Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 81

Jesus: Name Above All Names

My new book It’s All About Jesus: A Treasury of Insights on Our Savior, Lord, and Friend really is unique, and as I have been daily reading through the printed book, I’ve been struck again by many of the quotations. I’ve been underlining, but I guess since I ended up selecting the quotations, with the help of others, it’s obvious I think they’re great! But the fact that they are literally ALL about Jesus is especially great. I give away a lot of books, and it’s hard to think of a book I’d rather give someone to share about our Savior and King! :)

Here’s a sample collection from part three of the book, “The Names and Titles of Jesus.”

Jesus: Name Above All Names

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9-11 NIV

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  Luke 1:31 NLT

My favorite line of all: “you are to give him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Do you realize this was the first proclamation of our Savior’s personal name since the beginning of time? Jesus… A name by which I’ve made every single prayerful petition of my life. A name that has meant my absolute salvation, not only from eternal destruction, but from myself. A name with power like no other name. Jesus.  Beth Moore

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds 

In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, 

And drives away his fears.  John Newton

It is in Jesus’ name that desperate people pray, grateful people worship, and angry people swear. From christenings to weddings to sick-rooms to funerals, it is in Jesus’ name that people are hatched, matched, patched, and dispatched. From the Dark Ages to postmodernity, he is the man who won’t go away.  John Ortberg 

Out of all our Savior’s names, there is not one which rings with such sweet music as this blessed name, “Jesus.” I suppose the reason of this is that it answers to our own name, the name of sinner.  Charles Spurgeon

Jesus! the name that charms our fears, 

that bids our sorrows cease; 

’tis music in the sinner’s ears, 

’tis life, and health, and peace.  Charles Wesley

I have heard of ministers who can preach a sermon without mentioning the name of Jesus from beginning to end. If you ever hear such a sermon as that, mind that you never hear another from that man.  Charles Spurgeon

What a beautiful name. I love to watch how it falls off the lips of those who love Him. I shudder as it falls off the lips of those who don’t. Jesus.  Beth Moore

For many the name of Jesus brings extraordinary comfort and hope. But others use his name to express anger, amazement or disgust; to them it is no more than a convenient expletive. The Name that is like no other stirs conflicting emotions in those who hear it, because Jesus is more than just a religious leader and teacher. He is more than simply a figure in world history. He is more than merely a moral influence. Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  The Knowing Jesus Study Bible

Jesus, whose name is not so much written as ploughed into the history of this world.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

How sweet the Name of Jesus… 
Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace! 
John Newton

It is not merely in the name of a great teacher, not even the greatest teacher who ever lived, that Justinian built Hagia Sophia in Constantinople or Johann Sebastian Bach composed the Mass in B-Minor. There are no cathedrals in honor of Socrates.  Jaroslav Pelikan

We write Jesus’ name upon our banner, for it is hell’s terror, heaven’s delight and earth’s hope.  Charles Spurgeon

Tomorrow’s history has already been written—at the name of Jesus every knee must bow.  Paul E. Kauffman

It’s All About Jesus is available in print from retailers, including EPM’s online store. It’s also available on Kindle.

Photo by Matt Botsford on Unsplash

My Conversation with Nick Foles and Chris Maragos

I loved spending time recently with NFL players Nick Foles and Chris Maragos on their great podcast, Mission of Truth, which they just started this year.

I first met Chris in a players’ chapel service before a Seahawks game, when he was a star on special teams. That year they won the Super Bowl. Later I met Nick, when he and Chris were both with the Eagles. I led a Bible study with fifteen guys, including all three quarterbacks, the head coach and offensive coordinator. That same year they too went on to win the Super Bowl, and Nick Foles was named MVP. Both men are Super Bowl champions, but far more importantly they are true followers of Jesus. Nanci and my grandsons have been with me a few times when I’ve been with these guys, and I loved how they treated Nanci with respect and spoke into my grandsons’ lives.

I deeply appreciate both these brothers, and I highly recommend their interviews, including with Tony Dungy, Frank Reich, Matt Forte and Matt Hasselbeck. They have great energy, warmth, insights, and passion for Jesus and His kingdom.

The three of us talked about dogs, writing, Heaven, and more. Listen to our conversation here.

Here's Nick with my grandsons Jake and Ty in 2016:

Nick with our Golden Retriever Maggie:

Chris Maragos with Jake and Ty in 2014:

Meet Henry Parsons Crowell, Founder of Quaker Oats and a Generous Christ-Follower

One of the things I most look forward to about Heaven is learning the stories of countless faithful brothers and sisters in Christ from all places and times who used their lives to further God’s kingdom. But I love hearing some of them on this side of eternity, such as the story of Henry Parsons Crowell, founder of the Quaker Oats Company, shared in this video from Pastor Tom Joyce with Immanuel Bible Church (in Springfield, Virginia). This faithful and successful man invested his life and wealth in the spread of the gospel and gave away nearly 70% of his income for the more than 40 years that he ran his business:

(Here’s a short biography of Crowell that gives more details, including how he and his wife Susan shared the gospel with those in their circles, and many corporate giants came to know Christ as a result. As Tom mentioned, Henry went to be with Jesus at the age 82 while riding the commuter train, a Bible in his hand.)

So why did God give business success and wealth to Henry Parsons Crowell? As I share in my book Giving Is the Good Life, it’s for exactly the reason He gave skills in preaching and translation to William Tyndale, George Whitefield, and John Newton—to further the cause of Christ and expand His Kingdom all over the world.

Why has God entrusted you with more money than you need, whether that’s a little more, a lot more, or a whole lot more? I would venture to say it’s for that very same reason. (Doesn’t that excite you?)

If God has wired you to be good at what you do—whether business or art, manufacturing or farming, music or medicine, or anything that allows you to freely help the needy and further the cause of Christ—rejoice! This is a great use of your life.

Leaving your job for “full-time ministry” may not be a step up for the Kingdom of God but a step down. God may have given you the ability, right where you are, to help churches and missionaries reach those God has called them to, as well as the ability to reach others in your own unique sphere of ministry.

