The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-10/17/2012 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- LifeWay decides against Glorieta sale to Olivet by Art Toalston Date: October 17, 2012 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- LifeWay Christian Resources has "decided not to go forward" with the sale of its Glorieta, N.M., conference center to Olivet University, a San Francisco-based school which found itself in media crosshairs after the possible sale became public in July. LifeWay, in announcing its decision Oct. 17, cited a study by National Association of Evangelicals representatives that LifeWay had initiated. Olivet had agreed to the inquiry, which focused on the theological compatibility between LifeWay, a Southern Baptist entity, and Olivet, a school with ties to Korean Christian leader David Jang who has weathered heresy accusations in Asia. Olivet, however, in a subsequent statement to the media, stated it plans to engage in "continuing negotiations" with LifeWay to purchase the 2,100-acre property near Santa Fe which, according to LifeWay, has operated at a loss for 24 of the past 25 years. Neither LifeWay nor Olivet released the NAE report to Baptist Press. The full text of LifeWay's announcement follows: "LifeWay Christian Resources has reviewed the report from the National Association of Evangelicals, and decided not to go forward with the sale of Glorieta Conference Center to Olivet University. We are appreciative of our relationship with Olivet's leadership, and indebted to NAE for their thorough work. We will now renew our pursuit of viable options for the sale of the property." The full text of Olivet's response follows: "Olivet University leadership has been made aware that Lifeway Christian Resources plans not to proceed with the transfer of the Glorieta Conference Center. Olivet intends to further discuss the decision of LifeWay Christian Resources' leadership in moving forward and continuing negotiations in hopes an agreement can be reached regarding the purchase of the Glorieta Conference Center in Glorieta, N.M." Earlier this year, LifeWay offered to sell the conference center to the Baptist Convention of New Mexico for $1. Following a feasibility study, however, the state convention determined it would be too costly to renovate and maintain the property. The executive director of the New Mexico convention, Joseph Bunce, declined comment on this latest development in LifeWay's effort to sell Glorieta, according to a BCNM spokesman. The study of theological compatibility between LifeWay and Olivet primarily focused on accusations that Jang and/or his followers have promoted a heresy that he is the "second coming Christ." Jang has both defenders and critics regarding his Christian orthodoxy. According to a LifeWay statement in July, any potential sale of Glorieta to Olivet, in addition to a "comprehensive review of the theological compatibility" between LifeWay and Olivet, would have included: -- "Significant protections for individuals and churches that lease land from Glorieta for houses and conference facilities -- "Permission for LifeWay to continue using Glorieta for summer camps -- "Accommodation of use by New Mexico Baptists -- "Preservation of memorials associated with rooms and structures, and, -- "Prohibition of re-selling the facilities in the future without LifeWay's permission." Any sale also would require approval of LifeWay's board of trustees. --30-- Art Toalston is editor of Baptist Press. For earlier Baptist Press reports on the LifeWay's deliberations with Olivet, go to http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38524 and http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38272. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- In debate, Obama promotes Planned Parenthood funding by Erin Roach Date: October 17, 2012 - Wednesday To access Baptist Press' story on the first presidential debate, go to bpnews.asp?id=38852; for the BP story on the vice presidential debate, go to BPnews.asp?ID=38908 HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (BP) -- Planned Parenthood was among President Obama's buzzwords during the second presidential debate Oct. 16 as the incumbent mentioned the nation's largest abortion provider five times, using it to distinguish himself from Republican candidate Mitt Romney. In discussions about tax cuts, workplace inequalities, differences between Romney and George W. Bush and earning votes for re-election, Obama found ways to underscore Romney's pledge to cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood. "We haven't heard from the governor any specifics, beyond Big Bird and eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood, in terms of how he pays for that," Obama said at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., regarding Romney's plan for reducing the nation's $16 trillion debt while lowering tax rates. Planned Parenthood, in the latest statistics available, reported performing 329,445 abortions in 2010 and received $487.4 million in government funds in 2009-10. In this election season, Obama launched a television