of government officials.

Visiting a few cities in China and declaring “I saw no persecution” is naïve—why would you expect to actually witness it? And even if you visited an area where there actually was no blatant persecution, it would be silly to conclude on that basis that the huge nation of China is all or even mostly that way. What would you think if someone from China visited the USA and went home saying “America is hot” or “America is cold”? The most they could accurately say is “I visited Phoenix in July, and it was very hot,” or “I visited Minneapolis in January, and it was very cold.” It depends on where you go and when. Whether there is persecution in China depends on where and when.

However, recently a number of reports coming out of China indicate that persecution of Christians is increasing overall:

Raid on Zion: Beijing authorities shut down prominent unregistered church

“Chinese authorities officially banned one of the country’s largest unregistered house churches, Beijing’s Zion Church. Two days later, authorities detained senior pastor Ezra Jin and other Zion leaders, the latest move in the government’s recent crackdown on Christianity.”

Group: Officials destroying crosses, burning Bibles in China

“China’s government is ratcheting up a crackdown on Christian congregations in Beijing and several provinces, destroying crosses, burning Bibles, shutting churches and ordering followers to sign papers renouncing their faith, according to pastors and a group that monitors religion in China.”

China Mulls Major Restrictions on Online Ministries

“Chinese Christians have one month to tell their government what they think of proposed new rules that ban the sharing of prayer, Bible reading, baptism, communion, and other forms of religious activity online.”

Christians resist as officials attempt to break into Dali Church

“Approximately 100 agents from the religious affairs and public security bureaus attempted to break into Dali Church, located in Zhengzhou, Henan, on the evening of Sept. 9.”

(On a related note, see this article about the Chinese oppression of the minority Uighur people, including a small number who are Christians.)

And there are other troubling developments, including China’s plans to create a digital dictatorship. Citizens will be monitored 24 hours a day using a vast network of cameras and facial recognition technology, and issued “social credit” based on their actions and those of their family and friends. The Chinese government wants to have this operational by 2020 and says, “It will allow the trustworthy to roam freely under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step.” Those with high scores will get better treatment in society, including cheap loans and better jobs and opportunities, while those with low scores will be effectively locked out of society and unable to travel or get credit.

You really must read this article to understand where China is at and where it is headed in terms of a technological dictatorship. It seems obvious that among those most likely to suffer are believers who are part of house churches and will be increasingly unable to hide from the prying eyes of a government determined to control them. 

Let’s stop being naïve about persecution in China, and let’s continue to intercede for our Chinese brothers and sisters who will likely face more difficult trials in the days ahead: “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:3).

See also How to Pray for the Persecuted Church as well as Randy’s novel set in China, Safely Home.

Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash

Understanding Who God Is, and Who We Are, Makes Pride Unthinkable

I’ve been reflecting on pride and humility recently. Here are some thoughts:

When we’re prideful, we make God our opponent: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6).

There are many things wrong—not to mention ludicrous—with making God our opponent, but the most obvious one is this: it’s a battle we can never win.

Last spring during track season, I watched Jake, one of my junior high grandsons, shot-put. He’s an excellent athlete. But suppose my grandson thought he was good enough to challenge the 2016 Olympic shot put gold medalist. Ironically, that gold medalist was Ryan Crouser, who attended my high school, a mile from my house, the same school two of my grandsons will go to. In fact, Crouser competed on the same field Jake now does. Jake has no illusions about doing so, but my 14-year-old grandson challenging the reigning Olympic Gold medalist would be far less laughable than any of us challenging God!

Since God says He opposes the proud, anytime we’re proud we may as well hang a sign around our necks that says, “Take me down, God.” Because the Bible clearly says that’s exactly what He will do. And we will be powerless against Him.

Whenever we walk in pride, we are a fall waiting to happen: “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). In contrast, God promises the humble that He will give them grace. Pride makes God our foe; humility makes God our friend who pours grace out on us. Instead of exercising His power against us, God wants to give His power to us, and He does that in proportion to our realization of our weakness without Him (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Not only our attitude, but also our actions will demonstrate whether pride or humility is at work in our lives. God is the Audience of One, ever watching, ever knowing. Knowing this will make us acutely aware of our sin and weakness, and humble us accordingly—and then, if we ask Him, He will give us abundant and overflowing grace.

Puritan John Flavel said, “They that know God will be humble; they that know themselves cannot be proud.”

The way to be humble is to take a good look at God and then a good look at yourself, and notice the difference. When you see Him as He is and yourself as you are, the very thought of being proud or arrogant should be absolutely laughable.

May we as followers of Christ consciously pursue humility and not allow Satan to get an inroad in our lives. When we are praised, we should give praise to Christ, not just to appear humble, but to actually BE humble.

A 3-minute video I recorded on pride and humility:

A short article on pride and humility: True Leading Is Serving 

And here’s a biblical study on pride.

Photo by Guillaume de Germain on Unsplash

Why We Don’t Need to Be Anxious and Worry

Worry is the product of high stakes and low control, coupled with expecting the worst. There’s no greater enemy of happiness.