So whether you are a grocery clerk, an assembly line worker, a salesperson, a business owner, a flight attendant, a stay-at-home mom, or a professional athlete, or whether you have a primary ministry of prayer or encouraging people, God has given you a unique platform. In all likelihood, no pastor or missionary will reach your neighbors, teachers, coworkers, coaches, or teammates. We each have our own God-given mission fields to serve every day. So use your platform for the glory of God, and then give generously to the causes of evangelism, justice, and mercy that are close to His heart.

God doesn’t just call His people to the far reaches of the Earth for his Kingdom. He also equips many servants to support and supply workers and to meanwhile represent Him in their own territory right where they live and work. Whatever He has called you to do, do it with your whole heart, giving generously out of the overflow He’s entrusted to you.

May each of us live daily in such a way as to look forward to hearing the Lord say to us, when we meet Him face to face, “Well done, you good and faithful servant! . . . You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!” (Matthew 25:21, GNT).

Earlier this year, Randy’s book Giving Is the Good Life was chosen as a finalist in the 2020 Christian Book Award under the Christian Living category! We’re grateful that God is using it to encourage believers to experience the joy-filled, eternity-impacting benefits of generosity.

One reader wrote, “This book is not going to tell you to give away everything you own and forgo all gifts we’ve been offered here on earth. But this book is one that takes an in-depth look at real life examples of the ways in which being God’s delivery people not only allows us to be on the front-lines of answers to prayer in other’s lives, but blesses our socks off in return. It will challenge you to take an honest look at your heart and it will bring the generosity of the Gospel to light in a whole new way.”

Christ’s Example

I’ve always loved to read and think and talk about Jesus. As a very young Christian I bought a book of quotations about every aspect of the Christian life, and I pored over it again and again. My favorite quotes were those about Jesus Himself, and also about His work in the lives of His followers. Several years ago I decided I wanted to compile the best of the best quotations about Jesus I could locate—both in great books and online (triple-checking for accuracy, which is imperative when using the Internet). The result is It’s All About Jesus: A Treasury of Insights on Our Savior, Lord, and Friend. 

Hope you enjoy this small sample from part two of the book, “The Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, Return, and Reign of Jesus.”

Christ’s Example

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: ‘Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.’”  Luke 11:1-4 NLT

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God… knelt down and washed the apostles’ feet.  John 13:3 ESV

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.  1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.  Ephesians 5:1 NLT

Our Lord lived his life… to give the normal standard for our lives. Oswald Chambers

Even those who have renounced Christianity and attack it, in their inmost being still follow the Christian ideal, for hitherto neither their subtlety nor the ardour of their hearts has been able to create a higher ideal of man and of virtue than the ideal given by Christ of old.  Fyodor Dostoevsky

Jesus was not a whisperer. No one ever saw Him close to His neighbor’s ear, looking stealthily around lest some one should overhear what He was going to say. He stood upright, looked men squarely and kindly in the eye, and spoke what He had to say right out, boldly, frankly, that the whole world might hear; and when He did speak privately to His disciples, He told them to shout it from the housetops.  Samuel Logan Brengle

Sometimes I wonder how Jesus would have fared in this day of mass media and high-tech ministry. I can’t picture him worrying about the details of running a large organization. I can’t see him letting some make-up artist improve his looks before a TV appearance. And I have a hard time imagining the fund-raising letters Jesus might write.  Philip Yancey

Jesus… did not attain a state of perfection by carrying around in his pocket a list of rules and regulations, or by seeking to conform to the cultural mores of his time. He was perfect because he never made a move without his Father.  Thomas Skinner

Hang that question up in your houses, “What would Jesus do?” and then think of another, “How would Jesus do it?” for what he would do, and how he would do it, may always stand as the best guide to us.  Charles Spurgeon

To become Christlike is the only thing in the whole world worth caring for.  Henry Drummond

Have a great aim—have a high standard—make Jesus your ideal… Make him an ideal not merely to be admired but also to be followed.  Eric Liddell

Stop tinkering with your soul and look away to the perfect One.  A.W. Tozer

Whatever you fix your eyes on is what you will encourage; fix your eyes on Jesus.  Mark Parker

In the Christian life our primary teacher in the way of happiness is Christ. He is our mentor; we are his disciples. And it is by observing him, listening to him, learning from him, following his teachings, and imitating his example that we grow in happiness.  Paul J. Wadell

We must imitate Christ’s life and his ways if we are to be truly enlightened and set free from the darkness of our own hearts. Let it be the most important thing we do, then, to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ.  Thomas à Kempis

The character of Jesus is immensely attractive. It embodies all that we ourselves would, in our best moments, like to be.  Michael Green

As God’s only Son, Jesus came to Earth and gave His life so that we may live. His actions and His words remind us that service to others is central to our lives and that sacrifice and unconditional love must guide us and inspire us to lead lives of compassion, mercy, and justice.  George W. Bush

It would be well if there were as great a similarity between the life of Christ and the life of Christians, as there is between a just copy and the original. What He was by nature, we should be by grace.  William Secker

If Jesus Christ the Lord of glory was willing to be obedient unto death, how much more should sinners saved by grace who owe everything to God give back to the God who saved them the life which He has redeemed.  John F. Walvoord

It’s All About Jesus is available in print from retailers, including EPM’s online store. It’s also available on Kindle.

Image from Pixabay

Be Careful What You Put Your Hope in, Including Politics

Like many of you, I am not looking forward to all the political turmoil, including in the church, that is sure to come as the presidential election gets closer. At the same time, this is an excellent opportunity for God’s people to determine where our hope is placed.

I don’t mean that politics don’t matter and certainly I know that moral positions such as abortion and racial justice matter very much. But the fact remains, when people put their hope in political parties and beliefs, these can become gods. Christians sometimes view political leaders and their platforms with a degree of faith that should be reserved only for God and his Kingdom. And sometimes they display a degree of hatred and scorn that should be reserved for Satan and his demons.

Neither the judicial, legislative, nor executive branch of our government is the ultimate solution to America’s problems. Isaiah 33:22 tells us the solution: “For the LORD is our judge [judicial], the LORD is our lawgiver [legislative], the LORD is our king [executive], it is he who will save us.”

Ravi Zacharias wrote, “Outside of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is no hope in this world. That cross and resurrection at the core of the gospel is the only hope for humanity.”

