Gospel Ministry

Oklahoma Baptist DR respond to major ice storm /// PREVIEWED ON COVER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENMISSIONS & MINISTRY T

>> by Chris Doyle

MANAGING EDITOR 1 2

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR), under the direction of Don Williams, state DR director, is covering the state after a major ice storm late October caused damage in numerous areas.

As of Nov. 4, DR has received more than 600 requests for assistance in areas including Anadarko, Cushing, Enid, Oklahoma City and Ponca City. Four staging headquarters have been established in key areas of Enid, Lawton, Oklahoma City and northeast Oklahoma.

Williams said teams are prioritizing requests involving elderly and limited access to and from homes due to fallen trees.

CHURCH TOOLBOX

>> PHOTO: CHRISTI CAPSHAW 1) DR volunteers are responding to more than 600 requests for assistance; 2) a DR volunteer consoles a man affected by the ice storm

“Many DR volunteers are still recovering from work done in Louisiana after recent hurricanes,” CLASSIFIEDS Williams said. “We will work until every request has been fulfilled, and we will answer all requests.”

C PEOPLE & HURCH NEWS

Williams said out-of-state DR teams will come to assist from Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. For those needing help with recovery from the ice NEWS & CULTURE storm, visit okdisasterhelp.org to submit a request. The

VOICES

website also provides more information on DR.

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Singing ChurchWomenWest Concert Info: 7-8:30 p.m., Clinton, First oklahomabaptists.org/ worship-music

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Oklahoma Baptist Symphony Concert Info: 6-7:30 p.m., Fort Gibson Field House oklahomabaptists.org/ worship-music

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Registrations top 5,200 for IMB Future of Missions simulcast

LESLIE PEACOCK CALDWELL | OCT 31

Participants from 48 states and 30 countries connected with IMB leaders, missionaries and a panel of experts PUBLICATION INFO Thursday, Oct. 29, to address the global, cultural and spiritual realities that are impacting the future of missions. The two-hour simulcast was broadcast in five languages: English, Spanish, American Sign Language, Korean and Mandarin Chinese. EVENTS FIRST-PERSON: Fulfilling the Great Commission through the Cooperative Program

RONNIE FLOYD | NOV 2

Jesus died for every person in every town, city, state and nation. His call to us is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations. None of us can do this alone, and no church can do this alone. Jesus’ call to each of us is overwhelming, but it is not impossible. How will we accomplish what Jesus is calling us to do?

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The Baptist Messenger (ISSN 07449518) is published semi-monthly by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, 3800 N. May, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112-6506. Periodicals postage paid at EVENTS Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Circulation last issue: 41,837. Individual subscriptions are available upon request. When writing for a change of address or a subscription renewal, please include a copy of your mailing label. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Baptist Messenger, 3800 N. May, Oklahoma City, OK 73112-6506.

While the Baptist Messenger attempts to provide advertisers of integrity who furnish quality products, it is recommended that buyers be cautious, do research and get references to any advertiser with which they are not familiar. Publication of an advertisement in the Baptist Messenger does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or businesses. November 12, 2020 • Volume 109, Number 21.

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>> Brian Hobbs | Editor bhobbs@baptistmessenger.com >> Chris Doyle | Managing Editor cdoyle@baptistmessenger.com >> Lori Coats | Subscriptions/Assistant lcoats@baptistmessenger.com >> Chris Forbes | Staff Writer cforbes@oklahomabaptists.org >> Tori Hamilton | Messenger Intern thamilton@baptistmessenger.com

Encourage: The basics of Christian citizenship

Hance Dilbeck

Oklahoma Baptists’ Executive Director-Treasurer @Hance_Dilbeck

You are likely reading this article a few days after the 2020 election. For reasons related to the Messenger printing schedule—and my too busy schedule—I am writing this a few days before that election. This provides an opportunity for me to write a non-partisan article. I am writing this without any idea of who will be our nation’s president in 2021. No matter who is in office, what are the basics of Christian citizenship?

