Recently, I watched Jurassic World. As crazy as it may seem, I even drew some parallels to the gospel. 

Brianna ChildsIn the movie, the super-smart scientists in the lab at Jurassic World have created a genetically modified dinosaur called Indominus Rex. As mayhem ensues, the main characters face a big problem. They don’t know what animal genetics have been used to birth this monster. Time after time, they discover a new trait, but only after she has wreaked a new kind of havoc.

Lately, I’ve been learning more and more about how we need to know our enemy, too. As followers of Christ, we really are under attack at all times. We need to prepare ourselves just as well as if we were fighting a dinosaur that wanted to eat us. After all, dinosaurs are extinct, and Satan is not. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 5:12).

Satan knows us infinitely well, especially our calling, and he will do anything possible to keep us from being world-changers. After all, he was there when we were created, and he desires nothing more than to see us wither in the face of adversity.

God knows our deepest calling

But I am reminded that our Father also knows our deepest calling. He is the One who put it there. He “created my inmost being; (He) knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). And the same is true for every person on the earth—past, present and future. He has a specific plan for you, and when we turn our lives over to Christ, the Lord’s glory will abound, and we will have the greatest privilege of witnessing the furthering of God’s kingdom.  I believe we must say, “No more,” to the prince of darkness. We are “more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

I am learning more and more that the potential that lies within every person is insurmountably great when God shows up. Each girl that I am working with at The Vine has undergone tragedy, hardship, pain and abuse.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7) 

Oh, what a phrase that is: “But God.” He has raised us up. He is showing the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Every single resident and staff member here at The Vine has beautiful gifts and callings directly instilled in them from our Creator. 

Abundant life

It’s time for us to look at every individual and fight for them. And fight for ourselves. May the Spirit lead us as we encourage one another and build each other up to greater things that will last for eternity. May we know that “the thief comes only to kill and steal and destroy.” But may we also know that Christ has come that we may have life and “have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

We will know our enemy fully, that we might fight “the good fight,” finish the race and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Even more so, we will know our God fully, remembering all the while God “raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power” (1 Corinthians 6:14). What a powerful, loving, complex and true God we serve.

Brianna Childs, a student at Baylor University, is serving with Go Now Missions at The Living Vine Christian Maternity Home in Savannah, Ga.

“It is one thing for the majority to conclude that the Constitution protects a right to same-sex marriage; it is something else to portray everyone who does not share the majority’s “better informed understanding” as bigoted.”

— Chief Justice John Roberts in his dissenting opinion on Obergefell v. Hodges

Texas Baptists are a people of The Book. We have no creed but Scripture. 

Brent GentzelWe are aware Matthew Vines and others have sought to “change religion” through efforts that misconstrue Scripture as remaining silent on the question of consensual same-sex sexual relationships.

However appealing these new viewpoints may be to some, recent well-respected, well-researched evangelical authors like Texas Baptist Jim Denison and Christopher Yuan of Moody Bible College, who himself struggles with same-sex attraction, have convincingly confirmed the past 2,000 years of Christian theologians, pastors and philosophers didn’t get it wrong.

If you hold to a doctrine of biblical authority and believe the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible’s authorship, you simply can’t condone the act of homosexual sex. No matter how nice you want to appear to someone else, the God who loves us all and sent his Son to demonstrate that love clearly has put this sort of sexual expression out of bounds. 

Regardless of the seemingly unassailable conclusions of the sexual revolution, sexual purity is the calling of every Christ follower, and the Bible clearly points toward celibacy as opposed to marriage as a viable option for some people in some circumstances. It should be remembered that Jesus chose celibacy. If someone is attracted only to people of the same sex, celibacy is the right and biblical path. 

God’s standards are for our benefit, not harm

Even if we don’t fully understand these standards for sexual activity, we trust God’s motive for establishing and repeatedly affirming these perimeters on the expression of our feelings have been set forth for our benefit and not for our harm. In like manner, our motive in how we deal with this new challenge always should be love for our neighbors as we remember it is never an act of compassion to condone or celebrate another person’s sin. 