God is the sovereign King, and He alone is the hope of this nation and every other one. Even if America crumbles (which could happen under any presidential candidate, or be delayed to sometime in the future), God is the only hope of each person and each family. He has been that all along, but perhaps this time it will be just a little more obvious.

Paul David Tripp had some good things to say about hope and politics in his video “Is the Gospel Political?” Below are some parts that I especially appreciated:

Peter, in writing to people who are misunderstood and being persecuted, tells them to pray for their leaders. “Pray for good for your leaders. Pray for wisdom. Pray for moral hearts.” Can I ask you a question? Do you pray for your leaders? In the morning, would you ever think of praying for your senator, praying for your congressman, praying for your mayor, praying for your president? Do you ever pray for these people?

Is it much easier for you to rip them in conversation than pray for them? Have we abandoned the belief in God running the ultimate government, that He can turn the hearts of leaders? The Bible says that God raises up and puts down leaders, that the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water. He can turn it wherever He wills. Pray. Participate in the good of your community. If there’s a community clean-up project, be part of that. If there’s a park that needs refurbishing, how about your church adopting the park? Participate in the citizenry of your community.

The hope of the people of God is never in political power. Let me say that again. Our greatest power is not political and the minute you believe that your greatest power is political, your greatest power is political influence, you will compromise the gospel. It always happens. You see, our power is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ because the gospel of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ has the power to do what politics could never, ever do; and that is rescue and transform the heart of a person.

I believe that the church of Jesus Christ is always weakened and its reputation defamed when we identify too strongly with one political party; because what happens is we then, because of the strong identification, we get known by whatever that party is known for, instead of being known for what we actually stand for. Our identity gets absorbed into the identity of that party that we so stand for.

I think what is very, very important is to always remember that you’re a citizen of another kingdom. Jesus says very powerfully, again, getting near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, “Seek my kingdom and seek my righteousness.” So here’s the life that you’re called to live right now. You have a dual citizenship. God’s plan is that you would participate in the kingdom of this world in a place where you can. [In] the kingdom of man, you are a human citizen on earth, living under a government by God’s sovereign choice. He’s called you to be a citizen. He’s called you to pray for your leaders. He’s called you to recognize the important function of government.

So it’s not right for the church to withdraw. It’s not right for us to not participate. We’ve been placed here as active participants, rendering unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, rendering unto God what belongs to God. You always have that citizenship in the kingdom of man, the kingdom of this world and that is your moral responsibility.

But you’re also a citizen of the greater eternal kingdom of God. You’ve been called, you’ve been chosen to be a citizen in that kingdom and so, your dominant allegiance is to the greater kingdom. And so, because of your allegiance to the greater kingdom, you don’t withdraw from the kingdom of this world, but you associate with the king of this world through the vehicle of your allegiance to the kingdom of God.

In every way as a citizen, in every election, in every community activity, you are aware of your higher citizenship. You’re called to seek and represent the kingdom of God, God’s will, God’s way, God’s plan, God’s glory, God’s truth, God’s morality, God’s values, His call to relationship, all of those kingdom things. So it’s the kingdom of God that is my direction system for how to relate to the kingdom of man. I always have this dual citizenship. It is because of my allegiance to the kingdom of God, knowing that’s where my power is, that I won’t get snookered into thinking that my power is to be found in some kind of identification with a certain political power and the gaining of political power.

Be careful what you put your hope in. Every human being functions by hope. You will attach your identity, your meaning and purpose, your inner security to something. It never works to attach your hope to something horizontal. Lasting hope is only ever found vertically.

Photo by Ales Krivec on Unsplash

Christ’s Multifaceted Character

I’m excited about the release of my new book It’s All About Jesus: A Treasury of Insights on Our Savior, Lord, and Friend. It’s a collection of quotations that is biblical, theological, emotional, personal, worshipful, and insightful. My hope is that readers will behold a full, beautiful, deep, profound, meaningful, and inspirational picture of the true Jesus, seen through the eyes of the biblical writers and hundreds of people throughout history. 

Hope you enjoy this sample from part one of the book, “The Nature and Attributes of Jesus.”

Christ’s Multifaceted Character

In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Colossians 2:3 CSB

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  Isaiah 11:2 ESV

Most men are notable for one conspicuous virtue or grace. Moses for meekness, Job for patience, John for love. But in Jesus you find everything.  J. Oswald Sanders

Jesus Christ is tender without being weak, strong without being coarse, lowly without being servile. He has conviction without intolerance, enthusiasm without fanaticism, holiness without Pharisaism, passion without prejudice… His life was life at its Highest.  Thomas Watson

There is in the Lord Jesus a perfect evenness of various perfections. All the elements of perfect character are in lovely balance. His gentleness is never weak. His courage is never harsh.  C.I. Scofield

Jesus is the Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5) and the Lamb of God (Rev. 5:6)—He was lionhearted and lamblike, strong and meek, tough and tender, aggressive and responsive, bold and brokenhearted.  John Piper

He combined child-like innocence with manly strength, all-absorbing devotion to God with untiring interest in the welfare of man, tender love to the sinner and uncompromising severity against sin, commanding dignity with winning humility, fearless courage with wise caution, unyielding firmness with sweet gentleness.  Philip Schaff 

He never spoke when it would have been wiser to remain silent, never kept silence when He should have spoken. Mercy and judgment blended in all His actions and judgments, yet neither prevailed at the expense of the other.  Oswald Sanders

When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about justice, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about peace, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about truth and life and redemption, we are speaking about Christ.  Ambrose

He is the fountain of all truth, but He is more—He is truth itself. He is the source and strength of all beauty, but He is more—He is beauty itself. He is the fountain of all wisdom, but He is more—He is wisdom itself. In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden away!… He is the fountain of love, but again, He is far more than that—He is love!  A.W. Tozer

We must look at the complete Jesus revealed in Scripture, lest we remake him in our image, with his only attribute love. By seeing him in his holiness and love, his truth and his grace, we’ll learn to see the fullness of his beauty.  Randy Alcorn

If you leave out Christ, you have left the sun out of the day and the moon out of the night. You have left the waters out of the sea and the floods out of the river… you have left joy out of heaven, you have robbed all of its all. There is no gospel worth thinking of, much less worth proclaiming, if Jesus be forgotten.  Charles Spurgeon

Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander the Great, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of school, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.  Philip Schaff