The New Testament speaks to our duties as citizens in four key texts: Matt. 22:21; Acts 5:29; Rom. 13:1-7; and 1 Tim. 2:1-7. In his first letter to young Timothy, Paul lays out the basics for Christian citizens. Allow me to summarize a few relevant points:

Be thankful. Paul calls us to gratitude. In verse one of 1 Timothy chapter two, he says we should be praying with thanksgiving. Now, reflect on Paul’s context. Paul was in prison for preaching the Gospel. He had been beaten with rods, stoned, received the 39 lashes (5 times!). If any man had a right to be bitter it was Paul. Yet he writes to call the church to give thanks as they pray for their leaders. Brian Hobbs Editor of the Baptist Messenger @BrianGHobbs

I heard of a church sign mistake in which the church’s outdoor message board read, “We love hurting people.” They meant to say “We love people who are hurting.” As 2020 nears its close, you do not have to look far to find people who are hurting.

While each calendar year is marked by disappointments, mishaps and sadness, 2020 has had more than its share of such. We see brokenness all around us in society. Fortunately, as Christians, we can choose to see brokenness as an opportunity.

What do I mean? Hance Dilbeck has said, “There are a lot of broken people in Oklahoma. Jesus teaches us to embrace brokenness as an opportunity for the Gospel.”

Dr. Dilbeck calls us to think about the Scriptures that Him. And He opened the book and found the place where

I don’t think Paul was grateful for Caesar. He was not calling Timothy to give thanks for the injustices involved in Roman rule. He was, however, reminding young Timothy that even in tough times we have much for which to give thanks

The opposite of giving thanks is grumbling. It is altogether appropriate for Christian citizens to engage our leaders, debate the issues and defend our rights. We should be careful as we do so to never lose that basic Christian virtue of gratitude. Followers of Jesus ought to be people who are always giving thanks.

Be loyal. Christians are to be loyal citizens. Of course, we can never render to Caesar that which belongs to God. Our ultimate loyalty is always to Christ as King. However, as much as possible, we are called to support our government leaders as we live godly, dignified, peaceful lives. Christians should be easy to govern. We are people who respect public servants, participate in the public square, pay our taxes, obey the laws of the land and always pray for our leaders.

Tertullian lived in the second generation of the church. He once wrote, “For the Emperor, the Christians pray for long life, secure dominion, a safe home, a faithful senate, a righteous people and a world at peace.”

We should be vigilant to carefully judge ourselves as Christian citizens before we run to find fault in our government leaders.

Focus on advancing the Gospel to all. This paragraph of Scripture in 1 Timothy is dominated it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.’ And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:17-21).

Where the world saw people as enemies or “lowlifes,” Jesus saw people as lost, poor, captives, blind and oppressed. We need God to give us a perspective on other people like His Son has. Amid troubled times, Christians can and should become ambassadors of reconciliation, healing and peace.

Yet, perhaps it’s your own heart hurting today. What can fix that? Could a redo on this calendar year fix it? No. Can simply 2021 coming along fix that? Perhaps, but there are no guarantees.

In fact, the only guaranteed help for a broken heart is the love of God, which gives a “peace that passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). If you yourself are hurting, I would encourage you to find healing by becoming a comforter yourself. by the word “all.” Pray for all; God desires all to be saved; Jesus died as a ransom for all. Since Jesus is the one and only mediator between God and men, He is the way for all people to be saved. Even when Paul writes about the duties of Christian citizenship, his true passion is the advance of the Gospel to all.

Identity politics dominates the public debate today. Media pundits and pollsters appeal to interest groups and endlessly divide people based on sex, race, class, region, age, education— you name it! This is an appeal to self-interest over the common good; us against them.

