courage | Heartstone Journey

One Thing Social Media Got Right About The Decision On Gay Marriage, #LoveWins!

On June 26, 2015 a deeply divided Supreme Court of the United States handed down a ruling that redefined marriage on a national level, effecting every state. I will admit that I do not agree with this decision, I question it’s Constitutionality and its a sober moment for me. We can debate this all day long, but I believe that Supreme Court disregarded thousands of years of definition of the most foundational unit of society to answer what many are calling a shift in culture.

Notwithstanding which side of this you land on, the popularity of this event has taken front stage on social media, traditional media and the world stage. The White House and many other building around the world have been lit up in rainbow colors in celebration of this decisions around gay rights.

Making something popular doesn’t make it true!

—Bill Johnson

The reactions I’ve seen on social media ranged from expected, surprising, passionate, energetic, disappointing and just downright nasty. Some are rejoicing, some are confused, some are losing hope and some are lashing out with a narrative of decline and hate. Many who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ feel like they just got punched in the gut and are wondering how they should respond to this decision and how they should engage in the broader conversation.

My intent of writing this article is to think through how to respond as the Church when the law of the land and culture fundamentally changes the perspective of marriage and many other issues. Spending some time listening to conversations, reading headlines, doing some research and some soul searching…I started asking myself some questions that many of us might be asking whether we know it or not. Does this decision mean that the sky is falling? Does this decision mean that God abdicated His throne? Does this decision rewrite the Bible? Does this decision mean that a shift in culture trivializes God’s word? What does this mean for churches? Does this decision mean that we should lose hope?

To begin to answer these, let’s dial things back a bit.

Men, It’s Time To Take A Stand Against Pornography!

I have a question for you. If I told you, as a Christian man, that I had used pornography for its intended purpose, would you be more shocked that I had used it, or that I had admitted to it? I think we all know the answer to that one.

Pornography in America is big business. It’s everywhere. In fact, it’s invading, to the point of actually becoming part of, the very core of American culture, and it’s tearing this country apart. Many have come to think of it as so out of control, it’s beyond the realm of possibility to even think about reining it in. I disagree.

For years the teachings we’ve heard on pornography, what few sermons we’ve heard, and scientific studies that have come out on the subject, have focused on the harmful effect of it on the body, the marriage, the family, and the general degradation of morality in our society. While all these things may be true, the best efforts of the most well-meaning people out there have had very little, if no effect at all on the spread of it. The reason for this, in my humble opinion is two-fold.

First, it hasn’t been seen for what it truly is, and therefore, hasn’t been taken as seriously as it should have been. Secondly, good people have very simply remained silent; A lot of this having to do with our own shame in using it ourselves.

Answering The Question, “Where Have All The Men Gone?” [Series]

“Man up!”, “Be a man!”, “Grow some balls!”, “He’s a real man.”, “Authentic manhood.”

These phrases (and more like them) echo in today’s culture and hidden behind those phrases is a question seems to haunt men in society today — “What does it mean to be a man? An authentic man?”

In today’s post modern culture the meaning and image of true masculinity is seriously getting diluted, tainted, watered-down and completely lost. Unfortunately the narrative that’s being played out today is ‘boys in men’s bodies’ with only a few wanting to be men…but not exactly knowing how, while others remain nonchalant.

Houston…we have a deficit of authentic manhood in today’s society! Seriously, where have all the men gone?

Lets answer that question.

Are You A Cultural Christian Or A Biblical Christian?

At our church we are walking through Jesus’s messages to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. Had to hit the pause button on the church of Pergamum — the compromising church.

This message really hit home, because today the church is losing its biblical fidelity. A quick click of the remote or browse of the Internet, the headlines are revealing a disturbing trend of the church bending towards cultural norms rather than standing in the truth of the Word of God. More and more people, who call themselves “Christians”, are compromising core biblical values to avoid being stigmatized or persecuted.

With the attacks on religious liberty increasing we are seeing a large percentage of pastors, churches and “so-called” Christians bowing to pressure and allowing the norms of today’s culture to become the new “truth” for Christianity.

Ok, so whats the big deal?

How To Hit The Target — All The Time!

As our church men’s group worked through week nine of our Stepping Up series, we learned the metaphor of the arrow in reference to having a clear vision for our family and specifically our children.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

—Psalm 127:4-5

Have you ever shot an arrow? You take an arrow out of your quiver, you place it into position on the bow, you pull back looking down the length of the arrow…waiting for the target to come into focus before you launch it. It’s awesome! Hitting your target with an arrow requires skill, strength, patience and a calming focus. The destiny of the arrow is completely dependent on many factors.

Ok, so what does this have to do with vision or children for that matter?

One Thing Social Media Got Right About The Decision On Gay Marriage, #LoveWins!

Men, It’s Time To Take A Stand Against Pornography!

Answering The Question, “Where Have All The Men Gone?” [Series]

Are You A Cultural Christian Or A Biblical Christian?

How To Hit The Target — All The Time!

Favorite Quotes

Cool Scripture

Never Out Of The Fight!

Resources