While it might seem odd for a Pastor to write a blog titled "Leaving a Church Well," I for one think the subject has been ignored long enough!  Sadly, I have seen too many members (now former members) of the church I pastor leave poorly.  Even those who have said they were trying to leave the right way seemed to have butchered it somehow.  It's saddening and sometimes maddening.

Last month I read a little book study by Earl Blackburn titled Jesus Loves the Church And So Should You.  I really wish every member of every evangelical church would read it.  The book is a treasure trove of practical biblical instruction on all things church.  To say this book is sorely needed, even among the members of the church I pastor, is an understatement.  Chapter 17 is titled "When is it Right to Leave a Church and How Should it be Done?"

Practical to the core.

Blackburn writes, "To leave a church in a godly manner means to depart correctly (for the right reasons) through proper resignation of membership."

Lots in that one sentence.  Over the next few blog entries, I plan to present some of Blackburn's points for us to ponder.  For starters, he asserts there are only a few biblical grounds for a person to leave a church.  I have argued this for years, only to be ignored by people refusing to engage with the biblical texts I have asked them to submit themselves to while considering whether they have good warrant to leave.

For Blackburn, here are the biblical reasons to leave a church:

1. when a church departs from the gospel and the preaching thereof;
2. when a church embraces and teaches heresy;
3. when a church tolerates open and scandalous sin in the church leadership or membership and refuses to deal with it via biblical church discipline;
4. when a church changes doctrinal positions not consistent with the church's original Confession of Faith, doctrines, or practices (e.g., becoming paedobaptistic or charismatic);
5. when a member (who is not under discipline) changes his major doctrinal position from that of his church;
6. when a member is providentially moved to another location far away from his or her present church.

And there you have it.  I think he nailed it.  I have frequently told people that there are only about five reasons I would leave a church family.  Blackburn's list closely mirrors my own.  And yet, the vast majority of members leaving churches in our culture do so for reasons other than those listed above.

Our view of the church matters greatly, friends!  And whether we stay or leave, and how we leave if we do leave, speaks volumes about our relationship to Christ and His people.  And those two things are always connected at the hip!

Next week, we'll chew on some reasons NOT to leave a church.

A decade or more ago, I swore I would never read another book on leadership.  As an undergraduate I readsomany I thought my head would explode.  Then, as an Officer in the Marine Corps I read even more to the point of insanity!  I was sick of reading about it.  I just wanted to do it.  So I swore off leadership books.

Never say never.

To graduate seminary I had to take a Course on Leadership.  Poetic justice, I guess.  So after the course, I swore again to never read another book on leadership.

Never say never.

For many months now, a book has just been sitting on a table in my living room.  I have no idea where it came from, and my wife says she doesn't know either!  I finally got tired of looking at it and cracked it open.

Manna from heaven!

Leadership as an Identity by Crawford Loritts, Jr. is the best book on leadership (from a spiritual perspective) that I have ever read.  And I've read tons of 'em.  Let me share some of his words of wisdom with you from the final chapter of the book.  The Chapter is titled "The Legacy of Faithfulness."

Intelligence and ability will only get you so far.  Faithfulness will carry you across the finish line . . . A faithful person is one who steadily follows God and obeys Him consistently.  Faithfulness is the stuff of stability, the evidence of purpose, the signature of commitment.  Faithfulness demonstrates that we take responsibility and accountability seriously.  Faithfulness says that we believe that God's assignments are important.

If you desire to serve God long term . . . if you want your life to count . . . if you want to leave a legacy with your children and with the people you serve as a leader . . . you will pursue faithfulness in your life.

One day out of curiosity my friend asked his dad why he never needed an alarm, and the father's response was priceless: 'Responsibility woke me up every morning!'  He had a mortgage to pay, mouths to feed, and a future to secure.  Responsibility told laziness, 'Take your hands off him.  It's time for him to get up and get after it!'

It is what you decide to do when the daily alarm clock of responsibility goes off that makes the difference.  Will you shut if off and roll over and go back to sleep?  Or will you get up and greet it with gratitude and holy ambition?

Here's what I have learned: Distractions can cause you to be faithful about the wrong stuff.

God's leaders who are faithful can't help but bring a sense of holy gravitas [weight and substance] to their environment.  'Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord' (Colossians 1:10).  When we do God's will, our lives are characterized by a worthy 'walk.'  Our faithful obedience to His will . . . ensures that God's unique presence will be with us.