The book of Acts reports on the Jerusalem Council. Upon the conclusion of early mission efforts in the Gentile world, the apostles and other early-church leaders gathered to discuss which ethical expectations would be essential for the church as it stepped beyond the Jewish world of its origin. Circumcision and a thousand other possible laws and moral imperatives were on the table that day, but at the end of their deliberation, the apostles and other first century leaders decided the gospel should go forth avoiding involvement in idol worship, blood, strangled meat and sexual immorality.

In a Roman world where there was more sexual licentiousness than we find even in our own culture, Christians were to live and handle their bodies and passions in a distinctive way. Sexual intimacy as a gift to be expressed only in the confines of holy and heterosexual marriage has been the clear Christian way of exercising our faith and sexuality since that day.

I don’t think the Supreme Court has the authority to overturn the work of the Jerusalem Council for my community of faith or for our Baptist institutions as they seek to express their religious convictions through the way that they create and maintain community.

Motive is love, not bigotry

Bigotry is not our motive, and our standard is higher than tolerance. We are a loving people, and our example and leader is a loving God. Calling his word and our exercise of that faith “hateful” doesn’t change the fact love is the true motive. Capitulating in our free exercise of our faith in this area would be a mistake that will harm a lost world more than it harms us.

Challenging days are ahead for us as Texas Baptists. I encourage you to join me in praying for the leaders and boards of our Texas Baptist institutions. They have hard questions to answer. 

• Can Baylor University possibly allow a gay couple to use married-student housing and still be a city on a hill that seeks to hold forth the Christian sexual ethic as a positive alternative to the world? 

• Must Wayland Baptist University hire professors who engage in same-gender sex? 

• Will Buckner International place a voiceless child in a home where homosexual sex is central to the adopting couple’s life? 

• In 10 years will they be helping a polygamous family? 

• Can our churches possibly retain their tax-free status? If they do not, will they become hotbeds of political action and promotion?

Like the early church, we can love and genuinely seek to bless neighbors who live in ways that are contrary to our faith, but we must not compromise our commitment to faithfully exercising our faith in an effort to be more acceptable to our government or those who are choosing a different path for their lives. 

I believe calmer heads and wise leaders will find a way to protect the free exercise of religion in our nation. But even if our government comes against us, may God help us have the courage and compassion for our world to hold fast to the integrity of our faith and our long-held sexual ethic.

Brent Gentzel is pastor of First Baptist Church in Kaufman.

If there is one thing that I have learned, it is that sometimes the Lord provides above and beyond our imagination.

Danica BeckerThe Lord has not disappointed me yet this summer in the month I have spent here at the South Texas Children’s Home Ministry. My co-workers and I are serving on a campus of about nine cottages and house parents with more than 50 kids placed in their care. Our job is to come alongside these kids, love them and live life here with them while looking for opportunities to share Christ. 

Recently, we had discussed inviting the junior high and high school girls over for game and movie nights, since it provides us with great opportunities for bonding and conversation. So, we had a team come visit and lead activities. They led songs, Bible stories, games and crafts. The children enjoyed hearing about God and playing some new games.

As the workers, we enjoyed the opportunity to step back and help rather than lead. It was a great rest time and chance to see how other people love this ministry. 

As they prepared to leave they offered us their leftover food, which we gladly accepted. They stocked our shelves with chips, cookies and drinks, along with staples like lunch meat and peanut butter. 

My heart rejoices in the pantries now full of food. We can use it to serve the girls during multiple events over the next few weeks and anything else we plan over the summer. There is nothing more beautiful and fortifying to our lives than the provision of the Lord. Pray with us that God would use these provisions to supply the opportunities to grow relationships and share the word of God with the girls at STCHM.

Danica Becker, a student at Dallas Baptist University, is serving with Go Now Missions at South Texas Children’s Home Ministry in Beeville.

