by Brian Hobbs | May 1, 2014
On April 29, convicted murderer Clayton Lockett was executed by lethal injection at an Oklahoma State Penitentiary. The already-controversial execution was made even more so by the fact that the drugs did not work as expected, as “Lockett was given execution drugs and reacted violently, kicking and grimacing while lifting his head off the gurney to which he was strapped.”
The shocking manner of his death then delayed the execution of Charles Warner, who was also to have been executed that same night. All of this has reignited a longstanding debate about what place, if any, does capital punishment have in our society?
Christians today are divided on the issue. The conservative Lutheran Missouri Synod Church asserts that “capital punishment is in accord with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.”
The United Methodist Church and Episcopal Church, on the other hand, each have taken public opposition to the death penalty. Perhaps the most active religious opponent to capital punishment in America has been the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
But what about us? What about Southern Baptists?
As recently as 2000, Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention affirmed the role of capital punishment for those convicted of capital crimes, such as serial murder and treason.
Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), in a recent Questions & Ethics Podcast said, “I do believe that the death penalty is sometimes warranted. I don’t think that capital punishment is something that we ought to be celebrating with bloodlust.”
Moore’s caution against “bloodlust” underscores that many Evangelicals today who would defend the role of capital punishment are more cautious or guarded about the practice, all while acknowledging that God has vested in civil authorities the protecting of the innocent and administering justice, part of which is the use of capital punishment (see Gen. 9, Exo. 19, Rom. 13).
In other words, we believe the practice is just, if fairly administered, but we are not necessarily enthusiastic or celebratory about it. In fact, Southern Baptists have made it clear that civil magistrates should “use humane means in administering capital punishment” and have committed to pray for both the victims and perpetrators of crimes.
In the debate on capital punishment, both sides frequently talk past one another. Opponents of the practice have claimed that it is akin to “government murder” (which made one observer wonder, if that were true, does jail time equate to “government kidnapping”?). They also have levied the charge of hypocrisy against those who defend unborn life but would allow for a criminal to be executed (The ERLC discusses that here: http://bit.ly/1klSkk3). Defenders of capital punishment, meanwhile, have often dismissed opponents of the practice as weak or soft-on-crime. Such mis-characterizations on both sides set back the conversation and do no good.
Public opinion polls in America continue to show a strong support for the practice of capital punishment, when it is administered fairly and humanely. In spite of this, the debate over capital punishment—combined with events such as the Lockett execution—continues to be a hot topic.
Therefore, what is most needed today from Christians is not heated debate or shouting matches, nor a callused attitude toward those convicted of crimes. Instead it is a commitment to standing on God’s Word and to pray for everyone involved. Pray for wisdom for our government leaders and law enforcement officials. Pray for victims of crimes and their families, and yes, pray for the convicted criminal, too.
After all, each of us needs Jesus, the only source of everlasting life Who alone can forgive our sins and make us live in eternal paradise with Him (Luke 23:43).
by Brian Hobbs | Apr 29, 2014
“Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” – Psalm 10:1-2
Each of us have asked questions like this at some point. A new movie, produced by Oklahomans, probes that question—“Where was God?”—on May 20, 2013, when an EF5 tornado ripped through Moore, Okla., leaving death and destruction.
Plot summary
The film, which is documentary style, “follows several families and individuals who recount the timeline of destruction and share their experiences of the devastating and miraculous events that changed their lives forever.”
Positive elements
The movie grabs you by the heart, almost from the git-go. Those who go see it in the theatre (Note: The movie premieres at the Moore Warren Theatre on May 16, where it will continue to play) will need to bring a handkerchief. For a documentary that is interview-based, it keeps your attention the entire 85 minutes. The movie-making quality is high, and the footage of the storm brings you into the moment—and if you lived here in Oklahoma like many of us—back to that fateful day.
Negative elements
The stories and people interviewed are raw, and some of the images could be disturbing for the youngest of viewers. There is no inappropriate language or references.
Spiritual content
Judging by its name, you can probably guess that the movie tackles some of the deepest questions of the human heart. The movie speaks to sin, suffering, life, redemption, hope and salvation. There is a strong Christian theme and a Gospel-centered message that could resonate with anyone. Churches wishing to make this an outreach an event should go to www.wherewasGod.com to book a screening or bring it to a local theatre.