So, where are you being tempted to be faithless or unfaithful?  Marriage?  Family? Parenting?  Work?  School?  Friendships?  Small groups?  Bible study and memorization?  Worship attendance?  Evangelism and discipleship?  Accountability for your life?  

God give us courage to be faithful.  Make us faithful servants of Christ, O Holy Spirit God!  May we be those who are not just counted as church members, but those who can be counted on.        

I've been listening every week for a few months now to podcasts from 9Marks and Capitol Hill Baptist Church.  They are a real blessing, especially in helping Pastors and Leaders think biblically about all things "church."  The most recent episode, for example, was titled "How to Leave Your Church Well."  Boy, is that ever needed in the church of America!  I'll probably have more to write on that topic in weeks ahead, but for now, I want to share some lessons from the podcast of several weeks ago.

Pastor Mark Dever, in a recent sermon, made application of a text by giving his listeners Twelve Questions to Ask Before Posting to Social Media.

1. Will it edify?
2. Will it be easily misunderstood?
3. Will it reach the right audience?
4. Will it help my evangelism?
5. Will it bring about unnecessary controversy?
6. Will it embarrass or offend?
7. Will it convey care?
8. Will it make people better appreciate someone else?
9. Is it boasting or boastful?
10. Is its tone appropriate?
11. Is it wrong on this particular topic to say nothing?
12. What do other spiritually mature people say or advise?

Now this is the commandment, the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them . . . that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged (Deuteronomy 6:1-2).

God undoubtedly desires His people to keep a trans-generational perspective.  The Lord delights in His people teaching His Word to their children, so that they may teach their children, and so on.  And God loves to see redeemed Grandparents bouncing grandbabies on their knees while singing, "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand."  Our Lord is faithful across the generations.  And our aim should be to see His grace produce trans-generational faithfulness in our own families.  

While I am not yet a grandparent, and do not anticipate being one for several more years, I do pastor many grandparents.  I enjoy watching them with their grandchildren.  It is a visual reminder of God's goodness.  But grandparenting in our culture has become far more complicated than in previous generations.  We have some grandparents in our congregation who have had to take it upon themselves to raise their grandchildren full-time.  They're essentially parenting all over again.  I commend them for stepping up and standing in the gap with the souls of their grandchildren on the line.  And we have grandparents who "watch" their grandchildren several days a week.  In many ways, they too are raising those children.  It's easy for pastors to get so focused on the parents and young couples in a church that we forget the grandparents.  So, for what my thoughts are worth, I offer a few practical pointers to all you precious parents that are "grand."

• If you are actually functioning as a full-time parent, you need to ask for God's grace to transition from the role of grandparent to parent.  Not easy.  But essential.  There are significant differences in the parent-child relationship and the grandparent-grandchild relationship.  To effectively parent, you need to be a parent.  
• If you are parenting as a grandparent due to some kind of brokenness in the biological parent (your child), then study up on biblical forgiveness and seek grace for kindness and patience.  Speaking ill of your grandchild's parent in front of the child is disastrous.  Avoid it!  And gently urge the parent (your child) to get whatever help he or she needs.  The goal should be, if at all possible, to see the parent and child fully restored.  
• Do not enable grown children to live in sin or indulge a sinful lifestyle.  Paying for biblical counseling for the grown child - yes!  Giving cash to the grown child battling addictions - no!  Helping buy school supplies for the grandchild - yes!  Allowing the grown child to give herself consistently to sin under your roof - no!
• If the situation with the parents is desperate and not reconcilable in the long-term, pursue legal custody of the grandchild(ren).  This makes so many things simpler on you if you find yourself functioning as a parent.
• If you provide regular childcare to your grandchildren, do not do it for free.  I know this sounds harsh to some, but I do not believe you are doing your children any real favors by serving as a free, permanent childcare solution.  Charge them half what they would have to pay an actual daycare.  This at least forces responsibility back where it belongs - on the parents.  You can always put the earnings into your grandchild's college fund!  
• Do not agree to provide regular childcare for your grandchildren without asking the parents some hard questions.  Like, "Why do you need this childcare?"  And, "Have you downgraded your lifestyles in order to do everything possible to allow mom to stay home with the children?"  And, "Let me see your budget."  Far too often in our culture parents are simply taking advantage of grandparents in order to maintain a certain standard of living.  And the problem exists as much inside the church as outside!
• Do take every opportunity to laugh and frolic with your grandchildren!  You never know how many more opportunities to do so the Lord will give you.  
• Do teach your grandchildren the Gospel.  Read the Bible to them.  Read gospel-centered books to them.  Christian bookstores are stocked with shelf after shelf of great biblical children's books now!  
• Pray over your grandchild.  Pray blessings on their heads.  Pray with your grandchild.  Teach them to pray and relish the precious words they utter to God.  When they pray something amazing or just cute, write it in a journal.  You'll enjoy the memories and smile each time you read the journal entry.  In today's world, you might even film some of your prayer times or fun times with them on your phone.   
• Use technology to stay in touch with grandchildren.  For those separated by distance, there really is no excuse today for not still being connected to your grandchildren's lives.  
• Find out what your grandchildren enjoy and encourage and support them.  I've seen 8-year old boys verifiably giddy just because grandpa showed up to their baseball game.  As long as God gives you the health, get out there and enjoy life with those grandbabies!