It had been a long day, and it was only noon, but the Lord had been at work since before the day even started.

Becca BurtIt was a Saturday, but not just any Saturday. This Saturday represented the beginning of the Lord’s work in a new apartment complex. We were holding a barbecue to invite people in the community to be part of Kids’ Club, youth group and our new house church that was just planted in the area. 

It had been an incredible day so far, and we were getting to meet so many new people. There is no way to describe the experience except for peace. I was hot and tired from cooking and serving hot dogs and playing countless games of soccer, but instead of feeling exhausted, I felt complete, indescribable peace.

Looking around, I saw people talking and eating, some playing games, some hearing the gospel for what might have been the very first time, and even one person giving their life to Christ. It was obvious the Lord was at work in the lives of these people, and I was able to witness it all. 

As I sat back and just listened to some of the conversations, I overheard some kids talking about who they thought Jesus Christ was. After listening to some of their answers, it was obvious that they were not Christians. I knew some of the kids, so I came up and asked them if I could tell them what I knew about Jesus. As I was sharing the gospel, other kids began coming up and listening. When I finished, I looked around, and I was surrounded by kids, hungry and wanting to know more. 

When I finished I immediately was discouraged, because none of them wanted to give their lives to Christ. I began doubt, thinking maybe I had not said the right thing or maybe I should have explained it in another way. However, later on in the day, a friend reminded me of a verse in 1 Corinthians: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants, nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” The verse goes on to say we are “coworkers in God’s service.” 

These verses have stuck with me, along with this experience at the barbecue, because they serve as a reminder as to my purpose here in Beaverton. I am not here to change people lives, but here to be a vessel for the Lord and his work. I am just a willing coworker for his service, and nothing I say will change these people. 

As I continue to work with these kids every week, I keep this in mind and continue to pray for their salvation. It is my hope God will continue to speak through me and work in the lives of these precious children. 

Becca Burt, a student at Tarleton State University, is serving with Go Now Missions in Beaverton, Ore.

Fireworks flashed a little less brightly and boomed a little less loudly this Fourth of July. Earlier that day, James Dunn left America for heaven. Our republic is a little less free and a smidge less strong for his passing.

But how perfect that James Dunn died on Independence Day. James believed the soul is free, and he dedicated his life to battling for religious liberty for all people. 

Editor Marv KnoxIf Baptists carved their stalwart champions of religious liberty on the side of a mountain, at least four faces would peer down upon us—Thomas Helwys, an original Baptist who died in a 17th century London prison for telling King James I that God, and not his majesty, is Lord of conscience; Roger Williams, founder of the first Baptist church in America, who established Rhode Island Colony as a haven of liberty for people of all faiths and no faith; George W. Truett, the late pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, who delivered the greatest speech on religious freedom in the 20th century; and James Dunn, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs 1981-99 and peerless advocate for what he called “soul freedom.”

As his obituary notes, James was born, raised and educated in Fort Worth. He served the Lord and Baptists as a pastor, campus minister and professor. Then he led the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission before heading to Washington the same month Ronald Reagan became president to lead the Baptist Joint Committee.

His achievements were many

Among James’ crowning achievements were leadership in passing the Equal Access Act (1984), which guarantees religious groups the same right to use public school facilities as other student organizations, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (1993), which continues to ensure religious freedom protections, particularly for minority groups. 

In retirement, James taught Christianity and public policy at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity for 14 years, shaping a generation of ministers.

You can read a tremendous retrospective of James’ life and ministry here. A retirement tribute delivered by his friend Bill Moyers is available here. His biographer’s page is here. And a review I wrote of that biography is here. 

Upon his home-going, I want to offer a few words about my friend, whose presence in my life extends back past my memory.

On numerous occasions—usually at banquets or other Baptist meetings—James and I would find each other and exchange hugs. And then, almost without fail, James would tell everyone within earshot, “I’ve known Marv so long, I used to change his diapers.” 