If Jesus is the Bread of Life, loss of Jesus means starving. If Jesus is the Light of the World, loss of Jesus means darkness. If Jesus is the Good Shepherd, loss of Jesus means wandering alone and lost. If Jesus is the resurrection and the life, loss of Jesus is eternal death. And if Jesus is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for our sins, loss of Jesus means paying that price for ourselves.  Rebecca McLaughlin

Only Christ is the whole of man’s happiness; the sun to enlighten him, the physician to heal him, the wall of fire to defend him, the friend to comfort him, the pearl to enrich him, the ark to support him, the rock to sustain him under the heaviest pressures.  Isaac Ambrose

What the sun is to the day, what the moon is to the night…such is Jesus Christ to us. What bread is to the hungry, clothes to the naked…such is Jesus Christ to us. What the husband is to his spouse, what the head is to the body, such is Jesus Christ to us.  Charles Spurgeon

Jesus is the giver of our life and the rock of our hope. He is our safety and our future. He is our righteousness, our sanctification, our inheritance. You find that He is all of this in the instant that you move your heart toward Him in faith.  A.W. Tozer

It’s All About Jesus is available in print from retailers, including EPM’s online store. It’s also available on Kindle.

Photo by Mirushe Xhaferi on Unsplash

Good Police Officers Speak Out; Can We Afford to Lose Them?

Nanci and I were both born in Portland, Oregon. She was raised there, and I grew up in the Portland suburb where we now live. If you’ve seen the news, you know about the nightly riots and looting and protests against the police in downtown Portland, thirty minutes away from our home. There has been a heavy toll on the officers and their families, and the lack of police presence and resources in other areas has also affected people in the city: Portland had 15 homicides in July, the largest number in a single month in over 30 years.

As I write this, there have been protests for more than 90 consecutive nights, frequently involving vandalism. Hundreds have been arrested, but due to limitations placed on police by the city, at times they have been unable to perform their duties effectively.

The disruption is mostly concentrated in small pockets of the city, including two blocks around the courthouse and some police precincts. The national media portrayal of Portland as a city in flames is exaggerated, as most of it is peaceful, but there has been a lot of looting, devastation, and acts of violence.

A fire was set in August at a police union building, a labor union representing members of the Portland Police Bureau. Violent protestors injured three officers and two were taken to a hospital. The federal courthouse in Portland has been the target of nightly violence. U.S. agents were sent to protect these facilities, and thousands of protestors came out. 

I have personally talked to Christian officers who have been pelted with rocks and bags of urine and human feces. Others have been attacked with frozen and hard-boiled eggs and commercial-grade fireworks, trash can lids, and nearly everything you can imagine.

Like I mentioned in Empathize with Good Cops in This Time of Rightly Calling out Bad Ones, I believe what was done to George Floyd was unjust and evil (see also Racial Justice and the Image of God, with thoughts from Dan Franklin). At the same time, it’s tragic and unjust that good cops, and there are many of them, are suffering because of the actions of bad cops. That’s why I think it’s important to give a voice to all good cops, and in the Christian community we should honor the men and women who seek to honor Jesus as they do their very difficult jobs.

Recently, I’ve had a number of interactions by text and email and on the phone with current and former police officer friends here in the Portland area. These are solid Christ-followers, good men and good cops. I reached out to four of them I know well with some specific questions about recent events and how their jobs and lives have been impacted since George Floyd’s tragic death back on May 25. I’ve also had email exchanges with a few other Christian officers who I haven’t personally met, but who reached out to me when I invited them to do so on my blog. (This is another long blog that I found impossible to split into to or three segments. If it interests you, take your time; I highly recommend you check out the links, especially at the very end of the article where you will see and hear cops telling their own stories.)

For obvious reasons, while quoting them accurately I will not share names of the officers I’ve talked with, as they are understandably concerned for the welfare of their families. It’s not easy for cops to fly under the radar, but they are normal people who would like some semblance of a normal life off the job, which has become for some (where we live at least) nearly impossible.

I just got off the phone with a police officer friend on September 1, the day before posting this blog. He needed to fill out reports and found a quiet place backed up against a fence where aggressive behavior from anti-cop citizens would be more unlikely and easier to deal with. He told me that police work has gotten progressively more difficult, the level of disdain and distrust has risen significantly, and cops are uncertain what they can and should do. He said, “The cumulative effect of over three months of this is wearing us out. I know several good cops that are actively looking to change careers. The risk versus reward ratio has gotten way out of proportion.”

A pastor friend just told me a heartbreaking story he heard from a brother who serves as a Portland police officer. (This is a secondhand story so the details may be off, but the gist of it is true.) The cop told him that he and his wife have a favorite Portland restaurant they’ve gone to for years. They are generous tippers and had developed what appeared to be a great friendship with the owner. Recently the owner said, “All this time you’ve been coming here, and I don’t even know what you do for a living!” He replied, “Well, I’m a police officer.” The owner’s response? “Please leave. You’re not welcome here.” At first, he thought it was a joke. It wasn’t.

It should not be controversial to point out that every single vocation in the world has good people and bad ones, people who excel at their jobs and people who perform them inconsistently and poorly. That’s certainly true among pastors, writers, teachers, pro athletes, store owners, investment managers, mechanics, attorneys, plumbers, pastors, and politicians. We should not be any more surprised that cops are capable of making bad decisions than anyone else is. Of course, the consequences of a cop’s sins or even his mistakes (not always the same) can involve life and death and therefore, like surgeons or pilots, an officer must be held to a higher standard.

One officer wrote me echoing what I’ve just said: “I am a Christian and spent over 30 years in a police uniform (and still do part-time). I know that bigotry exists within some police officers, but I would challenge anyone to find a profession that doesn’t have the same problem. Where you have people, there is prejudice in the human heart.”

Unfortunately, people’s distrust of police can result in adversarial behavior that puts everyone at risk. It may put officers, and sometimes the public it’s their job to protect, at greater risk as people become more aggressive toward them, holding them accountable for wrongs committed by other cops.