Well, that's enough to keep us busy for a while.  When it comes to matters of parents and grandparents in the church, my strong desire is to see parents working hard by God's grace to allow grandparents to just be grandparents.  That will bless families across generational lines in ways we cannot imagine.  In some ways, many of the above tips pain me to write.  I wish they were not so needed.  May God restore peace and gospel wholeness to our families.  May the Lord give us a revival of Psalm 78:1-8 families.  For the sake of Christ, and the joy of all you parents who are GRAND!           

               

On Sunday, March 12th, 2017 we (Corydon Baptist Church) celebrated our 10th Anniversary!  The history of CBC is unique.  In 1994, First Baptist Church of Corydon had an ugly split that resulted in a group leaving and forming Cross of Calvary Baptist Church.  But in 2007, by a mighty act of God's grace and power, those two churches reunified under the banner of Corydon Baptist Church!  We pray that our unique history will become commonplace, as churches that were once at odds lay down their offenses at the Cross and unite for the sake of God's glory in the gospel of Jesus Christ!

To open the celebration this past Sunday, I read John 17, and spoke these words:

We gather here today to celebrate!  We celebrate Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  We celebrate God the Father who sent Him to us.  We celebrate God the Holy Spirit who imparts His eternal life to us.  We celebrate the Triune God.  He is a Tri-Unity.  And we celebrate unity.  True unity.  Not unity that the world celebrates.  But unity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

By God’s Grace, Ten Years ago, two churches that had once been at odds made a decision.  To honor God and His Gospel above all.  Above all other differences.  Above all other preferences.  Above all other offenses.  And Corydon Baptist Church was born!  It was Gospel Unity birthed in hearts by the Holy Spirit that brought this church into being.  And it is the Gospel which unites us still.

The Gospel of a Holy, Sovereign, Righteous, Just and Loving Creator God.

The Gospel of unholy, sinful, rebellious, fallen man. 

The Gospel of mankind helplessly and rightly condemned by God and spiritually dead before God. 

The Gospel of the God-Man, Jesus Christ, living a perfectly righteous life, dying a substitutionary death in our place, rising from the dead to justify His people before God, and ascending to reign at His Father’s right hand until His enemies be made His footstool. 

The Gospel of the Sweet Holy Spirit convicting men and women of their sin and powerfully, irresistibly drawing them to faith in Jesus and granting them repentance of sin. 

The Gospel of the Loving Rule and Reign of Christ in and through His New Covenant People, the Church, as He sanctifies us and sends us out to make Him known in Corydon and to ends of the earth.

This is our unity!  This is our identity!  The Good News that God rescues and forgives sinners through the Person and Work of His Son, Jesus.  This is our heartbeat.  Let all lesser things never come between us.  And while not every Christian who comes our way wants to be a part of God's work among us, we must stay the course of living to please God and not men!  Because we are Gospel People, first, foremost and always.  This is how the world knows that God sent Jesus – a oneness that defies all worldly explanation.  A family resemblance that comes only through a common commitment to let Jesus get bigger while we all get smaller.

O God thank You for making us one!  Make us one still.  Let this Church be known, be marked by one thing and one thing only – The Glory of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  Hallelujah!  Amen.  

Jane Roe was not her real name.  That's just the name the feminists gave her when they hijacked her life and her story to foist abortion on America.  They called her Jane Roe (Roe v Wade).  But as Pastor Jim Garlow recently quipped:

  History will remember her as "Jane Roe." But eternity will forever know her as Norma McCorvey, a child of God.