I can neither affirm nor deny that assertion. Actually, I don’t remember anyone who changed any diapers. But he very well may have changed my diapers.

My earliest memory of James

What I hold dearly is my first memory of James.

When I was a little boy, James was the Baptist campus minister at West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M) in Canyon. My father was pastor of small churches in the Panhandle. Our congregations couldn’t afford full-time youth ministers, but James would help us find a summer youth worker from among the kids who participated in his Baptist Student Union.

One spring when I probably was 3 or 4, but certainly no older than 5, Daddy took me with him to Canyon to see James and to interview prospective summer youth workers. I’m not sure how long we stayed on campus. But my mind still holds a vivid image of James standing out in front of the BSU building, waving goodbye to us as we drove away. I can close my eyes, and I’m looking out the car window at a very young smiling-and-waving James.

Many years later, I pondered why I still recalled that image of James from long ago, when I was so very young. And the answer is easy: James was the kind of guy who, with everything else going on, took plenty of time to talk to and pay attention to a little boy tagging along in his daddy’s wake. I remembered him not because of the quality of his wave, but because he spent the day caring about—loving—me.

Almost 20 years later, when I took my first Baptist job as a reporter at the old Home Mission Board in Atlanta, one of the first people who called with congratulations was James. Fortunately for me, we saw each other several times a year the rest of his life, and every occasion was a blessing.

An army of ‘best friends’

And here’s the kicker: I was not alone. As word of James’ death spread, Facebook lit up with tributes, memories and photographs from a host of people who also loved James. He possessed the uncanny, unselfish and unpretentious ability to make all his friends feel special. James attracted an army of “best” friends.

We all are richer, stronger, more whole and—those of us who are—better Baptists for having known him, having been his friends. And we’ll all have to stand a little stronger for religious liberty, because James could fight that fight better than all of us put together.

Father’s Love Indonesian Church recently celebrated its 8th anniversary in New York City. We celebrated with a special worship service featuring dance, choruses, guest speakers and a feast.

Alexandra GrandaI feel amazed and blessed by God to be part of this church, where I am serving as the youth leader for the summer and have been able to learn so much. Some of these people come from Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist backgrounds and were reached with the gospel here in the United States. 

One of the highlights of the celebration was a former Muslim who gave his testimony.

He was a drug addict who had been a devoted Muslim. He was able to learn and experience the unconditional love of Jesus. There was a time in his life when he finally understood Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and not a messenger like Muslims believe. He described how he felt when he learned Jesus paid for our sins and covered our shame with his precious blood.

He learned Jesus really died and rose from the dead on the third day. He spoke about how hard it was for him to be a follower of Jesus back in his country and how afraid he was of revealing the truth to his family. He told how his mother and the rest of his family rejected him when they found out he had become a follower of Jesus. 

I am thankful I live in a part of the world where I am able to express my freedom in Christ and share the good news to everyone. However, my heart breaks for my brothers and sisters in the rest of the world who are persecuted. Pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters, that the spirit of God will cover them with joy. 

Alexandra Granda, a campus missionary from the University of Texas Pan-American, is serving with Go Now Missions in New York City.

I am part of a team in Bangkok working with a ministry that reaches out to exploited men and transgender individuals working in the red-light district. This ministry also does preventative work in the slums around Bangkok with boys who potentially would be targeted for the sex industry. 

Rachel MartinMany people think working in the red-light district would be incredibly heavy, spiritually dark and really depressing. That is true to an extent, but each time I do outreach in those areas, I walk away with a little bit of joy restored to me. 

In the midst of the darkness, in the midst of all of the terrible things that are happening and people being completely enslaved to their sin, I am able to humbly rejoice in the salvation I have received through Jesus Christ.