ad campaign that made his pro-choice views a major theme. No previous Democratic nominee had ever made abortion a major general election theme in TV ads. The debate, with a town hall format and CNN's Candy Crowley as moderator, included a question about workplace inequalities, specifically regarding women. In his response, Obama said women increasingly are the breadwinners in the family and therefore need advocacy such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which was the first bill he signed into law. "This is not just a women's issue. This is a family issue," Obama said. "This is a middle class issue, and that's why we've got to fight for it." The president noted "there are some other issues that have a bearing on how women succeed in the workplace: for example, their health care." "A major difference in this campaign is that Gov. Romney feels comfortable having politicians in Washington decide the health care choices that women are making," Obama said. "I think that's a mistake. In my health care bill, I said insurance companies need to provide contraceptive coverage to everybody who is insured, because this is not just a health issue; it's an economic issue for women. It makes a difference. This is money out of that family's pocket." Romney, Obama said, believes employers should decide whether a woman receives contraception through her insurance coverage. "That's not the kind of advocacy that women need. When Gov. Romney says that we should eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood, there are millions of women all across the country who rely on Planned Parenthood for not just contraceptive care," Obama said. "They rely on it for mammograms, for cervical cancer screenings. That's a pocketbook issue for women and families all across the country. Romney, in his answer regarding workplace inequality, said Massachusetts when he was governor had more women in senior leadership positions than any other state because of special efforts he made to employ qualified women. "I recognized that if you're going to have women in the workforce, that sometimes they need to be more flexible. My chief of staff, for instance, had two kids that were still in school," Romney said. "She said, 'I can't be here until 7 or 8 at night. I need to be able to get home at 5 so I can be there for making dinner for my kids and being with them when they get home from school.' So we said, 'Fine, let's have a flexible schedule so you can have hours that work for you.'" Romney noted that 3.5 million more women live in poverty in the United States now than when Obama became president, and he said a strong economy will help women of all ages. The president worked in another mention of Planned Parenthood when he was asked what he had done to earn re-election in 2012. "Gov. Romney has made some commitments as well, and I suspect he'll keep those, too. You know, when members of the Republican Congress say, 'We're going to sign a no tax pledge so that we don't ask a dime from millionaires and billionaires to reduce our deficit so we can still invest in education and helping kids go to college,' he said, 'Me too,'" Obama said. "When they said, 'We're going to cut Planned Parenthood funding,' he said, 'Me too.' ... That is not the kind of leadership that you need, but you should expect that those are promises he's going to keep," Obama said of Romney. Another discussion of family arose from a question on gun control. When asked what his administration has done to limit the availability of assault weapons, Obama said more enforcement is needed but also that law enforcement and faith groups should work to "catch violent impulses before they occur." Romney agreed, saying America needs to change its culture of violence through better schools and through parents. "We need moms and dads helping raise kids. Wherever possible, the benefit of having two parents in the home -- and that's not always possible; a lot of great single moms, single dads," Romney said. "But ... to tell our kids that before they have babies, they ought to think about getting married to someone -- that's a great idea because if there's a two-parent family, the prospect of living in poverty goes down dramatically. The opportunities that the child will be able to achieve increase dramatically. "So we can make changes in the way our culture works to help bring people away from violence and give them opportunity and bring them in the American system," Romney said. In the closing question, the candidates were given an opportunity to clear up misconceptions the American public may have about them based on their opponents' campaigns. Romney said he cares about 100 percent of the American people and wants everyone to have a bright and prosperous future. "My passion probably flows from the fact that I believe in God, and I believe we're all children of the same God. I believe we have a responsibility to care for one another," Romney said. "I served as a missionary for my church. I served as a pastor in my congregation for about 10 years. I've sat across the table from people who were out of work and worked with them to try