While Norma lived the first half of her life as a pro-abortion advocate, she gave the last half of her life to the pro-life cause.  And even better, she gave the last half of her life to the Lord Jesus Christ.  God used Pastor Flip Benham (yes, the Benham brothers' Dad) to lead her to faith in Christ.  Flip befriended her with love, and began pouring the gospel into her life.  She was stunned.  She had been told pro-lifers were mean and hateful.  By the grace of God, love won out in Norma's life!

In the summer of 1995, Norma repented of her sins and trusted in Jesus as Savior of her broken life.  Not only was her identity "stolen" by the abortion lobby, she also was essentially forced into giving her baby up for adoption. (Ironic, isn't it, that she never even had an abortion?)  But the blood of Jesus can wash the vilest sins from the worst of sinners!  Norma McCorvey was living proof.  Upon learning of her repentance and faith in Christ, Metroplex Chapel in Euless, TX, embraced her with the loving arms of Jesus.  Pastor Garlow describes it well:

Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" of the infamous Roe v. Wade case had not only experienced the love and forgiveness of Jesus. She had now experienced the love and forgiveness of the body of Christ—the church. 

And that's as it should be!

Recently, one of the Pastors I am privileged to serve with here preached from Ephesians 2.  He spoke of our past, present and future.  And he noted that while past sins may be forgiven, our actual actions in the past simply cannot be changed.  But when the saving grace of God in Christ sweeps into our lives, our present and future are altered radically!  We receive a new history.  His story becomes our story.  We are wrapped up in Christ Jesus.  Seated with Him in the heavenly places.  Destined for an eternity of giving Him glory.  With all of the redeemed people of God in Christ.

Norma  - Jane Roe - is now experiencing the glorious eternal future ordained by God for those He saves.  Norma passed from death into life February 18, 2017, at age 69.  She is now and forever a trophy of God's amazing grace.

If you or someone close to you is suffering from the after effects of an abortion, or if you are pregnant and need help, please contact Choices Life Resource Center: http://choiceslrc.org/

For more detail on Norma's life, visit http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/63139-norma-mccorvey-s-first-church-experience-as-a-believer.

February.  The month for lovers.  

Fat cupid babies shooting arrows not-withstanding, Valentine's Day can actually be a great opportunity to share the meaning of true love with someone.  If we can get our minds off chocolates and exciting date nights just long enough, we might just find creative ways to talk about Jesus with lost friends, neighbors and co-workers this month.

While creativity has never been my strong suit, I'll still venture to offer a few ideas.

• Type or write a letter to a family member expressing your gratitude for their love over the years.  And take the opportunity to explain a few ways their love mirrors the greatest love of all - the sacrificial, condescending love of God in Christ.
• Make sweet treats for neighbors and include a card with an evangelistic Scripture on it.  On the back side of the card, put something like "Jesus is the sweetest person I know.  Ask me why!"
• At a lunch with co-workers ask everyone to define "love."  Use the opportunity not to poke fun at their definitions, but rather to offer your own using 1 John 4:7-11.  (I recommend memorizing this passage and a brief two minute explanation of it.)
• Text John 3:16 to friends and family and remind them that there is no greater love than that of God's Son laying down His life for us, even though we are "sinners condemned unclean."
• Go visit someone in a nursing home, or an elderly shut-in or a widow.  Be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer. Go love the lonely, hurting, and sick.

One of my fond childhood memories is of my Mom singing a song written by Dottie Rambo titled "If That Isn't Love." Soak up these lyrics and then go share this amazing love with others this month.

(Repeat Chorus)

"Abortion Stops a Beating Heart!"

We've seen this bumper sticker on cars for decades now.  I'm not sure where the slogan came from, but it's certainly true.  Medical research is now showing an unborn baby's heartbeat can be detected at 12 weeks from conception, and sometimes even weeks earlier.  That means the brain has already developed enough to be "telling" the heart to beat!

One would think that someone who claims to be pro-life would unequivocally support the notion that "Abortion Stops a Beating Heart."  And one would think a pro-lifer would then desire to do whatever he or she could to keep as many of those little hearts beating as possible.  It makes so much common sense.

But not if you're Governor John Kasich.