A minority Portland officer wrote, “…during the peaceful hours, I engaged in conversation with people along the fence line. Whether I engaged them or they engaged me first, the conversations all followed a similar suit. The question would arise, asking if I supported their movement and if I believed Derek Chauvin was wrong, to which my response was ‘yes.’ I always knew that the next question to follow would be some sort of, ‘then why are you a cop or on that side of the fence?’ My answer was always the same: ‘To be in support of a movement to further the better treatment of blacks and to be a police officer, are not mutually exclusive. You can be both and it is paramount that we are.’”

You may not agree with everything these officers say in what follows. Yet I ask you to listen to their perspectives, understanding that daily they and others like them put their lives on the line to protect your family and mine and the families of those in minority communities. For every injustice cops do, some with heartbreaking results, there are countless cases of justice done and lives protected. Let’s be slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to listen (James 1:19). Let’s show them the same grace and open-mindedness we would want shown to us. Here are their answers to my questions:

How have recent events, starting with the death of George Floyd and the subsequent riots, affected you personally and professionally?

SA: When I first saw the videotape, I felt like I got sucker punched. Policing is an honorable profession, grounded in solid values that we strive to uphold. When the actions of our own officers violate our code of conduct, there is a true sense of betrayal felt within the organization and loss of trust with the community we protect and serve.

…I had a very hard time trying to understand how the officer could possibly believe he was justified in the tactics he displayed. Also, how could he not be mindful that most encounters of this type are being videotaped by members of the public, the media, and even other police officers? …I used to caution officers that if they were about to make a decision that could be detrimental to themselves or the agency, to picture themselves on the front page of the morning newspaper with an article that they never wanted to see.

PT: The result has been second guessing myself, my career, being able to provide for my family. I see the emotions related to this and know there are those who support the police, but wow are they quiet. The vocal people are very vocal, and it is very hard. 

How have these events affected police morale and general well-being?

RT: In an agency in which morale was already low it is sadly low—unprecedented levels of low, and I feel sorry for those men and women. They feel completely unappreciated and are questioning why they do what they do. For agencies that have good morale, as our department does, morale is down for sure, but I don’t think those feelings are as intense as with other agencies. (I talked with someone in that department today and he said, as you would expect with what’s going on in Portland, morale has continued to decline.) 

JS: I read that 600 NYPD officers are considering resigning. I believe a line has been drawn in the sand and police officers see who will and who will not support them. Fuji bikes, who has been a maker of police bicycles, is stopping production of police bikes to draw attention to police brutality. I believe we will see a steady exodus by police officers from law enforcement agencies. 

Do you believe that because the statistics show a higher rate of crime among black men (and sometimes women), that this results in different assumptions or biased treatments of blacks by NO cops, SOME cops, or MOST cops?

JS: I would say “SOME cops.” This could be more or less depending on the city, the demographics, the racial history, the individual officer’s history with other races, and the relationship between the police department and the minority races. Any officer with more than a few years on the job would be negligent if they ignored an “assumption” based on their training and experience that could be a crime in progress.

RT: I think there is some evidence and studies that indicate that this does affect some cops. I think it’s hard to completely separate one’s lived experience from one’s assumptions.  We tend to think things are the way they are because of what we know (or think we know) as well as what we’ve experienced. That being said, in my small part of the world I have NEVER seen an officer treat a black person unfairly or with what I believed was some bias because of his/her race. At its core, our job evaluates and investigates behavior. You really don’t need to see somebody’s race (other than perhaps in an initial description) in order to do that.

SA:  Some cops.

PT: This is a great question. I can’t say NO cops, that’s not feasible in our broken world. So SOME cops. I have not experienced this myself but no doubt it happens.

…I can say with 100% certainty during training my department does not look at skin color when looking for criminals. We look for clues in people (the way they act when they see us, the way they walk, index a concealed weapon, or drugs). 

Being in several different units during my career I have worked with outside agencies a lot. The cops I have worked with are the same. In the narcotics world we look for addicts and follow them to the shadowy place while they meet their dealer, who we follow to the parking lots to meet up with their bigger supplier. The supplier was often Hispanic due to where the drugs come from, but our job was to look for drug suppliers, who happened to be Hispanics. We did NOT simply follow Hispanics.

What good do you see coming out of the national reaction following the George Floyd situation (for the country in general, and specifically for police officers)?

RT: I think there are clearly some agencies that need reform. I think that could come from this. I think officers’ level of empathy and sensitivity may or should increase because of this and that helps in the delivery of our service. 

PT: Re-examining of things that are done well and things that could improve. …Hopefully an honest conversation about race, once the rioting stops and the knee-jerk reactions stop or slow. Legislators have talked about requiring weekly counseling sessions for every officer. Not reality, there aren’t enough counselors to make that remotely possible. Could there be better screening? I suppose, but what does that look like? Who is qualified to do on-going screening for racism?

I know there are calls we should not be called for and I am in favor of having another service respond. We have a mental health team who has a mental health clinician ride with them full time. This is a good thing!

What harm do you see coming out of the national reaction to the George Floyd situation (for the country in general and police in particular)?

RT: So I realize I’m seen as part of the problem or at a minimum, in a system that’s part of the problem, so I don’t feel like this perspective or this question is being considered. But I believe the attempts to reform some areas of policing are good, with noble intentions and needed. I also believe there are some other ideas (defunding police, eliminating qualified immunity, etc.) that have been floating around for quite some time. The difference is that they weren’t taken seriously because, frankly, they aren’t serious ideas. And yet, now these are real conversations. I see this as catastrophically bad for the people it purports to help: the poor and marginalized as they will be victimized even further by predators. 

JS: The number of officers killed and injured in the past months is astounding. Hundreds of NYPD officers were injured in the riots. A young officer in our area was called in to deal with an altercation because the city police force was dealing with the riots. This brother was put in a situation where he had to use deadly force and killed a man. …So sad, one man’s life lost, and another’s changed forever. Who knows what would have happened if the city cops had been able to stay on their regular patrols instead of being called into the city center to deal with nightly riots?

SA: Police agencies are having a difficult time hiring people to fill the current vacancies. Low staffing is a police and community safety issue. This case will have an additional negative impact on police agencies’ ability to fill the vacancies.

Effective policing requires a partnership between the community and police. Community members must be willing witnesses in cases for successful prosecution. This is why gang cases are more difficult to successfully prosecute. Without the cooperation of the public, investigations don’t gather the needed information for court cases, so many grow stale or sit on a shelf. Offenders are not held accountable, many of whom are emboldened by the ineffective justice system, only to perpetuate their criminal lifestyle.

