A driver and monitor on a school bus in Dallas, Texas, helped save<\/a> two children who were caught up and nearly swept away in the recent flooding in our area. The driver said later, \u201cIt had to be God to send me that way because I don\u2019t normally go that way.\u201d<\/p>\n As our schools open across the country, so does concern for our schools and students. After gun violence in schools tripled<\/a> over the previous year, wearable panic buttons are being mandated<\/a> or encouraged by multiple states across the country. Bulletproof backpack sales are on the rise<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n School violence is not the only risk to our youth: self-harm claims among US teenagers increased<\/a> by 99 percent during the pandemic, claims related to overdoses jumped 119 percent, and claim reports for anxiety and major depressive disorders rose 94 percent and 84 percent, respectively.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, a record 58 percent of Americans say<\/a> our best days are behind us and three-quarters of voters say the country is heading in the wrong direction. United States Poet Laureate Joseph Brodsky claimed, \u201cLife\u2014the way it really is\u2014is a battle not between good and bad, but between bad and worse.\u201d<\/p>\n And yet, as theologian Teilhard de Chardin observed, \u201cThe future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.\u201d<\/p>\n How can you and I offer hope most effectively?<\/p>\n Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks writes<\/a> in the Atlantic <\/em>that changing people\u2019s minds is extremely difficult, especially through argumentation that attacks the beliefs of others.<\/p>\n He notes: \u201cWhen people fail to live up to your<\/em> moral values (or your expression of them), it is easy to conclude that they are immoral people. Further, if you are deeply attached to your values, this difference can feel like a threat to your identity, leading you to lash out, which won\u2019t convince anyone who disagrees with you\u201d (his emphasis).<\/p>\n By contrast, Brooks observes, \u201cEffective missionaries present their beliefs as a gift. And sharing a gift is a joyful act, even if not everyone wants it.\u201d He encourages us to follow their example by offering our values \u201cwith love, not insults and hatred.\u201d<\/p>\n To this end, we should \u201cgo out of your way to welcome those who disagree with you as valued voices worthy of respect and attention.\u201d We should refuse to take rejection personally. And we need to listen empathetically: research shows that \u201clistening and asking sensitive questions almost always has a more beneficial effect than talking.\u201d<\/p>\n Early Christians believed that the \u201cgospel\u201d (literally \u201cgood news\u201d) was so valuable that many sacrificed their lives to share this gift with others. And their transformed lives were evidence that this gift works<\/em>. What changed them could change others and, through them, the world.<\/p>\n The psalmist declared, \u201cCome and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul\u201d (Psalm 66:16). The man born blind told the religious authorities, \u201cOne thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see\u201d (John 9:25). Paul never tired of telling the story of God\u2019s transforming grace in the heart of the \u201cchief\u201d of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV).<\/p>\n However, Satan knows the power of a changed life as well.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why he is working to turn the culture not only against Christian beliefs but against Christians themselves. For the first time in American history, those who affirm biblical sexual morality are being branded as homophobic, discriminatory, and dangerous. Pro-life advocates are being castigated as part of a \u201cwar on women.\u201d<\/p>\n Tragically, we cooperate with Satan\u2019s strategy when our clergy abuse children and congregants, our churches and denominations go to war with each other over theology and buildings, and some of our leaders embrace unbiblical immorality while criticizing those who uphold biblical truth.<\/p>\n The key to living a transformed life that draws others to Christ is practicing the presence of the transforming Christ. Jesus was clear on this: \u201cWhoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing<\/em>\u201d (John 15:5, my emphasis).<\/p>\n From our Lord\u2019s statement we learn this fact: We experience God to the degree that we are surrendered to him.<\/em> This is how all relationships work: a gift must be opened to be useful; a doctor must be trusted to be helpful.<\/p>\n When I served as a college missionary on the island of Borneo, our guide took us one day through deep jungles to a remote village. He could lead us only when we followed his path and not our own.<\/p>\n Oswald Chambers wrote: \u201cWe never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we abandon in every particular.\u201d Paradoxically, many of us have surrendered just enough of our lives to Christ to miss both what the world offers and what God offers. Thus we forfeit the joy of the Lord that would draw the world to the Lord.<\/p>\n However, Chambers assured us, \u201cAs soon as we do abandon, the Holy Ghost gives us an intimation of the joy of Jesus.\u201d The results will be visible to others: a life fully surrendered to Jesus is \u201cunutterably humble, unsulliedly pure, and absolutely devoted to God.\u201d<\/p>\n It is not easy to live a surrendered life. This is a death to self, but a death that leads to abundant life we can find in no other way (John 10:10). As Dante noted in The Divine Comedy<\/em>, \u201cIn his will is our peace.\u201d<\/p>\n World champion weightlifter Jerzy Gregorek observed: \u201cHard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.\u201d<\/p>\n My dear friend and fellow minister Dr. Ron Scates puts it this way: \u201cWhen Christianity is hard, it is easy. When Christianity is easy, it is hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Which will be true for you today?<\/p>\n NOTE: <\/strong>Would you encourage your pastor to subscribe to The Daily Article<\/em><\/a> and to A Pastor\u2019s View<\/em><\/a>, our email newsletter for church leaders?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A driver and monitor on a school bus in Dallas, Texas, helped save two children who were caught up and nearly swept away in the recent flooding in our area. The driver said later, \u201cIt had to be God to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4396,"featured_media":2122,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nA better way to change minds<\/h2>\n
\u201cThough I was blind, now I see\u201d<\/h2>\n
Following my guide through the jungle<\/h2>\n
\u201cIn his will is our peace\u201d<\/h2>\n