Last week he vetoed the "Heartbeat Bill" which would have banned abortions in Ohio once a heartbeat was detected. And what's worse, the Ohio Right to Life supported his spineless decision!  The Ohio RTL cited potential difficulties getting such a bill to stand before the Supreme Court.

I think we can call that "fear of man."  Since when do we pro-lifers allow judicial viability to drive our decisions?  I thought we stood to defend the right to life!  Period.

And the Governor himself had the pathetic audacity to mention his concern about the cost of defending the Heartbeat Bill in the courts.  Did I just hear you correctly, Mr. Governor?  Saving babies is a great goal, but only if it doesn't cost too much?  Well, because of your cowardice and moral depravity, rest assured thousands of unborn boys and girls will continue to pay the ultimate price.  Your evil will cost them their lives.

While I was quite public in my lack of support for President-elect Donald Trump, I can now say, "Thank you Lord that John Kasich did not win the nomination."  I am hoping and praying Mr. Trump will demonstrate a true moral and ethical spine in the matter of the pro-life cause.  God make it so.  O Lord, remove this scourge from our culture.  How can we ever hope to glorify You as Creator and Sustainer of life when we continue to snuff it out in its most innocent and harmless form?

At this time of year, Christmastime, it is worth remembering and celebrating that our Mighty God did not ask Mary her opinion.  God did not give Mary the "right to do what she wanted with her own body."  Rather, He declared what would be!  He would use her to bring Himself great glory and to bless the peoples of the earth with His salvation in Jesus Christ.  With His sovereign, almighty Spirit, He simply "overshadowed" her and "therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).

Thank You God for being a Rock of Life.  Forgive our national cowardice.  And replace our yellow-bellied leaders with men and women of genuine, biblical convictions.  For the sake of Christ's fame among the nations.  Amen.            

My latest edition of Vanderbilt magazine just arrived.  (Yes, I know it's hard to imagine I managed to graduate from Vandy, but God's grace works miracles!)  As usual, I turned quickly to the Science section.  I always find amusement there somehow.

On page 22, an article titled "Brain Food" appears.  It details the research of Suzana Herculano-Houzel, associate professor of psychology and biological sciences.  Others were engaged in the research, but Professor Houzel is the primary author.

Anyway, Professor Houzel has been busy studying.  Using her brain.  Her brain that's not exceptional.

I mean no personal insult or injury to her!  This is her own assertion!  Not mine.  While she admits the human brain is "unparalleled in the animal kingdom" this in no way makes it exceptional, she claims.  In her way of thinking, our brain is just a primate brain.  On steroids.  The major difference in human brains and brains of various primates is merely the number of cortical neurons.  16 billion in humans, compared to 9 billion in gorillas and 7 billion in chimps.

Ho-hum.  Makes us humans seem so insignificant.  So very ordinary.  But please note that apparently those extra 7 billion neurons make quite a difference.  I'm not aware of any gorillas doing research on their own brains!  And then publishing scientific journals on their findings!

Professor Houzel claims to know why our brains are bigger and better, too.  Her answer?

Cooking.

That's right.  You read it correctly.  Somehow, she posits, in our primate past, we learned how to slice, dice and boil.  That singular skill gave our mostly-monkey-soon-to-be-almost-human ancestors vastly more nutrition.  A cooked carrot, for example, is far more easily digested and nutrients extracted than if we eat said carrot raw.  The increased nutrition caused our brains to grow.  And voila!  Here we all are, some of us with titles like "Professor of Biological Sciences."

Now, let me get this straight.  Even though we had monkey brains, in that state of monkey-headedness we somehow figured out how to cut up, smash, whip, stir and prepare food, build a fire, find cooking utensils that conducted heat, and fry that piece of fish?

But how did we figure that out if our brains were still only firing a mere 7-9 billion neurons?  Present day gorillas are still firing 9 billion neurons, but for some reason known only to Darwin, not a single one of them knows how to cook! Oh, if only naturalistic evolutionists could find that colony of baboons tucked away in the jungle that is conducting cooking classes!

Pardon me, Professor Houzel.  I mean no personal offense.  But this hypothesis is fit for only monkeys.  How is it that we humans can be so smart and so stupid all at the same time?  

Our Creator God answers:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures (Rom 1:18-23).

Professor Houzel has the same problem we all have.  A spiritual deadness and dumbness that blinds us to God's truth and reality.  Here's praying that God reaches down to her and transforms her mind, gives her a new heart, and turns her gaze upward to the Christ of Calvary who came and died for the sins of humans.  Not glorified monkeys.