People are calling for change and change is coming. However, when it gets to the point, as it has in some communities, where people are asking the government to disarm their police departments, sound the alarm.

I’m very concerned about our officers becoming targets of revenge.

PT: The continuation of “defund the police” talk. What does that mean? Some think it is not having police; some think it re-directing resources as mentioned above about the mental health team.

Police ambushes. Guys are scared to walk outside in uniform and are on constant alert.

The effects on families. Doxing of wives or family members is happening now. My wife felt she had to delete her Facebook page.

It has been a concern since becoming an officer, but people knowing where I live places my family in danger.

SM: I am a retired police officer. …I belong to a Facebook group of retired law enforcement officers and what I see posted is a general sense of alarm and despair. ….Most of us, however, feel that there is a bigger agenda at play. …As a Christian I know that our enemy, the devil, is the author of confusion and deception. That is what I personally see at play here. Even though I look at the news, talk to those currently on the “line” and not only see, but feel the frustration in the “ranks,” I am comforted in the sovereignty of the Lord. …I’m trusting that this time in our lives and history of our country will be a faith builder for all who call on the name of Jesus.

If you knew people would listen to you, what would you say to them about the issues of racial injustice and unnecessary force by police officers?

RT: From my personal experience, I don’t know of any group to whom black lives matter more than American police officers, at least those I have personally worked with. Despite extreme provocation, anger, resentment that is fueled by an untruthful media, officers sacrifice and risk their lives daily to assist, protect and serve this community. Traditional media and social media do not tell this story. 

JS: The complaints of unnecessary use of force are very rare. The standard of proving that unnecessary force was used is very high. …I have had people screaming as loud as they can, “He is trying to kill me” as I am placing them in handcuffs. I have had people yell at bystanders to please record the arrest when the arrest was going just fine. I have experienced many arrests where the person being arrested was screaming that I was hurting them when there were no pain-compliance holds being used. Then after I put them in my vehicle and their audience was gone they calmed down and acted normal. 

…I have met lovely and kind pro-police black citizens who express their support for law enforcement. I am sad to say that many of my law enforcement contacts with blacks ended up with me being called a racist and many other choice words.

…My call as a Christian police officer was to represent Jesus in my dealings with people. I had success, and I had failure. I really tried to arrest people the way I would want to be arrested. I tried to interview people the way I would want to be interviewed. I tried to care for the hurting, frightened, and vulnerable the same way I would want to be treated if I were in their shoes. I viewed victims as if they were my wife or family members. It changes the way you investigate a crime if you ask yourself, “If this victim was my wife how would I want this crime investigated?” That was a game changer. “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). 

…I am convinced that the answer to any racial divide in our country is a strong multi-ethnic church that teaches God’s word strongly and worships fully. No government can fix the divide. No social service can mend the fracture. No international aid organization can fix our racial ills. …A multi-ethnic church that lives out the radical teachings of Jesus will change every community around it.

PT: Every death is horrible. Officers don’t want to go to work and shoot someone. It is the last thing they want. We see the media, the impacts on the deceased family and the communities we live in, the side effects on the officer’s psyche, and the list goes on.

There are always things to improve on, and I know every member of my department welcomes those improvements. …A rational conversation needs to take place with Jesus at the center.

SA:  That which divides us, can, and must, bring us together. One by one, each of us must be willing to make a sacrificial commitment to become actively involved in solutions to this complex issue. We must come together with the common goal of paving the way for future generations to live in peace and harmony. Too many times we make mistakes by acting on false assumptions. Most of the time, people who know each other can work through differences of opinion and respect each other’s viewpoints. The gap that exists by not knowing each other is a trap for misunderstanding, mistrust, and emotional distress, leading to a potential crisis. The gap must be filled by creating relationships with common goals and mutual respect. 

Places of worship can play a key role in facilitating relationship building in our communities. Teams representing city and community leaders and members must develop a comprehensive plan that brings people together in long-lasting, positive relationships. As these relationships grow, police officers will better understand the needs of the community and the community will better understand why the police do what they do. 

Whether you are a dedicated police officer or a committed community member, we can work together to create a more peaceful community. I believe it will require each of us to have the courage to look within ourselves, develop a servant’s heart, and be willing to sacrifice for the good of all.

From Randy: I appreciate these men (and the many women who serve alongside them) who I know and trust, and I believe there are many more like them. When I hear their concerns about the safety of their families due to the heightened disrespect for and violence against police, my heart is heavy. When I hear about them looking at other job opportunities where they would not be constantly assumed to be violent or corrupt or racist, that hurts.

I’m told many good cops are retiring early, because their jobs have become impossible. It’s hard enough to go to work knowing every day that you are putting your life at work, but to be “rewarded” for this by people yelling names at you, throwing rocks and bags of urine, is too much to ask. We are already losing good cops. I fear we are going to lose many of our very best police officers, or that many who once considered entering law enforcement will choose a more rewarding and less dangerous profession. According to some, the number of applicants to enter law enforcement is sharply declining. This is truly sad. As much as I hate unnecessary violence against citizens, and as much as I truly believe that sometimes racism is involved, I also believe that most of the cops I know (and many like them) are truly seeking to love God and love people and protect them. I encourage you to lift up good cops of all races in general and Christian cops in particular in prayer and ask God to intervene and keep them out there protecting our children and grandchildren and ourselves. God bless all you good cops, and thank you for the sacrifices you make for all of us.   

P.S. Milwaukee, Wisconsin Sheriff David Clarke has been speaking out for years against the anti-police rhetoric that cultivates disrespect for police and thereby puts more citizens at risk.  Some will dismiss his perspective as a conservativism-driven overstatement that minimizes racial injustice. But given the flood of anti-cop media and social media, I believe Sheriff Clarke’s voice is an important counter-balance. Yes, he opposes the organization Black Lives Matter, but he does so because he believes black lives really do matter and blacks are not being made safer but put in greater danger by BLM’s failure to point out the tireless work of good cops in addition to the wrongdoing of a minority of cops.