There’s a subtle aspect to worry: if we care, we think we should worry, as if that will help somehow. In fact, worry has absolutely no redemptive value. When good things are happening, we’re worried that bad things will come. When bad things happen, we worry that worse things will come.

Jesus asked, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” (Luke 12:25, NIV). Nothing is more impotent than worry, and nothing so robs us of happiness in Christ.

Just after instructing us to rejoice in the Lord, Paul writes in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything.” Worry is a killjoy. It specializes in worst-case scenarios—in contrast, God tells His children there is much that should make us rejoice:

He has already rescued us from the worst, which is eternal Hell.
Even if something terrible happens, He’ll use it for our eternal good.
Often bad things don’t happen, and our worry proves groundless.
Whether or not bad things happen, our worry generates no positive change.
The cause for all our worries—sin and the Curse—is temporary, and will soon be behind us. Forever.

My son-in-law Dan Stump, married to my daughter Angela, is a junior high math teacher in Portland. Angie is director of women’s ministry at their church, Gresham Bible Church. GBC is a great church, where Vergil Brown is the lead pastor. Dan Stump sometimes preaches there on Sunday mornings. (So I have two sons-in-law, both named Dan and both excellent Bible teachers. I recently featured Dan Franklin’s podcast on “The Problem with ‘Speak Your Truth’” on my blog.)

A few weeks ago Dan Stump preached one of the best messages on worry I’ve ever heard. I highly recommend you listen to it.

Photo by Jude Beck on Unsplash

Scripture Invites Us to Praise God through Singing

Recently, feeling a weight about Nanci’s fight with cancer, I also felt a great need to sense God’s presence and joy. The Lord led me to Psalm 100. When I read verse 2, which says “come before Him with joyful songs,” I realized I rarely sing to Him in my quiet time.

So to get help for this I called up one of Nanci’s and my favorite songs, In Christ Alone. As I sang along, both the song and the sight of thousands of twenty-somethings at the Passion Conference led me into profound worship. I did in fact sing to Him a joyful song.

This is the song I watched and heard and sang. God used it in my life. Following the song is the very short and very powerful Psalm 100, as well as some more verses about how singing can be a means to praise God. I hope this might encourage you too.

Psalm 100, For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Scripture is full of references to people singing joyfully to the Lord. At every feast and celebration, in public and private worship, singing filled the air:

Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. (Psalm 5:11)
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! (Psalm 47:1)
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips . . . for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. (Psalm 63:5, 7)
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 12:6)
Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! (Isaiah 44:23)

John Calvin, apparently a student of nature, commented on the last verse, “The little birds that sing, sing of God; the beasts clamor for him; the elements dread him, the mountains echo him, the fountains and flowing waters cast their glances at him, and the grass and flowers laugh before him." [1]

May we do the same!

For more on the subject of happiness, see Randy’s books Happiness and God’s Promise of Happiness, the devotional 60 Days of Happiness, and his DVD series Happiness 101. 

[1] John Calvin, Calvin: Commentaries (London: S.C.M. Press, 1958), 60.

Photo by Michael Maasen on Unsplash

A Dice Game, a Harley Davidson Motorcycle, and a Delightful Story about Generosity and God’s Providence

Today’s guest post is by our dear friend Diane Meyer, who tells a great and fun story that really fits with the character of our generous, delightful God. Most giving stories I hear don’t involve a dice game and a Harley Davidson motorcycle. But that’s what makes this one so unique.

However, the principles behind it don’t just apply to a game of chance. For instance, someone could start a business, set up a fireworks stand, or try to sell blankets, jewelry, a painting, or a piano and predetermine that 100% will be given to the Lord. And if God ends up surprising them and blessing the business or the sale abundantly, all the better!

Nanci and I love Diane and her husband Rod, who are precious beyond words. I just smiled as I reread this story, because it is so the two of them, and so God to surprise and delight us while blessing others. Rod and Diane are living examples of Hebrews 10:24, which says: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

Thanks, Diane, for sharing this story at my request! —Randy Alcorn

George Latus of Latus Motors Harley-Davidson in Gladstone, Oregon has been running a dice roll motorcycle giveaway for 20 years. Basically, you have to roll six giant dice that each have a Harley logo on all sides except one, which has a letter. The dice spell out Harley if all laid out letter side up. They were allowing the first 400 people to try to roll the complete word. It’s next to impossible. Most people don’t even have a letter come up. The chances to win were approximately 1 in 375,000.

Before Rod and I went to the dealership that morning, we prayed together. We told Him we know He is in control of everything, even a dice roll. We told Him that if we won, we would donate all the funds from the bike, which retails for $20,000, to specific ministries.

When it was Rod’s turn, he got the first letter. We cheered because, yay, he got a letter! But Rod knew after the first roll that God was doing something. Then boom, boom, boom—one letter right after the other.

When Rod won the bike, it was a pretty big deal. This is the first time anyone has won, so everyone there was astounded and happy. And when some of the guys at the dealership found out Rod was donating this bike, he went from being a kind, well-liked guy to being a guy they don’t quite understand and who might be a little off his rocker!