To which of the primates has God said:

Come now and let us reason together says the Lord.  Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool (Isa 1:18).

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them.  Male and female He created them (Gen 1:27).

 

Well, the most disgusting presidential campaign in my voting lifetime is over.  For that I thank God.  Let's take a really big breath.  In through the nose.  Hold it.  Out through the mouth.  There.  Feel better?

No?  I didn't think so.

At the risk of simply causing more angst, I want to help my few readers reflect a bit.  Hopefully, this will help and not hurt.  And I especially want to focus our church on what matters most now, in the aftermath.

• To those of my well-meaning brothers and sisters who chided me for "voting my conscience" (which for me meant a write-in vote for Tom Hoefling), I want to ask that you realize what a gift God gave me.  He allowed me a legitimate write-in option that did not force me to wrestle my conscience to the ground, crawl over it, and vote for a candidate with horribly immoral character.  The Christian conscience matters greatly.  If we believe it is being sanctified by the Holy Spirit and formed into the image of Christ, if we believe we "have the mind of Christ" then conscience is a big deal!  We are told to live out our faith with a clear conscience (1 Peter 3:16; see also Acts 24:16; 1 Tim 3:9).  We do not want to become "seared in our conscience" (1 Tim 4:2).  So, while our inner thought life might not be a completely infallible guide (1 John 3:21), it is a dangerous practice for Christians to ignore, suppress, or just plain beat back their consciences.  If you justified such a thing too easily, I gently urge you to humbly pray Psalm 139:23-24.  Only God can speak to your conscience.  Only God can change you at that level.  Seek Him.  Our consciences should always be only beholden to God and His Word.
• To those who voted differently than me, and who cast their vote for Trump with a clean conscience before God, I confess I am grateful that Clinton did not win.  I do think she would have been even worse than Trump in the matter of critical moral issues such as abortion, as well as other issues such as national defense.  I stick to my guns, though, that a President Trump is still an act of Divine judgment on the United States.  I hope the next four years prove me wrong!  And I am thankful our Lord is so good that He is still sprinkling mercy even in the midst of His acts of judgment against our nation.  His mercies are seen especially in some of the congressional and state and local elections across the land.  Why is God still even allowing us to remain a mostly free people, with glimmers of hope?  It's all of His mercy!  Praise the Lord!  His judgments are righteous.  His mercies are sweet.  Praise the Lord!
• To the Republican Party, are you listening?  An unprecedented number of us did not vote for either major party candidate.  I realize the bureaucrats may ignore my voice, but for me this election changed a lot of things.  I used to settle for "the lesser of two evils."  After all, the Gospel tells me I am always voting for a sinner in need of grace.  But this is the first election where neither front-runner even had a modicum of upright character.  In the past, the "lesser" candidates still had decent moral character.  Reagan / Carter.  Both President's Bush.  Romney.  McCain.  And though I have not agreed with much of anything he has done, President Obama has at least not womanized in office, or if he has we have somehow been kept in the dark about it.  So to the Republican Party I say, "If you want my vote in the future presidential races, you had better give me a candidate of character.  Character matters!  
• On a totally political note, am I the only one who struggles with the whole "electoral college" thing?  I think it was a great idea back in the day.  But in the 21st century, can't we just let the candidate who garners the most votes win?  Period?  I mean think of it. There is always a distinct possibility that your vote actually will not count for squat!  This is what some of my critics warned me of when I announced my intention to write in Tom Hoefling.  "You're wasting your vote."  Well, first I say the highest purpose of a vote is not to pick only someone you think can actually win.  But secondly, I say if Trump had won Indiana, but lost nationally, your vote would have been wasted too!  In fact, my votes for the last two presidential races accomplished precisely that - a whole bunch of nothing.  It can get depressing.  If we truly want every American to believe "every vote counts," then maybe we should rethink the electoral college.  And no, I am not smart enough to say much more than that.