Here is a Portland police sergeant on the job listing in four minutes all the ongoing situations that have resulted in calls to the police which they are unable to respond to because most cops have been sent to deal with the  ongoing nightly disturbances. 

Finally, I highly recommend you listen to four Portland police officers who speak up in this article, and also are on video telling what they have been experiencing. Normally they are not permitted to speak with this amount of freedom, but the degree of violence and targeting police has resulted in more attempts to show them as human beings who are struggling against hate.

Photo by Wesley Mc Lachlan on Unsplash

Introducing My New Book, It’s All About Jesus

It’s All About Jesus: A Treasury of Insights on Our Savior, Lord, and Friend releases on September 1. It’s a collection of the very best quotations about Jesus throughout history, carefully gleaned from hundreds of sources. The book is organized by subject matter, including Christ’s humanity, deity, incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, humor, relationships, wisdom, grace, kindness, generosity, and over a hundred other aspects of His person and work.  

Why a book of great thoughts and quotations about Jesus? Well, can you think of anyone in human history whose birth, life, teachings, relationships, death, and promises are more important than those of Jesus? Who would come second? No one else is remotely close!

Even atheists and agnostics recognize that no one has affected life on Earth like Jesus. Every time we write a date, we’re reminded of His impact—history falls into two parts, BC (before Christ) and AD (anno Domini, year of our Lord).

Each month, millions of people type “Who is Jesus?” or “Who is Christ?” into Internet search engines. Here’s the problem: When I searched those questions, the first one yielded nearly 1.2 billion results, and the second, 1.6 billion. And the answers offered are diverse, contradictory, and confusing.

Christianity, the religion that bases itself on Christ, is the largest religion on the planet. One out of every three people worldwide believes in a man named Jesus who lived two thousand years ago! Sadly, however, even many professing Christians don’t know what to believe about Jesus, and often believe things about Him that contradict Scripture. 

True Christ-followers understand that though there are many competing opinions about Him, the only authentic Jesus is the one revealed in God’s Word. Hence, they believe that Jesus was both man and God, was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, performed great miracles, died for their sins, rose from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of God. And that isn’t all. They believe that Jesus has made a way for them to have eternal life, delivering them from eternal Hell and granting them eternal life in Heaven. They believe that Jesus, the God-man, is going to return to Earth to set up His eternal kingdom. 

Many people regularly gather to celebrate the person and work of Jesus Christ and consider Jesus to be their God, Savior, Judge, Example, Counselor, Friend, and Source of joy, even when persecuted or everything seems stacked against them. Some Christians are like my wife, who grew up in a home where her parents believed in Jesus, taught her about Him, and took her every week to a Bible-teaching, Christ-centered church. Others are like me: not raised in a Christian home and ignorant of the gospel until they were teenagers or adults. 

The world is full of people who naively embrace incorrect beliefs about Jesus. False teachers say whatever people want to hear, while demons in the invisible realm whisper lies about Jesus into our ears. This is why I follow every heading in It’s All About Jesus with scripture first. Only secondly do I share what ordinary people—including me—have to say about Jesus. I believe that first by reading the Bible verses and then reading others’ words about Jesus that are in keeping with Scripture, you can actually come to know many great truths about Him through this book. That’s a remarkable claim, but I stand by it. 

I’ve divided the book into four parts.

Part 1 declares who Jesus is—His nature, attributes, and characteristics.

Part 2 speaks of His transforming life, death, resurrection, return, and reign. 

Part 3 explores the many powerful names and titles of Jesus.

Part 4 centers on Jesus in His beautiful relationships with His people.

While inspirational words about Jesus fill It’s All About Jesus, the only ones that are truly inspired—in the sense of coming from God and carrying His full authority—originate from the Bible. I encourage readers that even if they think they’re familiar with it, please don’t skip over Scripture to get to what others say! Our words don’t compare to His. They usually have a short shelf life, while God’s Word is eternal. He promises us this:

As the rain and the snow

            come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

            without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

            so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

            It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

            and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV).

I am one of countless people whose life Jesus has radically changed. I don’t mean simply that the teachings of Jesus have changed me; I mean that Jesus Himself, the real and living Jesus, came into my life as a teenager and, fifty years later, continues to transform me. I love my wife and children and grandchildren and friends dearly. But I love Jesus even more. And I believe that makes me a better husband, father, grandfather, and friend. 

There are words from and about Jesus in many quotation books, but how many books have you seen where it’s truly all about Jesus? It’s likely this is the first. Compiling these quotes with the much-appreciated assistance of our Eternal Perspective Ministries staff has been a joy. While there are a lot of quotations in the book, I had to cut out two-thirds of what we collected because there simply wasn’t space. It reminded me of the apostle John’s statement at the end of his Gospel: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25 NIV).

This collection is a drop in the ocean of what has been said about Jesus, which itself is a miniscule portion of all that could be said about Him (and will be said in the ages to come!). But I believe it’s a unique and particularly high-quality collection. 

In Christo solo is Latin for “In Christ alone.” It was one of the five central assertions of the Reformation, and it means that salvation is by faith only in Christ, not by our own efforts. What could possibly be more important than contemplating this Jesus upon whom our entire lives, both present and eternal, depend?

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; to Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18 NASB).

In several upcoming blog posts, I’ll share sample topical excerpts from the book. If you’d like to read a portion and see the table of contents, you can do so  here .

It’s All About Jesus is available in print from retailers, including EPM’s online store, and as an ebook on Kindle.

A Parable of Two Seas

Jesus said, “The one who believes in me...will have streams of living water flow from deep within him” (John 7:38).

There’s an old but excellent analogy I find very helpful as a picture of a healthy Christian life. In northern Israel lies the beautiful Sea of Galilee, where Jesus often sailed with His disciples. Water freely flows from it into the Jordan River. Its water is fresh and life-giving. Like many, we’ve been there and seen and smelled its vitality.

But 88 miles south is a radically different sea. One of the lowest spots on earth, the Dead Sea collects large volumes of water but disperses none. Its salt concentration is so high no fish or vegetation can survive. While it’s fun to float on the Dead Sea—you can’t help but do so—it’s not fun to realize how utterly dead that sulfur-smelling water really is. 

While the Jordan River flows into the Sea of Galilee, it also flows out. The water passes through, allowing it to support fish and plant life. Trapped, with no outlet, the Dead Sea keeps taking water in, but none leaves it but by evaporation.