I was once in darkness myself. I was once enslaved completely to my sin. By the grace of God, I am set free. Do I still sin? Yes. Every day, countless times a day. But I have hope, because I know that I am forgiven. It’s not because of anything I have done, but because Jesus died on the cross for my sin and was raised from the dead three days later, proving he is powerful over sin and powerful over death. 

So, in the middle of a red-light district, I have hope, because I know that if God can save me, redeem me, take the terrible things that I have done and somehow turn them into something good, then God is more than able to do exactly the same thing in the people around me. He is bigger than the sin in the red-light district. He is bigger than the fear that engulfs people. My God is bigger. 

We have been doing outreach in the red-light district a couple times a week. We also are helping to teach English to some of the boys who are in the ministry already and to some boys that work in a massage parlor in one of the red-light districts. We have painted and stained furniture, cleaned up after a building flooded from torrential rains, worked on marketing for the cafe that supports the nonprofit we are working with and done a lot of what some would call “little” things.

But are they little things? I don’t think so. Missions and full-time ministry are not glamorous and exciting most of the time. Actually, a lot of the wonderful things, like people hearing and accepting the gospel, are only made possible through countless hours of being faithful in the “little” things. We may not come back with the most exciting stories and we may not actually see someone become a believer in Jesus while we are here. But we can walk away at the end of the summer and say that we were obedient to God. No matter what God asked us to do, we gave him our “yes.” 

Rachel Martin, a student at Texas Tech University, is serving in Thailand through Go Now Missions in a ministry to victims of human trafficking.

On Saturday following the shooting of the Emanuel nine, my husband, John, and I traveled to Oxford. That first night with heavy hearts, we walked to Christ Church for Evensong. We felt God’s grace as the clergyman prayed specifically for Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, for comfort and courage for the victims’ families and friends, and for reconciliation across the world. 

Kathy HillmanOn Sunday morning, we worshipped at New Road Baptist Church in a building erected in 1798. Pastor Kathryn Bracewell focused the service around God’s power over the sea, most appropriate since we had crossed an ocean. Children acted out Jesus calming the waves (Mark 4:35-41), and we sang the Navy hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” Her sermon text was Job 28:1-11.

Evensong at Christ Church in Oxford. (Kathy Hillman Photo)She talked about the undeserved deaths in Charleston, recalling: “Sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes God calms his children in the storm.” She commended the Emanuel AME Church for their amazing grace. She called for courage and closed with, “When the storm rages, God stands by us with the power to say, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped’” (Job 38:11).

Sunday afternoon, we participated in St. Matthew’s Church Fair, complete with street-chalk-painting, music and a biscuit—cookie—baking contest that engaged the neighborhood. During lunch, the church warden expressed her prayers for the Charleston congregation. That evening, we toured the Iffley church with Canon Michael Bourdeaux and his wife, Lorna. John and Kathy Hillman at a “bring and share” lunch at St. Matthews Church in Oxford, England. (Kathy Hillman Photo)Over a picturesque boathouse dinner, we considered the courage, kindness and grace needed to end religious and racial persecution and violence.

On Monday, we visited Emma Walsh, librarian at Regent’s Park, Oxford’s Baptist college. She discussed artifacts related to British Baptist missionary and cartographer George Grenfell (1840-1906). The conversation turned to Charleston and slavery. Grenfell served in the Congo, where his maps unintentionally aided Belgium in enslaving the native population. For his work, King Leopold II personally conferred on Grenfell the “Chevalier of the Order of Leopold.” However, the courageous missionary publicly declared he could not “wear the insignia with honor.”

Visiting with Emma Walsh, librarian at Regent’s Park, Oxford’s Baptist college. (Kathy Hillman Photo)On Tuesday, I represented the Baylor University Libraries at the council meeting of Keston Institute, an organization founded by Bourdeaux to be the “voice of the voiceless” persecuted believers. He opened with this prayer.