As followers of Jesus we are interested in one particular group of people—ALL. It is not us against them. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all. We know that only Jesus can give people the character they need to govern themselves as a stable, strong nation. A people who are spiritually sick cannot be morally sound for very long.

Unfortunately, too many people in our pews seem to be more passionate about advancing their political agenda than advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our one compelling issue ought to be souls—the souls of men, women, boys and girls. All!

Oklahoma Baptists, the best thing we can do for our country is to focus on these basics. If we would be thankful, be loyal and be zealously committed to sharing the Gospel with all, most everything else

Sword & trowel: Achy breaky hearts

say: “And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to

would come into place.

Consider the words attributed to Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Whether the aching heart you know of is someone else’s or your own, may God Himself minister to you and through you today and beyond. Lord, please help us…

Rite of passage: Christmas pie /// PREVIEWED ON COVER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENTMISSIONS & MINISTRY Walker Moore the whipped meringue in But he decided to go all in, CHURCH TOOLBOX President Emeritus of Awe Star Ministries Email | walker@awestar.org @WalkerDeanMoore place. These old-time pies have a heaviness that surprises you when you pick one up. Vi’s mom laid out a big piece of red cellophane and placed the pie PEOPLE & CHURCH NEWS and he called out “$50!” The room went silent as Don waited for one of his friends to keep running up the bid. Before anyone else could speak, the auctionin the middle. Grasping eer yelled out, “Sold!” Love stories are some of the greatest expressions each of the four corners, Vi told me, “That night, of the human experience, from Romeo and Juliet to she pulled up the cello- Don not only took own-

Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. For those of you who phane and tied a big rib- ership of the pie, but also aren’t into the classics, may I remind you of Belle and the Beast or Cinderella and Prince Charming. If those don’t move your stone-cold heart, don’t for-CLASSIFIEDS bon. Just as a frame enhances a picture, Vi’s pie was tastefully made and NEWS & CULTURE my heart.” Don and Vi have now been married for 60 years and have three sons, get Lady and the Tramp. attractively displayed. eight grandchildren and

It was the late ’50s. America was just recovering Young Vi had heard three great-grandchildren. from World War II, and money was still scarce. A that a tall, lanky 16-year- They have served faithfully small country school in Oklahoma wanted to make old farm boy named Don in their church, where Don sure each student would at least get one present had been bragging to his is also an elder. for Christmas. To make this happen, the school had asked each family to make a pie, which they would auction off at their annual pie supper. The money VOICES peers that he was going to bid and buy whatever she brought to the auction. He wanted to get this young lady’s attention, and he thought she might To our family, they are known as “Mr. Don” and “Aunt Vi.” They live only a few blocks from us, and Mr. Don owns the 1929 Model A car that he let my raised would be used to buy and place Christmas take notice if he were the highest bidder. Don’s grandkids climb all over. presents underneath an old-fashioned Christmas pals got together and decided they were going to You don’t have to go to Hollywood or to the litree. After the students gave their Christmas pro- run the bid up and see how high their good buddy brary to find a great love story; these stories live gram for their parents, each one would receive a would go. next door to you or sit in the pew behind you. special surprise. The night of the auction, the auctioneer brought Last Saturday, our doorbell rang. I opened the door

On the day of the pie supper auction, the mother out Vi’s pie. The bid was $1, then $2. Quickly, it to find Mr. Don and Aunt Vi standing there. Vi was of the young and beautiful 15-year-old Vi had spent jumped to $5, then $6 and $7. Young Don began to holding a heavy chocolate meringue pie wrapped in hours making a chocolate pie. This was not today’s sweat as his friends kept outbidding him. The price cellophane and tied off with a Christmas ornament run-of-the-mill pie in a box, but a chocolate pie jumped to $20 and then $30. Who ever heard of a and a note telling us the story of the chocolate pie. made from scratch. The crust was created in a bowl teenager in the late ‘50s paying that kind of money As our family sits around the table this Thankswith flour, salt, shortening and water, then rolled for a chocolate pie? But Don, determined to get this giving and spends time going around the room, out with a rolling pin, stretched over the pie tin and young lady’s attention, kept on bidding. with each person telling what we are thankful for, I ever so gently pushed into the bottom of the pan. Next, the bid hit $40, and Don begin to think that am going to tell them I am thankful God has put Mr.