No outlet means no life. This is a parable. In order to be faithful stewards and love others, we must be not only recipients of God’s provision but also outlets of it. Only then will we experience the abundant life He intends for us. (And we won’t smell like sulfur to everyone either!)

Adapted from Giving Is the Good Life: The Unexpected Path to Purpose and Joy .

Photo by james ballard on Unsplash

The Enslavement and the Genocide of the Uighur People in China

Note from Randy Alcorn: At my request, EPM staff member Stephanie Anderson researched and wrote the following, with which I fully concur. This is a justice issue that should burden all of us. May God use this blog to draw attention to what is surely on His heart.  

I’ve been both heartbroken and angered to read about the enslavement of the minority Uighur people by the Chinese government. Some friends who are former missionaries in China confirmed this is happening and say, “It is indeed horrible.”

Who are the Uighurs (pronounced “Wee-gers”)? This article from The Gospel Coalition provides a helpful and brief history: they are “a Central Asian people group relatively unknown to the Western world. The majority of them live in northwest China, in an area known as the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, which is their ancestral homeland. Xinjiang is home to about 10 million Uighurs. In ethnolinguistic terms, the Uighurs are a Turkic people group.”

Here’s an overview of what’s happening to them, from an international policy council:

Uyghurs, many of whom were CCP [Chinese Communist Party] regulars and members of Xinjiang's intellectual elite, were once tolerated, but now are no longer trusted. Some, like the former President of Xinjiang University Tashpolat Tiyip, have been arrested and accused of being “two faced” betrayers of China. Many Uyghurs have been plucked from their families and forced to work in prison-like factories where they are becoming part of Xinjiang's growing urban manufacturing class, producing items for companies that are suppliers for “international tech giants such as Apple and Lenovo.”

ABC News reports,

Drawing upon open-source Chinese language documentation, satellite imagery, media reporting and academic research, the report entitled Uyghurs for Sale identifies some 83 well-known consumer brands linked to factories where Muslim minorities are thought to be working in forced labour conditions across China.

…More than a million Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslim ethnic minorities are thought to be detained in what the Communist Party calls vocational education centres but which are referred to by the UN as “re-education camps”.

Some have observed it is likely the largest-scale incarceration of people based on religion since the Holocaust.

You can read the report here. It “provides evidence of the exploitation of Uyghur labour and the involvement of foreign and Chinese companies, possibly unknowingly, in human rights abuses.”

The report lists these specific companies:

In all, ASPI’s research has identified 82 foreign and Chinese companies directly or indirectly benefiting from the use of Uyghur workers outside Xinjiang through potentially abusive labour transfer programs as recently as 2019: Abercrombie & Fitch, Acer, Adidas, Alstom, Amazon, Apple, ASUS, BAIC Motor, BMW, Bombardier, Bosch, BYD, Calvin Klein, Candy, Carter’s, Cerruti 1881, Changan Automobile, Cisco, CRRC, Dell, Electrolux, Fila, Founder Group, GAC Group (automobiles), Gap, Geely Auto, General Motors, Google, Goertek, H&M, Haier, Hart Schaffner Marx, Hisense, Hitachi, HP, HTC, Huawei, iFlyTek, Jack & Jones, Jaguar, Japan Display Inc., L.L.Bean, Lacoste, Land Rover, Lenovo, LG, Li-Ning, Mayor, Meizu, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Mitsumi, Nike, Nintendo, Nokia, Oculus, Oppo, Panasonic, Polo Ralph Lauren, Puma, Roewe, SAIC Motor, Samsung, SGMW, Sharp, Siemens, Skechers, Sony, TDK, Tommy Hilfiger, Toshiba, Tsinghua Tongfang, Uniqlo, Victoria’s Secret, Vivo, Volkswagen, Xiaomi, Zara, Zegna, ZTE. Some brands are linked with multiple factories.

Earlier this month, BBC reported about a video recorded and sent by Merdan Ghappar, a young Uighur man who has been imprisoned inside China’s detention system. He managed to send the video, along with text messages, to his family, showing his imprisonment:

In addition to deporting and imprisoning people, the Chinese government has worked to drastically reduce Uighur birth rates through forced birth control and abortions. “The state regularly subjects minority women to pregnancy checks, and forces intrauterine devices, sterilization and even abortion on hundreds of thousands, the interviews and data show,” the AP reports.

Birth rates in the mostly Uighur regions of Hotan and Kashgar plunged by more than 60% from 2015 to 2018, the latest year available in government statistics. Across the Xinjiang region, birth rates continue to plummet, falling nearly 24% last year alone — compared to just 4.2% nationwide, statistics show.

…“It’s genocide, full stop. It’s not immediate, shocking, mass-killing on the spot type genocide, but it’s slow, painful, creeping genocide,” said Joanne Smith Finley, who works at Newcastle University in the U.K. “These are direct means of genetically reducing the Uighur population.”

The government has even directed hospitals to kill infants after birth.

So what can we do? In their report “Uyghurs for Sale,” the Australian Strategic Policy Institute makes these recommendations:

Consumers and civil society groups, including NGOs, labour unions and consumer advocacy groups, should:

demand that companies that manufacture in China conduct due diligence and social audits to ensure that they’re not complicit in forced labour practices
advocate for the recognition of continual, multilayered surveillance and monitoring of workers and their digital communications—both in and outside work hours—as an emerging and under-reported indicator of forced labour and an important human rights violation
push brands to be more transparent about the make-up of their supply chains and the preventative measures they have put in place to ensure forced labour does not occur
demand that companies make new public commitments, uphold current commitments, or both, to not use forced and coerced labour in their global supply chains and that they act quickly and publicly when such cases are identified.

If a brand you regularly purchase from is listed in the report, you can write a polite but firm letter to their customer service.

Finally, and most importantly, in addition to giving attention to the plight of the Uighurs, we can pray. Greg Turner writes for The Gospel Coalition, “Pray for the Uighur people. Pray they would be treated with human dignity. Pray, most of all, that the gospel would penetrate all the barriers that surround them and reap a harvest among these precious people whom God loves.”

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Proverbs 31:8).

Image: SFT HQ (Students for a Free Tibet) / CC BY