Overall
For a documentary that did not have a Hollywood-type movie budget nor household name actors, the filmmakers did remarkably well. This picture speaks to you and moves the viewer in enduring ways. Ten years from now, “Where Was God?” will be remembered much more by those who see it than the latest Marvel comic movie. Indeed, for those who find peace with God, through Christ, as a result of this picture, they will remember it for all eternity.
Rating:
3.5 (out of 4)
by Brian Hobbs | Apr 21, 2014
By now, you probably have seen the new Heaven is for Real movie, read the book, or at least known someone who has.
The story of the Burpo family’s four-year old boy, Colton, whose near-death experience allegedly exposed him to Heaven, is creating huge discussion among Christians.
Many notable leaders, like John MacArthur have roundly criticized the work (and others like it). Still others say they find truth and comfort in the story, and they believe it really occurred. I wish to add my comments to the discussion here, and speak to each group.
To the critics…
One of the most popular Southern Baptist authors and pastors today is David Platt. In his “Secret Church” series, Platt shows no affinity for the Heaven is for Real book (and other works related to heaven-and-back experiences). Calling them “unbiblical,” Platt lets loose his antipathy for the works.
It is hard to find much fault in the Scriptural perspective of Platt and Dr. MacArthur. There may be room for improvement, however, on the presentation of their views.
It is my belief that we could take a more patient approach to those who like the Heaven is for Real works. After all, most who like them do because they like Heaven. Indeed many Godly brothers and sisters I know have been comforted by the book through seasons of deep grief.
To the celebrators…
I will be the first to admit that Heaven is for Real tells a compelling story. I, too, was drawn by the book and movie’s storyline, and who among us doesn’t appreciate children and glimpses of the glory of God?
At the same time, we have to ask ourselves: are we getting our perspective of Heaven more from a story like this or the Bible? Are we putting too much stock in the testimony of a four-year old who allegedly spent three minutes in heaven, more than we are the timeless Word of God?
No matter how much we like a work of art or movie, we must test all things in light of Scripture and hold fast to what is good (1 Thess. 5:21), even if that means not uncritically swallowing whole every word of the Burpo’s story.
To us commenters…
When talking about general reactions to Heaven is for Real, if I had to categorize myself with either of these groups, I would probably fall much more closely to the critics than the celebrators. I’d like to think, though, that I fall into a third category of those who merely wish to comment on the work, not snatch it out of people’s hands nor give it as a gift book to everyone and their dog.
Unlike Don Piper’s 90 Minutes in Heaven, which appears to be a sensationalized tale meant only to sell books, the Burpo family appears to be sincere and even has been reluctant to tell their story.
Only God knows for sure whether Colton, the young boy in question, caught a true glimpse of Heaven. And there are some amazing things Colton knew that are hard to explain, such as finding out about a sibling of his who died due to miscarriage that his parents had never mentioned.
Yet there are holes in the story and specifics that do not necessarily align with the Scriptures. For example, why would, as Colton attests, the Angel Gabriel be sitting at the “left-Hand of God”?
It also should slow down all who have near-death experiences from sharing their stories hastily to know that, of all of the Bible of those who died and came back (e.g. Lazarus, Eutychus), none of them speak about it. The Scriptures are painfully silent on these true death-and-resuscitation experiences, and where the Bible whispers, we should be careful not to shout.
Perhaps my biggest disappointment with the story, especially the movie, is that more time is spent on the details of what Heaven is like and looks like than is spent explaining how God gets us there. In other words, the movie was lacking in anything approaching a presentation of the Gospel.
Heaven is really real. Discernment is needed…
Time will tell if the Burpo’s story holds up and if those after this generation will lose interest. There will be other books and stories of those who experience the afterlife—Heaven and Hell. It is critical that Christians base our viewpoint, outlook and worldview on what the Bible says. It is equally critical that we do not add to what the Bible says (Rev. 22:19).
Evangelical Christians believe in the sufficiency of Scripture, that God has given us all the revelation we need. Whether you are a critic, celebrator or mere commenter on the Heaven is for Real story, let’s stand on God’s Word alone every day of life on this earth until we get to heaven for real.
Photo credit: Sony
by Brian Hobbs | Apr 11, 2014
It’s fashionable these days to use social media and to criticize its use. I, for one, am guilty of both. A few years back, when I jumped into the world of Facebook and Twitter, I looked before I leaped.