With the experience of a skilled baker, Vi’s mom if it went much higher his dream of buying Vi’s pie Don and Aunt Vi in our lives. This dear couple has used her fingers to pinch the edges up to make would end. Then the bid went to $45, and young taken ownership of our hearts. “I thank my God evthat crimped crust whose main job was to keep Don knew he didn’t have much left in his pocket. ery time I remember you” (Phil. 1:3).

How do we become peacemakers?

Sarah Wooten

Oklahoma Baptists Youth Ministry Associate @swooten1400

Over the past few years, and even more so in recent months, I have watched as the political debate in this country has brought out the ugly side of most people, and I confess, at times, in me too. Everyone is convinced they are right and the other side is wrong.

Unfortunately, this fighting has also found a stronghold in our churches. Brothers and sisters so determined to be right, they have forgotten our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the devil (Eph. 6:12). We seem to have forgotten that those with a differing opinion from ours are image-bearers of Christ and deserve to be treated with civility, and beyond that, loved.

How do we love our neighbors? I do not pretend to have all the answers, but I do believe that as followers of Christ we should start by being peacemakers.

Please understand that I am not saying believers should not be involved in the fight to right wrongs and correct injustice, but are we trying to win a fight, or are we trying to bring peace? These are two very different things. So how do we become peacemakers?

First, we should be a praying people. How different would the world look, if we spent time on our faces before the Lord for those we see as the enemy? I find it very hard to throw stones at people when my hands are lifting them up to the Lord.

Pray for salvation for the lost; pray for freedom for those who are oppressed; pray for wisdom for those whom you believe are deceived; pray for wisdom on how to voice your opinion/belief in a way that glorifies God and brings honor to Him. Pray for wisdom. Just because we think we are right, doesn’t mean that we are. Pray about everything (Phil. 4:6).

Second, we should never ‘weaponize’ our faith. The Christian social media world has been filled, as of late, with polarizing voices claiming “you cannot love God, and believe (insert belief here)” or “you cannot be a follower of Christ and vote this or that way.” Not only is language like this wrong, but it is also a distraction. The enemy is using this to distract us from our task.

I have many brothers and sisters all over the political spectrum—some I agree with and others I do not. But we do agree on this key fact: Jesus is the hope of the world, not a political party. When we weaponize our faith, we tend to hurt fellow believers and push nonbelievers away from Christ instead of bringing them to Him.

Let’s use our platforms to champion truth, push light into dark places and glorify the Lord. If you disagree with a fellow believer, have a conversation, in person. I have found that hard conversations are better in person, in real-time, without a character count limit, and the masses chiming in.

Third, and honestly this one can be the hardest, we should be slow to speak (James 1:19). Are we so focused on winning the fight that we forget what it is costing us? If in our quest to win we hurt our brothers, damage our witness or cause the Gospel to be discredited is it worth it? Is winning worth losing a friend? A brother? I would say no, no it’s not. If we cannot speak with grace and from love, it may be best for us to just stay quiet. In the words of the famous “theologian” Thumper, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

As I said, there are times that we must speak up. Scripture tells us to put on the armor of God, so that we may withstand the schemes of the devil (Eph. 6:11). Interesting fact, the only offensive part of the armor, is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Are we fighting our battles by being grounded in the Word of God, or do we let emotions and the need to be right/win get the best of us?

My prayer is that I become a person of peace. A person that speaks truth from a place of love, and a desire to glorify God, not a desire to win. A person known by my desire to be a peacemaker, a daughter of God for, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9).