“You have called us to be one, to live in unity and harmony, and yet we are divided: race from race, faith from faith, rich from poor, old from young, neighbor from neighbor. … O Lord, by whose cross all enmity is brought to an end, break down the walls that separate us, tear down the fences of indifference and hatred; forgive us the sins that divide us, free us from pride and self-seeking, overcome our prejudices and fears, give us courage to open ourselves to others; by the power of your Spirit make us one.” (Opening worship of the sixth assembly of the World Council of Churches, Vancouver 1983)

At New Road Baptist Church in Oxford with Pastor Kathryn Bracewell. (Kathy Hillman Photo)Later, our train left for London. Almost immediately, the conductor announced a rail fatality and return to the station. As we discussed alternate transportation, a gentleman kindly offered to share his cab. God’s grace became more evident when we learned his father was the late Richard Coffin, general secretary for the Canadian Baptist Federation.

On Wednesday, John and I enjoyed our time with Keston Council Chair Xenia Dennen and her husband, Lyle, retired Anglican priest and former archdeacon. We toured London churches, including St. Mary Woolnoth, where John Newton (1725-1807) served 28 years. One wall displays the epitaph of the converted slave-ship master who wrote “Amazing Grace.” During dinner, Dennen suggested ending violence will take courageous action by ordinary people. 

Epitaph for John Newton, converted slave-ship master who wrote “Amazing Grace,” at St. Mary Woolnoth Church in London. (Kathy Hillman Photo)On Thursday, we sat enthralled by exquisite animals in The Lion King, who reinforced serious lessons of courage, forgiveness and love. 

On Friday, John and I learned of violence in Tunisia, Kuwait and France.

On Saturday’s 10-hour return flight, I watched McFarland, USA, about Latino migrant workers; Black or White, about transcending differences; Cinderella, whose mother urges her to “have courage and be kind;” and Paddington Bear, who says, “In London, everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in.” That’s grace. As we landed, I pondered those movies’ themes and God’s themes for my week. 

Once home, I viewed President Obama’s eulogy for state senator-pastor Clementa Pinckney. He mentioned courage, faith and kindness. Then he added, “This whole week, I’ve been reflecting on this idea of grace.” So have I. So should we all. Now we must act. 

Kathy Hillman is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She also is director of Baptist collections, library advancement and the Keston Center for Religion, Politics and Society at Baylor University.

Hello, Texas Baptists! It’s been a busy summer already. Please continue to pray for our collegiate missionaries serving all over the world and for our Bounce Student Disaster Recovery and Texas Baptist Disaster Recovery mission trips. Also, our Super Summer sessions are up and running. Pray for the students and workers involved.

David HardageOur Youth Evangelism Conference North Texas event in Burleson held back-to-back programs in order to accommodate the crowds. There were over 2,100 in attendance for this three-day event. We rejoice in the decisions made for Christ: 17 for salvation, 99 recommitments and 12 called to ministry. More YEC events are scheduled during August in Beaumont and Lubbock. For information, please contact Leighton Flowers.  

Camp Exalted met June 22-26. This one-week spiritual enrichment experience is for youth in grades seven through 12 and college students. This is a life-changing experience.

Convencion Bautista Hispana de Texas met June 28-30 in Austin. I had a great time with Hispanic pastors, church leaders and members as we worshipped the Lord together. The Baptist General Convention of Texas is very grateful to Pastor Kie Bowman and Hyde Park Baptist Church (http://hpbc.org/) for hosting this event.

We were happy to host the Ethics Daily luncheon here at the Baptist Building. A new documentary, Genocide 66, which will be released in the fall of 2016, was previewed. They also recognized Don Sewell, director of Faith in Action Initiatives for Baylor Scott & White Health, as Baptist of the Year for 2014.

Kathleen and I enjoyed being with the great folks at First Baptist Church in Murphy and at First Baptist Church in Conroe a few weeks ago. Also, I’m looking forward to preaching at my home congregation, Lakeside Baptist Church in Dallas. It’s always great to connect with friends and stay near the home front every now and then!

David Hardage is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.     