Now, on to much more significant things.  Dear Church of the Living God, let me address you for a moment.  As believers in post-Christian America, we had better start to get a handle on these things right quick:

• God is sovereign.  To say things like "if people in the 90s had not voted for a third party candidate we would have never had President Bill Clinton" as a way to warn others not to vote their conscience, is just false.  The world may argue with that logic, but Bible believers should not.  There is absolutely no way we could have had anyone other than President Bill Clinton!  And there is absolutely no way we could have had any winner yesterday other than Donald Trump.  Sure, God uses human means to accomplish His will, but make no mistake, there is only one vote that really counts when it comes to world rulers (1 Sam 2; Psalm 75:5; 103:19; Dan 2:21; 4:17; Luke 1:52; Rom 13:1-7).  Friends, when the Holy Spirit says through Paul that God "works all things after the counsel of His will" He means it.  And as Christians we must take great comfort in it.  There is only and ever One King.
• Related to the above, evangelical believers are going to have to learn to rest in God's control of all things.  This would stop all our fear-mongering and anxiety.  To hear some of the Christians I know talk prior to this election, my vote was going to throw the entire nation into an irreversible tail spin (as if we've not been in that death spiral for decades already now).  Don't get me wrong, I take voting seriously.  It's not that it doesn't matter, it's just that it doesn't ultimately matter.  I know God may allow America to last until Christ returns, but He also may not.  I know every nation is headed to the feet of King Jesus.  All peoples will acknowledge Him as Lord (Phil 2).  I went to sleep well before the results were in last night.  I slept well.  No anxiety, by God's grace.  Why?  Because I knew when I awoke this morning King Jesus would still be at His Father's right hand, interceding for His blood-bought people and waiting until His enemies be made His footstool.  Rest easy Church.  Rest easy.  This world is not our home.  We're living for an eternal kingdom.  A fearful, anxious Church diminishes the glory of Christ in this world.  
• Moral authority.  The Church has been steadily losing it for 30-50 years.  When we try to speak to cultural issues of our day, we're basically ignored.  And no, I do not think for a second electing Donald Trump has changed that reality.  Our voice is mocked and ignored.  Why?  Perhaps because we're morally inconsistent.  We cry out for former President Clinton's head on a platter when he proves unfaithful to his wife, and then turn around and throw our full weight behind a candidate whose womanizing ways probably make Mr. Clinton blush.  And perhaps our moral authority is gone because those calling themselves Christians support the democratic party platform, which calls evil good and good evil.  Think on it Church.  Think on it.  "Judgment must begin in the household of God"(1 Peter 4:17).  We need to repent and return to our First Love.  And we had better get used to the idea of being the lone prophetic voice denouncing the evil and corruption of our nation and her peoples, where ever it is found.  And yes, that includes the logs in our own eyes (Matt 7:1-5).
• Mission.  It has not changed.  O Church arise!  This election did not even remotely impact our mission from our Savior to go make Him known to our neighbors and to the peoples of the world.  Be grateful we have freedom still to preach Jesus on the street corners (at least on most streets).  Ask God to help us leverage our wealth and our freedom to get the Gospel to more people in more places!  Stay on mission.  Stay on point.  Don't lose focus on lesser things.  Unite around the flag stained with the blood of our Savior, slain in place of sinners, risen for our justification!
• Gospel.  This is what Christians are supposed to be most about, whether in China or Corydon.  What kind of nation gives us Trump and Clinton as our two primary representatives?  The kind of nation that is lost and dying and walking in darkness under demonic domination.  The kind of nation that needs the Gospel.  The darker the American night gets, the brighter the Light of the World shines!  If we were all as passionate about promoting Jesus as we have been about promoting our favorite candidates this year, our churches would have probably doubled in size over the last 11 months!  God make us gospel people through and through.
• Pray.  We must now pray for President-elect Trump.  Like never before.  He needs to be humbled and he needs to, for the first time in his life, ask God to forgive him of his sins.  Imagine this happening in the White House!  Our God is able.  Let's cry out to Him on behalf of all our leaders (1 Tim 2:1-8) that we might continue to live in peace and have the ability to freely spread the Gospel.
• Confession and Forgiveness.  Last but in no way least, if you or I have said things that other believers in Christ may have found offensive or personally hurtful during this crazy election cycle, let's seek grace from God to humble ourselves, confess our sins to one another, pray for one another and be healed (James 5:16).  The Savior who unites us is far bigger than any political differences or personality quirks.  Let's not dishonor His name by refusing to ask for forgiveness where needed.  Let's display that radical love by which all men may know that we are His disciples (John 13:35).  Let's link arms to take His love and message into the culture of death and darkness.  We need each other beloved.  More now than ever.  Don't forget it.