But to be honest, I’ve dragged my feet about writing out this simple story. Our desire is to make Christ known, and I don’t want it to seem all about US. Because it so is not. Another reason is that it never felt like our money to give. So how is that giving? It wasn’t sacrificial because God provided it by having Rod win the dice roll.

Still, it was fun and exciting to be there, knowing without any doubt that God laid out each dice for Rod to win, so we could give that money to ministries. It was so moving to pray specifically and then have Him answer in such an obvious way. He is with us! He loves us! He has a plan for us!

Although we’ve known all our money and assets come from God (especially in our business, where we thank Him for each job coming in and for how He has grown our business), this situation has made it even clearer. ALL our money and possessions are from God. Each client who calls, the lunchmeat on our sandwiches, each breath we take—all are specifically and thoughtfully from God. The rolling of each dice, as it landed on the needed letter, just highlighted this truth for us and reminded us of His daily providence: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

So when Rod rolled and won, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation about what would happen. We believe God had Rod roll those dice and win because He knew what we were going to do with it.

Some of those who know us brought up the fact that we still have debt to pay off, as well as some house projects that need attention. They questioned whether we should give it all away. But we had prayed beforehand. How could there even be a question about what we would do with the money?

The ministry that Rod is heavily involved in is called Black Sheep Harley Davidson for Christ. Their purpose is to bring the church to the unchurched. As unorthodox as it sounds, our mission field is the Harley Davidson dealership, being a part of the HOG (Harley Davidson Owners Group), going on rides with them (poor us!), and basically establishing friendships and serving in whatever capacities we can.  (In this picture, Rod is doing a boot shine. It’s an opportunity to get up close and personal with bikers and gives them a chance to chat.)

Earlier this summer, the Black Sheep were allowed to start a small biker church AT THE LATUS DEALERSHIP before the Sunday rides. A few of the Black Sheep had prayed for a long time for this to happen, and they were finally able to set it up. And the dealership is even advertising for the biker church on their website and Facebook page.

A few nights after the giveaway, there was a Rose City HOG meeting, which we’re part of. It was a packed house and Rod was asked to come up and share about winning. He explained how we prayed beforehand and had promised the money from the bike would go to various charities if we won. He said he knew God had allowed this to happen. There was loud applause when he finished.

Other things have happened since the giveaway. One HOG member that we’ve been friendly with asked Rod why we don’t pray as a group before rides together. Rod said he didn’t want to push anything on people. But this man said, “Well, I’d like it if you could lead us in prayer before rides. I’m going to bring it up at the HOG meeting.”

There are so many other, small stories about individuals whose lives have been influenced by what has happened there recently. Giving away this bike isn’t just about the money. It has shown everyone, from the people who work at the dealership day in and day out and to the HOG members, someone who loves Jesus and loves them. Rod is being salt and light and also being a friend.

The bike was never ours from the get-go. God made it crystal clear it was His. The money has been a tool to make God known—not just for the various charities that the money is going to, but also for those watching and being a part of the giveaway. It seems as if the impact of Rod winning the bike, and being obedient to give it away, was as valuable as the money itself. It was incredibly fun to watch and be a part of.

And another thing happened: Rod was at a bike night in Gladstone, where hundreds of people gathered to see their bikes, eat, listen to music, buy Harley stuff, and visit. A motorcycle tire dealer was there and the big raffle prize was a new set of motorcycle tires. Rod was just talking to some guys about how he had another month or two left on his tires and would need a new set.

I’m sure you know what’s coming, but Rod’s name was called and he won. He didn’t even hear his name; but everyone else did!

So that could be the end of the story—sweet, Rod won some tires he needed. But it’s making us think....why? It could just be that God loves Rod and is gifting him with the tires. We’re sure that’s part of it.

But there’s more. We’re certain. People are now coming up to Rod and literally rubbing his belly hoping for luck.

He’s having amazing opportunities to explain that it’s not luck. He brings up the omnipotence of God and a verse we never thought to memorize: “We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall” (Proverbs 16:33). He tells them how God is present in every detail of our lives. We’re praying daily for God to bring opportunities to share the Lord with people.

To sum it up: when we have seen God’s hand SO clearly, and knowing He had a plan for those funds, well, it is just plain exciting! Which would we rather have: a 2018 Harley Fat Bob which will literally deteriorate and rust, even if we never rode it, OR the chance to have front-row seats as we pray over that money and watch what miraculous, life-changing, heart-softening, eye-opening, soul-shattering things God can do for His eternal glory? You know what we chose. Joyfully, and happily, with no second guessing or hesitation. We are blessed.

Like Diane says here, there is nothing like the joy of giving. In fact, Jesus said it best: “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35). People may admire your “sacrifice” and then you think, “Wait, how can this be a sacrifice if we’re getting so much more from giving it than if we had kept it?”

May we all experience the life-giving joy of generosity! —Randy

For more on money, stewardship, and giving, see Randy’s books The Treasure Principle, Managing God’s Money, and Money, Possessions, and Eternity.