You are invited to attend the 29th annual Bivocational/Small Church Conference, hosted by your Bivocational/Small Church Association at Baptist Temple Church in San Antonio, July 10-11. If you are a pastor, minister or servant leader in a church that averages 100 or less in Sunday school, this conference is for you.

Richard RayThose serving on the small-church mission field are unique in where they serve and in how they serve. This conference has been developed by ministers currently serving on the small-church mission field to bring encouragement, education and edification, along with fellowship and worship. 

This conference has been designed with the whole family in mind by providing free childcare and activities for teenagers. Ministers’ wives will enjoy a special time of reflection and relaxation. 

Participants will hear how the Bivocational/Small Church Association is working to meet the needs of the church. The conference will feature interactive exhibits, where participants will learn how social media can enrich their churches. Another interactive exhibit will feature a church financial assistance program. It will demonstrate how the Bivocational/Small Church Association can assist churches in keeping records on giving and membership. Participants also will learn how the association is partnering with Christian health care ministries to meet their needs.  

I will share reports of how your Bivocational/Small Church Associational missions dollars are being used in support of our refugee ministry programs for children on the Mexico-Texas border.

I encourage you to review the schedule to see the many breakout sessions, exhibitors and activities planned for this year’s conference. Visit the website, (www.bivocational.com)where you can preregister for the conference.If you have any questions, please contact me at brother_ray@juno.com.  

I look forward to seeing you at this year’s Bivocational/Small Church Conference.

Richard Ray is executive director of the Bivocational/Small Church Association and director of missions for the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area. You can reach him at brother_ray@juno.com.

Jesus called his disciples “friends,” a term we have cheapened, I think. How can we revitalize this multi-layered concept, especially among Christians?

Social media certainly has created a new frame of reference for the word “friends.” A friend is no longer a person with whom one necessarily shares a special bond. A friend simply may be someone who has a common interest. In the world of social media, people can be friends who do not even know each other. Basically, a friend is anyone who accepts a request to be a friend. Of course, some friendships still exist on the level of fond affection to which many are accustomed. Yet the broad contemporary applications of the word have indeed cheapened it on all levels.

Costly friendship

Jesus explained his idea of a friend on the evening when he bid farewell to his own friends. He defined his friends as those who followed his commands (John 15:14), and the command he taught was to love each other (John 15:17). He had entrusted his friends with the truth of this love (John 15:15). Jesus’s notion of friendship is quite different from the less-costly form of friendship achieved by accepting a request via computer.

How can Christians move toward a more Christ-like concept of friend? Hear what Jesus rules out as bases for friendship. Jesus eliminates casual acquaintance, or none at all, as a valid form of friendship. Jesus proposes a kind of friendship that involves a selfless love, the degree of love that brought him to this world for our salvation.

Jesus also strikes out the idea friends are measured by what they can do for us. Haven’t we all had “friends” whom we sensed were more about what they could get from the relationship rather than what they could give? Christ-like friendships always are about giving.

Jesus further defeats the notion friends are to be counted and valued by how many there are. Given the strictness with which Jesus describes friends, he is much more concerned about depth than quantity.

So how do we understand the word “friend”? A discussion of definitions may help distinguish the contemporary use of the word and Jesus’s use of the word. However, such conversation would not breathe new life into this timeworn word.

People will detect a change

Ultimately, what will revitalize this word is when Christians commit to live as friends of Jesus and friends of others. People will notice when we honor Jesus by treating each other as more than acquaintances. People will detect a change when we seek what we can do for Jesus and for others, instead of what they can do for us. People will sense a renewed value on friendships when the focus is on the relational depth, not the number, of friends.

Perhaps we could demonstrate friendship so others would want to “friend” us, not for social media purposes, but rather because they are attracted to the significance of our relationship with Christ Jesus.

Allen Reasons, senior minister

Fifth Avenue Baptist Church

Huntington, W.Va.