The words of popular pastor John Piper, in a piece called “Why and How I am Tweeting,” haunted me then as they haunt me today. He said in part:
“I see two kinds of response to social Internet media like blogging, Facebook, Twitter, and others.
“One says: These media tend to shorten attention spans, weaken discursive reasoning, lure people away from Scripture and prayer, disembody relationships, feed the fires of narcissism, cater to the craving for attention, fill the world with drivel, shrink the soul’s capacity for greatness, and make us second-handers who comment on life when we ought to be living it. So boycott them and write books (not blogs) about the problem.
“The other response says: Yes, there is truth in all of that, but instead of boycotting, try to fill these media with as much provocative, reasonable, Bible-saturated, prayerful, relational, Christ-exalting, truth-driven, serious, creative pointers to true greatness as you can.”
I agree with Piper’s diagnoses and his conclusions. What is sobering is that Piper took an emergency sabbatical not long after writing this piece, evidently in part from a great deal of stress (to which social media may have factored in). Today, his ministry continues apace and is flourishing.
What strikes me most about Piper’s descriptions of social media is that it, by its very nature, will “make us second-handers who comment on life when we ought to be living it.”
Instead of attending a birthday party, the travelling Facebook happy-birthday-chorus moves from one day to the next, wishing whoever’s day it is a happy birthday. Instead of stopping to pray for others in a critical need, we sometimes stop short by only posting that we will pray. When someone passes away, we post a note of grievance rather than going to their house and weeping with them.
True, social media has its perks. It has brought the once insolated and cocooning-world of the Internet into a healthier social atmosphere. It also has rekindled untold friendships and created a great platform for the advance of the Gospel, not to mention other positives. At the same time, Christians must guard against the dangers of social media, including commenting on life instead of living it. This is especially a danger for people like me, who work at being writers.
Here are some tips I have learned from others.
Take a break
Whether it’s one part of the day, one part of the week or the month, set aside a time in which you will not check social media. This “fast” will enhance your interaction when are online.
God first. Family second.
Is catering to your social media circle distracting you from those closest to you? Do you save all of your creativity, clever comments and attention for other people online, instead of your spouse and children. Is your time spent in prayer and Scripture reading suffering? It may be time to check your priorities.
Be present
I wrote an entire article on the heads-bowed, eyes-open posture of incessant smart phone checking. One of the biggest dangers today is texting while driving, according to most, so texting while living may be just as hazardous to the life God has for you. To borrow a phrase: wherever you go, there you are. Don’t live solely in the social media world, be present where God has planted you.
Be a first-hander
God made you. Yes, you right there. You have a purpose in life. It’s not ranting about elected officials. It’s not just comment on which Dancing with the Stars favorite is yours. It’s about your life. When our fleeting days are over (James 4:14), many of us will look back with sadness on the time we wasted and energy we spent on all of the wrong things. As Piper warned us, brothers and sisters, let’s not be people who only comment on life but let’s be ones who live it!
by Brian Hobbs | Apr 1, 2014
What do you get when you cross a talking dog with Einstein-like smarts and a Back-to-the-Future style time machine? You’d get the latest kids movie, Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
Plot summary
According to the Internet Movie Database, the movie focuses on “the time-travelling adventures of an advanced canine (“Mr. Peabody”) and his adopted son (“Sherman”), as they endeavor to fix a time rift they created.”
Positive Elements
The themes of friendship and a father-son bond run strong throughout the movie. The animated feature also shows how people of various backgrounds—and time eras!—can come together for the common good. Further, the movie exposes children to some significant historical figures they might not otherwise know, such as Agamemnon (of the Iliad).
Negative Elements
This is one of those movies I almost walked out. There is bathroom humor used more than once, and there are several positive references made to Eastern religions and yoga that could be problematic. Compared to the average movie for kids today, these were rather mild. There also was a dismissive comment made about George Washington not really cutting down the cherry tree, which could foster some skepticism in our youth.
Overall
The very concept of time travel has fascinated mankind for ages. The ways in which it is depicted in this comedy are, of course, make believe. At its worst, this movie will further entrench some misconceptions about historical figures and cater to our base desire for bathroom humor. At its best, this movie will encourage children to learn more about history and the other ages, and learn about the importance of family ties.
Rating
2 stars (out of 4)
Photo credit: DreamWorks