and find new work or to help them through tough times." Obama's only mention of faith in his answer was about Romney. "I believe Gov. Romney is a good man. He loves his family, cares about his faith," Obama said. --30-- Erin Roach is assistant editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nigerian stays vigilant for troubled homeland by Diana Chandler Date: October 17, 2012 - Wednesday RALEIGH, N.C. (BP) -- Dreams have played prominently in Adeniya Ojutiku's life. Before coming to the United States, he had a dream that would dictate a vision for salvation and discipleship of the lost in his Nigerian homeland riddled with religious strife. The year was 1986. Ojutiku clearly remembers the early hours of Feb. 18 in Lagos when he was confronted with his sins and the question of eternal destiny. "In the dream, I was reminded of the passage of Scripture in which Christ emphatically stated, 'I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh to the Father, except by me,'" Ojutiku said. "The dream led me to seek to know more about Christ's salvation. I was later united with a local church in Badagry, Nigeria, and baptized by immersion upon my profession of faith in Jesus Christ." Living for Christ became challenging for the husband, father of three and senior veterinary officer for the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Lagos, where he was in charge of planning policy for Nigeria's livestock industry. "I was getting a lot of pressure from my boss to be fraudulent with ... some of the data. And I saw how they were spending the money; it was really not spent correctly," Ojutiku recounted. "We were made to report something else. So I just did not want to be ... under that pressure of having to be corrupt." Ojutiku's newfound dream of living for the Lord led him in 1987 to the U.S. in search of "the American dream," first as a student at Tuskegee University in Alabama and later at North Carolina State University where he earned an M.S. degree in life sciences, accompanying the doctor of veterinary medicine and master's in agricultural economics he already held from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. Ojutiku describes America as "the freest nation on earth and a land of opportunity for those who are willing to work hard and play by the rule." "I came here and I knew that I could not go back right away to Nigeria because I just did not want to defraud my faith," Ojutiku said. "Most of my colleagues who stayed behind, they became multi-millionaires. They have a lot of money and houses, but I'm satisfied with where I am today, even without all that." With his wife Elizabeth, Ojutiku has co-founded Lift up Now, a nonprofit, grassroots-style foundation in Nigeria to solve political, economic and social challenges such as poverty, hunger, disease, war, religious extremism and terrorism. He works with a small core group in the U.S., managing a team of what he estimated as 2,500 volunteers in Nigeria, Africa's most populous and oil-rich nation. The workers are mainly Christian youth leaders available for mobilization as needed. Ojutiku described Lift Up Now as "an organization to refocus the people to their original purpose of creation and encourage them to aspire to that purpose." "Our goal is to work with the people in restoring their individual self-dignity and worth through improved work ethics as well as personal efforts at sustainable wealth creation," Ojutiku said, "rather than continued reliance on dehumanizing welfare and 'hand-outs.'" Acknowledging that Sub-Saharan Africa continues to benefit from many years of global Christian outreach, Ojutiku said "the fundamental cause of the people's sufferings stems from the malevolent political structures inadvertently bequeathed to the nations by the colonial masters (post-independence), as well as the extremely corrupt and inept leadership who stepped into the colonial masters' shoes and maintained these structures." Lift Up Now maintains an extensive catalogue of Islamist jihadist attacks on Nigerian Christians by a group called Boko Haram and has encouraged Congress to classify it as a "foreign" terrorist organization. Ojutiku also serves as an itinerant preacher to the Nigerian diaspora in the U.S., preaching in guest pulpits in North Carolina and New Jersey, mobilizing pastors in the U.S. and mentoring Nigerian youth during visits to Nigeria. "I have opportunity when I go to Nigeria [at] different churches in Nigeria and just share with them the Word of God," he said, "encourage them, exhort them." He speaks English, the African dialects of Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa, and limited French. "Despite years of living in the USA, I still make some efforts at maintaining my language ability in Hausa," Ojutiku said. "This language skill helps to facilitate my communication with the victims of Boko Haram, Islamist jihadists." Ojutiku has been a member of Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., for 20 years, where he and his wife Elizabeth have led Sunday School classes for international members. He initially was referred to the church by a professor while he was studying at Auburn University. He works full-time as a chemistry and forensic science teacher with the Durham Public School System and part-time as an associate professor of health education with the University of Phoenix. He also is chief executive officer of Agriboard Industries Limited, Nigeria, seeking sustainable solutions to the country's agriculture, housing and renewable energy sectors. Ojutiku grew up in the Anglican and Methodists faiths. His grandfather was an ordained pastor and his father a lay reader in the Church of England, but Ojutiku said he personally was a "nominal" Christian in his youth. He was baptized by sprinkling at age 6 and experienced the Anglican rites of passage as a student at a parochial school, he said, but laments that he did not have a transformed heart. His 94-year-old father, Vincent Adenreti Oludayo Ojutiku, still lives in Lagos and has retired as a state government accountant. "The actual living for Christ ... and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and all that, was not [a personal reality]," Ojutiku recounted. "We were just trying to be good. We did not have a firm foundation in the teaching, in the Word of God, that makes us know ... that salvation is by grace and that we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian faith.... That was not something that was well articulated." It was not until he had a personal encounter with God in his 1986 dream that Ojutiku began to live for the Lord. "I will consider my greatest achievement to be the protection of my Christian testimony," he said, "through a life evidenced by the continuing work of God's grace in the area of personal integrity, humility, growing faith, raising a Godly family and an endless desire to see God glorified." --30-- Diana Chandler is Baptist Press' staff writer. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nigerian massacre targeted Christian students by Staff/Open Doors News Date: October 17, 2012 - Wednesday SANTA ANA, Calif. (BP) -- New details from Open Doors News reconfirm earlier reports that Christians were the focus of an Oct. 1 massacre of 29 students in Mubi, Nigeria. Jerry Dykstra, media relations director for Open Doors, said post-massacre follow-up by Open Doors workers at the site reconfirms an Oct. 3 report that Christians were the focus of the attack. -- Elkanah Sardauna, persecuted student"Many mainstream media have reported the massacre was likely the result of a political/election issue among students at Federal Polytechnic State University," Dykstra said. "But Open Doors coworkers have reconfirmed that those targeted were mostly Christians. The coworkers have talked directly to Christian leaders in Mubi and to several survivors. Christians around the area of Mubi have been targeted by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram for a long time." Open Doors reported that just before midnight, the attackers called students out of their rooms and asked them for their names. Those with Christian names were shot dead or killed with knives. The bodies were left in lines outside the buildings. Students with traditionally Muslim names were told to quote Islamic scripture. "If you succeeded, you were let go," a survivor told an Open Doors worker who traveled to Mubi, located in northern Nigeria, after the attack. "I was asked to say my name, to which I replied that I am a Christian and that my name is Elkanah," student Elkanah Sardauna said. "They threw me to the ground and shouted 'Allahu Akbar' [Allah is greater]. I cried out to Jesus, face to the ground. They demanded that I stop calling on Jesus but I persisted. The next moment I was shot in the hand and then slashed with a knife at the back of my neck. They must have thought I was dead because they left." When the church in Mubi celebrated its 52nd anniversary on Oct. 1, little did the church know that the day would end in a bloodbath. According to Mubi church leaders, a total of 29 people, mostly students, were killed and at least five injured in the attack. Fully armed attackers suspected to be members of Boko Haram invaded the area, firing several shots into the air. They made their way to the off-campus hostels of the Federal Polytechnic State University, College of Health Technology and several private residencies of Christians. Manasseh, a student who survived a gunshot and severe knife injuries, shared his ordeal. "They asked me to recant my Christian faith to spare my life. I refused. After my Muslim roommate quoted some Islamic scripture, he was told to leave the room. They said they were only after these 'infidels' who would all die that day. Then they shot me and slashed my back. This is really a picture of the great hatred for us Christians in the region." The Associated Press has reported that approximately 800 Nigerians have died from Boko Haram violence this year. Many on that list are Christians but it also includes moderate Muslims, government military troops and police. Nigeria is ranked No. 13 on the Open Doors 2012 World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians. For the past three months the Mubi church has been seeking God's face through praying and fasting, as Christians in Mubi have been under siege for a long time. Prior to the Oct. 1 attack, Muslim extremists circulated letters to some Christians in the area, giving believers an ultimatum to either recant their faith within two weeks or suffer fatal consequences. According to one believer, who showed Open Doors workers a letter, they were warned not to disclose the threat to anyone as any leakage of the information will result in death. The Christian Association of Nigeria in Mubi gave the letters to security operatives in Yola. A search team was deployed to conduct house to house searches in Mubi. Many sophisticated weapons were seized from Muslim extremists, Open Doors reported. Police also discovered water tanks stacked with ammunition and several dry wells that were turned into storerooms for weapons. However, these actions did not prevent the attack on the Christians in Mubi. Maxwell Iliya, a minister representing CAN in Mubi, said, "We are only living by the grace of God. The weapons recovered by the search team in Mubi are enough to eliminate every single Christian in Mubi and the entire Adamawa state. Boko Haram is out to eliminate us. The city has become very dangerous. The government is no longer interested in protecting us. The attackers spent two hours killing and destroying, and to date not a single government official has come to sympathize with us." Just days before the massacre in Nigeria, extremists hurled grenades into a church in Nairobi, Kenya, during Sunday School, killing one boy and injuring eight other children, according to Open Doors. Six boys and one girl between the ages of 6 and 10 were rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital, where two of them were taken in for immediate surgery, while one was admitted to the intensive-care unit, Open Doors reported. Police believe that al Shabaab, an Islamist militant group based in Somalia, was likely responsible for the attack in Kenya, according to news reports. --30-- Adapted from reports by Open Doors News, (www.compassdirect.org), a news service based in Santa Ana, Calif., focusing on persecuted Christians worldwide. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Poll: Nearly 50% affirm creationism by Staff Date: October 17, 2012 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- Proving once again that Americans aren't buying pro-evolution scientists' dogma, 46 percent of adults in Gallup's latest survey say they believe God created human beings within the past 10,000 years -- the highest percentage for that answer since 2006 and the second highest since the question was first asked in 1982. Gallup asks Americans their thoughts on evolution every year. This year 46 percent agree that "God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so" -- the same percentage as 2006. In 1993 and 1999 it was 47 percent. When it was first asked in 1982, it was 44 percent. Another 32 percent of Americans in this year's survey believe in theistic evolution, agreeing that "human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided the process." Another 15 percent believe in evolution and say God played no role. "Despite the many changes that have taken place in American society and culture over the past 30 years, including new discoveries in biological and social science, there has been virtually no sustained change in Americans' views of the origin of the human species since 1982," Gallup's Frank Newport wrote in an analysis. "The 46 percent of Americans who today believe that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years is little changed from the 44 percent who believed this 30 years ago, when Gallup first asked the question. "More broadly," Newport added, "some 78 percent of Americans today believe that God had a hand in the development of humans in some way, just slightly less than the percentage who felt this way 30 years ago. All in all, there is no evidence in this trend of a substantial movement toward a secular viewpoint on human origins." The 2012 Gallup survey on human origins was conducted May 10-13 among 1,012 adults. --30-- Compiled by Michael Foust, associate editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- TRUSTEES: GGBTS seeing 'God's blessing' by Phyllis Evans Date: October 17, 2012 - Wednesday BREA, Calif. (BP) -- Trustees of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary received reports about seminary operations and toured the Southern California campus during their Oct. 8-9 meeting in Brea. Trustees also approved the general concept for a master's degree in Christian counseling and elected Don Dent as director of GGBTS' David and Faith Kim School of Global Missions. "While daily challenges of seminary operations are sometimes daunting, the trajectory of our school is healthy -- with much evidence of God's blessing on our work," President Jeff Iorg said in his opening remarks to the trustees. "Golden Gate Seminary continues to fulfill its mission of shaping leaders who expand God's Kingdom around the world," Iorg said. During the meeting, trustees heard reports on such matters as fundraising, the search for a new vice president for institutional advancement, recruitment strategies and implementation of new academic programs. Iorg reviewed accomplishments of the past two years in creating and accommodating growth in the academic program and emphasized that this year is a time to stabilize and strengthen these changes. "While we are working on some new items, like the fully online master of divinity degree, most of our focus this year is on getting our new faculty integrated into our system and building enrollment in our new programs." Among the new initiatives at the seminary: -- Ph.D. program expanded to include theology as a major field. -- Korean-English bilingual program launched this year. -- Online master of theological studies launched this year. -- Master of arts in intercultural ministry launched in 2010. -- Master of missiology launched in 2010. -- Master of arts in Christian counseling to be launched next year. Dent comes to Golden Gate at the 30-year point in his career to lead The Kim School's programs in intercultural studies and mission preparation. He has worked in large Asian cities, leading a training team for an international corporation and, earlier, working for the International Mission Board. He has developed communities in urban high-rises, created strategies for penetrating new markets and provided leadership for numerous expatriate teams. His cross-cultural experience includes time in a variety of cultural environments, including Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu. A native of Mississippi, Dent and his wife Anne have two children, Chesed and Rob, who grew up in Asia and have worked for several years overseas as adults. Iorg, in his comments to trustees, highlighted the seminary's financial health, noting, "I believe God is blessing us, in part, because of our decision to give ourselves away to help other seminaries strengthen their work," referring to Golden Gate's new partnerships with the Mexican Theological Seminary and Korean Baptist Theological Seminary and exploring associations with other likeminded institutions around the world. Trustees heard presentations by two professors from the Southern California campus, Paul Kelly, associate professor of educational leadership, and David Gill, director of the Korean-English bilingual program, along with reports from the seminary's four other regional campuses in Northern California, Pacific Northwest, Arizona and Colorado. --30-- Phyllis Evans is director of communications for Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Why your view of politics may be wrong by James A. Smith Sr. Date: October 17, 2012 - Wednesday JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) -- Your view of politics -- or, more specifically, the role of Christians and Christianity in politics -- is probably wrong (at least at times). Don't be offended; my views over the years also have been wrong -- and I must continually resist being seduced by some wrong thinking about this matter. Some readers got no further than the headline of this editorial, deciding the subject matter is of little to no interest, illustrating at least one wrong view of politics. Others aren't reading these words because they firmly believe Christians' involvement in politics is not only unnecessary, but also actually harmful to a godly life -- yet another incorrect way for Christians to assess politics. Those faulty views and others could play a significant role this election year. With the general election just under three weeks away, this is no time for Christians to hold and propagate misunderstandings about politics and government. A sure guide to understanding this matter is theologian Wayne Grudem and his book, "Politics According to the Bible" (Zondervan, 2010). Before explaining the biblical demands of Christian citizenship, Grudem outlines "Five Wrong Views About Christians and Government." They are: -- Government should compel religion. This view is easy to set aside in modern-day America, since, as Grudem notes, there are no responsible Christian voices today arguing for this perspective. Still, it's a position with which Christians should be familiar since it is the predominate view among some in the world, especially in Islamic nations. Grudem notes several biblical teachings that demonstrate this view is incorrect. In Matthew 22:20-21, Jesus answers the Pharisees who attempted to entrap Him concerning the matter of taxes. "In Jesus' statement about God and Caesar, He established the broad outlines of a new order in which 'things that are God's' are not to be under the control of civil government (or 'Caesar')," Grudem argues. -- Government should exclude religion. This is the view promoted by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, among others. Grudem notes many public policy consequences of this view, including attempts to remove the Ten Commandments from public places, banning prayers at public events, and prohibiting students from religious activity in schools. Additionally, these advocates argue laws against abortion, for example, are unconstitutional because they would codify religious dogma in violation of the First Amendment's establishment clause. "These arguments ... make the logical mistake of failing to distinguish the reasons for a law from the content of the law," Grudem writes. That Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s campaign against racial discrimination was based on his biblical views did not make the laws that resulted from his campaign constitutionally suspect, Grudem cites as one example. Grudem also notes this false view would invalidate the religious reasoning that is evident in America's founding document, the Declaration of Independence, which cites God twice in its first two sentences, and it would remove religious influence from public life. "Therefore, the ultimate goal of this viewpoint is not only the destruction of all belief in God, but also the complete moral disintegration of a society," Grudem writes. -- All government is evil and demonic. This view, along with the next one, seems to be growing. Grudem reviews and critiques the arguments of Minnesota pastor Greg Boyd in Boyd's book, "The Myth of a Christian Nation," which has been influential among some younger pastors. Grudem summarizes Boyd's argument that the realm of government is Satan's and the use of governmental power is worldly, contrary to the way of life taught by Jesus. Boyd primarily relies upon Satan's claim during his temptation of Jesus that all authority "has been delivered to me" (Luke 4:6). Grudem answers, "Do we believe Satan's words that he has the authority of all earthly kingdoms, or do we believe Jesus' words that Satan is a liar and the father of lies?" He goes on to cite a number of passages (Daniel 4:17; Romans 13:1-6; 1 Peter 2:13-14) that teach government is part of God's design. Boyd's "government is evil" perspective causes him to embrace absolute pacifism. "Boyd has wrongly taken one of the ways that God restrains evil in this world (changing hearts through the Gospel of Christ) and decided that it is the only way that God restrains evil (thus neglecting the valuable role of civil government). Both means are from God, both are good, and both should be used by Christians," Grudem writes. -- Do evangelism, not politics. I believe this is the most widely held incorrect view of Christianity and politics, and it can be related to the previous view. Since there is little to no redeeming value of Christian involvement in government, Christians should only invest efforts in evangelism as the surest means of changing society. At first, this view may seem correct -- even spiritually superior. It's not. Grudem argues that this perspective comes from "too narrow an understanding of 'the Gospel' and the kingdom of God.... 'The Gospel' in the New Testament is not just 'trust Jesus and be forgiven of your sins and grow in holiness and go to heaven' (though that is certainly true, and that is the heart of the Gospel and its foundational message.) No, the Gospel is God's good news about all of life!" citing Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Just as no one would question that churches have a duty to teach their people about God's will for their families, businesses and educating their children, Grudem says it is also the responsibility of pastors to teach about God's expectations for government, noting that some Christians are even called by God to influence government. "When did people in the United States stop owning slaves? It was not when the Gospel had been preached throughout the South, but after the U.S. government made it illegal through the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. That happened when many Christian abolitionists influenced the government of the United States to change its laws," Grudem writes. Grudem cites a lengthy list of historical examples of Christian influence on government resulting in the protection of human life and improved human conditions. "If the Christian church had adopted the 'do evangelism, not politics' view throughout its history, it would never have brought about these immeasurably valuable changes among the nations of the world," Grudem writes. -- Do politics, not evangelism. Although some critics of the Religious Right insist that this is its implicit agenda, virtually no responsible evangelical leader believes that politics is the ultimate answer to the problem of humanity. The incorrect view that Christians should concentrate on politics to the exclusion of evangelism is actually the perspective of the liberal "Social Gospel" movement, Grudem notes. Grudem rightly cautions that those who argue for greater Christian involvement in politics and government: "If we (and I include myself here) ever begin to think that good laws alone will solve a nation's problems or bring about a righteous and just society, we will have made a huge mistake." Amen! If the five incorrect views are to be rejected, what is the proper understanding of Christian involvement in politics and government? In answer, Grudem offers the "significant Christian influence on government" viewpoint. Grudem says his alternative "is not compulsion (view 1), it is not silence (view 2), and it is not dropping out of the process (views 3 and 4), nor is it thinking the government can save people (view 5)." Instead, "The 'significant influence' view says that Christians should seek to influence civil government according to God's moral standards and God's purposes for government as revealed in the Bible (when rightly understood). But while Christians exercise this influence, they must simultaneously insist on protecting freedom of religion for all citizens." He also contends Christians engaging government should do so in a "winsome, kind, thoughtful, loving, [and] persuasive" manner while not compromising the "truthfulness and moral goodness of the teachings of God's Word." It seems every four years it's said the presidential election is the most important in our lifetime (or similar hyperbole). Although the 2012 election does seem to be very pivotal, I'll leave it to others to evaluate such claims -- with the knowledge that God is sovereign whatever the result. Still, Christians have a biblical duty to be properly informed about and engaged in our government, including the means by which we choose those who will lead us. Especially during an election year, pastors have an opportunity to help their members understand this duty and not be misled by wrong thinking on this vital matter. --30-- James A. Smith Sr. is executive editor of the Florida Baptist Witness, online at gofbw.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: 6 keys to overcoming financial bondage by Chuck Bentley Date: October 17, 2012 - Wednesday GAINESVILLE, Ga. (BP) -- You know you're in financial bondage if ... a. You argue with other family members about money. b. You don't pay off your credit card each month. c. You get past due notices. d. You spend money as emotional therapy. Or ... e. All of the above. The correct answer is any or all of the above. If one or more of these apply to you, you need to bring your finances in line with biblical principles. Maybe you think financial bondage is everywhere, but I have the privilege of meeting thousands of people following God's principles who are living a joyous, victorious life of financial freedom. You can, too. Financial bondage is usually the result of incorrect beliefs about money. Romans 12:2 offers the solution: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." You may profess to be a follower of Christ, and yet your financial habits have been subtly conformed to what everybody else is doing. This issue is commonly known as the "keeping up with the Joneses" syndrome. That's why it's important to be transformed by the renewing of your mind -- as Scripture says -- because what you believe changes how you behave. Applying spiritual truth leads to very practical results. I know, because it happened to me. If you change what you believe about money -- turning away from what the culture wants you to believe and toward what God wants to teach you -- you'll be transformed, radically changed from the inside out. Then, when you apply that truth to your financial decisions, your behavior will change. Even better, it will stay changed as you stay in God's Word and are fed by it. Anything else is just a fad diet that won't protect you from slipping back into financial bondage. As you commit to following God's way out of financial bondage, here are some practical steps that you can begin implementing right away: 1. Stop any form of borrowing. This includes credit cards and loans from family and friends. Consumer credit is our most common source of indebtedness, and the sooner you stop borrowing, the sooner you will get out of debt. 2. Develop a spending plan. A spending plan gives you the freedom to spend money with a purpose or strategy. It simplifies daily decisions and ensures that your priorities will be met. The deeper in debt you are, the more restrictive your spending plan will need to be while you pay down debt. 3. Work out a payback plan with your creditors. Most creditors are willing to work with people who honestly want to repay them. 4. Learn to trust God and you will experience self-control. That sounds like a paradox, but it's the key to getting out of debt and staying out of debt. The more you trust God, the less you'll want to borrow. 5. Break the hold materialism has on your heart through giving. The cure for wanting things is generosity. Begin giving 10 percent of your income to support God's work to demonstrate He is the highest priority in your life. 6. Seek counsel and advice. Pray and ask God to place others in your life that will gladly share their wisdom and experience to help you achieve your goals. --30-- Chuck Bentley is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries. His latest book, "The S.A.L.T. Plan, How to Prepare for an Economic Crisis of Biblical Proportions," is available now. To sign up for Chuck's free weekly e-newsletter, "Handwriting on the Wall," visit Crown.org/handwriting or call 1-800-722-1976. God uses Crown's biblically based training to help people discover and faithfully manage their gifts, talents and resources. 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