Solid Biblical Theology Matters

May 22, 2024

Leadership Notes

     It appears that, this past week, an NFL player had a better grasp of Catholic theology than the Pope. I remember the old comeback, “Is the Pope Catholic?” Who knows, based on this guy’s recent comment on 60 Minutes?  For those of you too young to remember, 60 Minutes was once a popular newsmagazine program. Anyway, the Pope said {and this is no joke, to quote our always perceptive President}, “We are all fundamentally good. Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart itself is good.” Yikes. Solid Biblical theology matters.

     Recently, a star receiver in the NFL was charged with several felonies, including hit-and-run, among other violations related to a car accident.

     Another NFL standout was dismissed from his college team for pleading guilty to domestic violence charges. Later, he was investigated on child abuse charges. He seems to have an issue with anger and violence, as other incidents testify to. On top of that, he has at least six children. He hinted that the number is closer to ten.

     A coach’s son {a coaching assistant for his father’s team}, with a history of alcohol abuse, was involved in an alcohol-related accident in which a five-year-old child was left with permanent brain injuries.

     Three years later, a player from the same team addressed college graduates. At one point, he chugged a beer, encouraging the graduates to party and drink. What a hoot.

     If you weren’t in worship Sunday, here’s a major point in our conclusion to 2 Peter:

We know we have been saved. We know our home is in heaven.

We know God has given us this wonderful life. We know that

Jesus calls us to follow in his Way of love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and

self-control. Our job is to stay focused on these things. So let the

heathen rage…Pagans gonna pagan. Wicked people are going to

follow after wicked people, and they’re going to do wicked things.

That has nothing to do with us. So…There is nothing to be feared.

Remember, God has chosen to save us. Because of that, we are

joyously anticipating entering into God’s glorious eternal creation.

So we carry on through hardship. We carry on through loss. We

carry on through difficulty. We ignore false teachers and their

false teachings. We carry on despite our adversaries. We are

moving forward in faith, not fear.

     Meanwhile, as Adrianne Curry succinctly puts it, “Atheists and {others} are still clutching their pearls over a Catholic man talking to Catholic women at a Catholic college about Catholic beliefs.” Stand on what you believe and carry on.

     Noelle Fitchett, Communications director at Mission Bible Church, as well as a graduate of my college alma mater, recently wrote:

Christian Girl,

Your identity is not in:

-Homemaker

-Boss babe

-Your degrees

-Your marital status

-Your children

You identity is in Christ alone. You have worth because of Christ, not anything else.

Stand on what you believe and carry on.

     A player in the NFL extols virtues most of us hold dear, and some lose their minds. Pagans are gonna pagan. As Psychiatrist and Bioethicist Aaron Kheriaty observes, “Most people throughout most of human history most of the time find most of their happiness and fulfillment not in careers or professional achievement but in marriage and family life.” I could not agree more. In fact, it seems like those who blow a gasket when someone points out the benefits of these basic values of life might be, at heart, quite unhappy people.

     Stand on what you believe and carry on.

     And now, your Moment of Spurgeon:

“AS TO MENTAL MALADIES, IS ANY MAN ALTOGETHER SANE? ARE

WE NOT ALL A LITTLE OFF THE BALANCE?”

     With Much Love and Affection,

                     Richard