If you have a comment about this column or wish to ask a question for a future column, contact Bill Tillman, consulting ethicist for “Right or Wrong?” at btillman150@gmail.com.

On Independence Day, we celebrate our democracy while at the same time continuing to grieve over the shootings in Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. I believe we need to keep the two together. To have a healthy democracy depends on us coming to terms with racism and violence in this country.

Kyle ChildressVery few doubt something is terribly wrong with the white young man Dylann Roof, who allegedly shot and killed nine black people after sitting with them for an hour during their Wednesday-night Bible study in the church.

The challenge for our society, especially for those of us who are white, is not to dismiss this murder in church as simply the act of a single, deranged individual. Instead, the calling—and I believe it is a divine call—is to examine ourselves and ask how we contribute to such acts of racial violence.

Rabbi Abraham Heschel, a great spiritual leader of a generation ago, said: “We must continue to remind ourselves that in a free society, all are involved in what some are doing. … Not all are guilty, but all are responsible.” 

We live in a world of hyper-individualism, where we increasingly are isolated from each other and especially from others who think, look, act and believe differently than we do. After working a long day, a double-shift or overtime, we go home exhausted, plop ourselves down in front of the television and computer until bed and then do it again the next day. Rather than getting to know and listening to our neighbors, volunteering in our community alongside others and participating in the common life of democracy in our town, we live isolated virtual lives through social media.

Reinforcing our own prejudices

We read postings or news or blogs that reinforce what we already believe, only talk with those who agree with us and watch TV news with more opinion and commentary than news, all of which is marketed in a way that also reinforces our own prejudices and blindness. This keeps us from developing relationships across racial lines, which help us learn to think and act differently.

It’s not simply that white folks need to listen to the perspectives of black folks, which we do, but we whites need to do the hard work of building trust. Trust comes from showing up, being counted on and being willing to listen not just once, but time and time again. It comes from taking time with each other, and most of us don’t take the time, or we convince ourselves that we don’t have time. Given the racist shootings in Charleston and the police beatings and shootings of unarmed black young men around the country, we need to make the time.

The risk of change

In John 5, Jesus encounters a paralyzed man on a mat and asks him, “Do you want to be made well?” After 38 years of lying on that mat, the man might have hesitated before answering “yes” to Jesus. Sometimes, we prefer the comfort of what we know to the responsibility that comes with getting up off the mat and changing. 

Racism doesn’t really exist, we say, but we go along and laugh at the racist jokes, and we refuse to acknowledge politicians using racist code-language when they speak of “inner cities” and “states’ rights” and use welfare and food stamps stereotypes. Or we don’t want our white kids in “underperforming” schools, which happen to be predominantly black or Hispanic. We think of  “those people” or “them” instead of “our.”

We don’t acknowledge our privilege as white people who don’t have to explain why we got a certain job and don’t have to worry about clerks keeping an eye on us when we’re shopping in a store. We’ve not been pulled over by the police time and time again when we’ve done nothing wrong. And we do not have to be concerned about our kids being harassed or arrested at a pool party because their skin is the wrong color.

It is time for white people to take responsibility—to step up and be able to respond to God’s love and forgiveness with a humility that is willing to listen to unpleasant truths about racism in this country. To be responsible means to no longer be silent but to speak up and say we’re not putting up anymore with the jokes and the stereotypes, the code language and the white privilege, and we’re going to teach our children to stand against racism, too. 

Where to start

It means making the time to volunteer in our community alongside people of different colors and backgrounds. Volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity house, show up for the Martin Luther King worship service and march, get involved in ministries and service projects sponsored by African-American churches and community organizations. These are just some ideas of how to get started. It means making the time to show up at meetings and events where we white people are in the minority and where we learn to sit patiently and work humbly. 

When nine black church members are shot dead in church simply because of their skin color, the time for excuses is past. May God have mercy on us and give us the grace and courage to stand up and change.

Kyle Childress is pastor of Austin Heights Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. This column is reprinted with permission from the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel.