Josh Bryant
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Law
    • Wealth Law
      • College Student Powers of Attorney
    • Church Law
    • Business Law
  • Blog
  • Store
  • NWA Lawyer App
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Law
    • Wealth Law
      • College Student Powers of Attorney
    • Church Law
    • Business Law
  • Blog
  • Store
  • NWA Lawyer App
Search

7 Reasons to Read "Onward" by Russell Moore

1/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Onward, by Russell Moore, is a refreshing analysis at the state of Christianity in America in light of the moral revolution, and a clear and convincing ecclesiology and ethic that the church should adopt. His argument is premised on the notion that the "Bible Belt" is fraying - that Christians are no longer (if we were ever) a "moral majority." He notes that the movement by that name was not a religious movement, but a political one that included people who desired a return to Judeo-Christian American values, but did not necessarily profess Christ or seek to advance His kingdom. His assessment serves as an indictment against a church improperly focused on utilizing state power to make Christian behavior and thought normative when the Bible depicts the gospel as abnormal by the standards of the world. Here are 7 reasons to read this book:

1. To align social, cultural, and political engagement with a proper balance between American citizenship and the Kingdom of God.
In setting forth several pillars of Christian ethic, Dr. Moore superbly ties them back to the Kingdom of God and the need to acknowledge that while the Kingdom is here in colonies and embassies which we call the church, it is not yet here in full. While we should stand against injustice and defend the "least of these," we cannot expect that the law will institute the Kingdom in full. Only Jesus can do that when He returns, so by expecting governments to do it invests them with authority that does not belong to them. Until His return, the church has the keys to the Kingdom, not the state. We cannot admit just anyone to the Kingdom. Scripture has set forth those requirements, and we must be consistent in how we admit people to our churches. As Dr. Moore points out, our vote for who we receive as members of our churches is as or more important than our vote for who should be President.

2. To rediscover the strangeness of the Gospel.
The church no longer exists in a culture that understands it. For many years, church membership was normative. Now, that is not the case, which presents an amazing opportunity. People should not be drawn to the church because of our sameness with the world, but because of our strangeness to the world. We believe in a dead Man coming to life after having born the wrath of God for the sins of all who would believe in and call on Him. That's strange! We also live in a manner consistent with our calling as children of God, which to the world is equally as strange. If we see that the church is supposed to be different, we can begin to cling to what makes us distinct - the gospel.

3. To put the impetus against abortion and other issues on human dignity.
The pro-life movement is another example of political alliances that do not necessarily exclude people outside the faith. The reason the church should stand against abortion isn't because it's the position of the Republican party, but because we are made in the image of God. Every time an abortionist legally kills another child, the image of God is defaced. That said, we must carry the underlying principle into other arenas as well, such as in how we treat immigrants, racial equality, and so forth.

4. To better articulate the need for and parameters of religious liberty and freedom of conscience.
As we become more and more strange to the culture, attacks on religious liberty will grow more frequent and intense. We must strongly defend religious liberty for all people, not just those who believe what we believe. The ability of the state to prohibit one Hindu from practicing his faith is the ability to prevent all Christians from practicing theirs. As such, we must be able to refuse to do those things which Scripture clearly teaches against. We must stop using Scripture to justify the platform of either political party when Scripture leaves the issue open to conscience and pragmatics. Dr. Moore's focus on religious liberty across all areas of the ethical pillars he discussed is superb.

5. To develop a more holistic theology of the family in a culture that is constantly redefining it.
It is clear that culture is trying to redefine family. Dr. Moore provides a holistic theology of the family as part of the mystery of the Kingdom of God that the church must adhere to. While this includes a stand against same-sex marriage, it also includes a stand against adultery and domestic abuse, as well as an active participation in adoption, foster care, and the like. 

6. To evaluate the effectiveness of how we engage our culture.
Too often, we mimic the world in how we engage, including the temper tantrums that we think only demonstrate our passion for an issue. Dr. Moore demonstrates from Scripture that our engagement is to be kind and gentle. This is not a matter of weakness, but a matter of strength. We will not persuade others to Christ by yelling at them or degrading them because of their beliefs right now. Instead of talking about them, we need to talk to them. We cannot be merely civil - we must be kind.

​7. To grow.
I have grown as a result of reading this book. I left convicted that often times my response to the corporate, cultural sin that we see today has been angry. Instead of loving others and being kind, I've often begun to despise them because of their beliefs. This is not appropriate. I have been refreshed by reading a theologically and biblically solid argument in favor of consistent, biblical, missional, Christian behavior and cultural engagement. I think you will grow too.

A Word of Caution
I can only give the book four out of five stars because Dr. Moore limited his audience somewhat by presenting very complex arguments utilizing a very advanced vocabulary. I have degrees in both theology and law, but I still had to look up some words. I also found myself having to go back and re-read several pages or even an entire chapter in order to feel comfortable that I comprehended the argument. As such, this is far from light reading. If you're up for the challenge, go read this book!

Dr. Russell Moore is the President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

0 Comments

How Should We Respond to the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage?

11/20/2015

0 Comments

 
            Slow down.  Take a deep breath.  These are the words I’ve repeated to myself over and over as every news app on my phone alerted me one after the other that the United States Supreme Court ruled that same sex marriage bans across the country are unconstitutional and that all states must recognize same sex marriages performed in other states. As I read the opinions in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. _____ (2015), I ultimately couldn’t help but ask myself what this means for me as a pastor and lawyer.  What does this mean for the church?  What does this mean for believers?

            The decision is summed up in one paragraph:

            “Just as a couple vows to support each other, so does society pledge to support the couple, offering symbolic recognition and material benefits to protect and nourish the union.  Indeed, while the States are in general free to vary the benefits they confer on all married couples, they have throughout our history made marriage the basis for an expanding list of governmental rights, benefits, and responsibilities.  These aspects of marital status include: taxation; inheritance and property rights; rules of intestate succession; spousal privilege in the law of evidence; hospital access; medical decisionmaking authority; adoption rights; the rights and benefits of survivors; birth and death certificates; professional ethics rules; campaign finance restrictions; workers’ compensation benefits; health insurance; and child custody, support, and visitation rules.  Valid marriage under state law is also a significant status for over a thousand provisions of federal law.  The States have contributed to the fundamental character of the marriage right by placing that institution at the center of so many facets of the legal and social order.” (Internal citations omitted.)

            In other words, since the state and federal governments have exalted marriage as beneficial as a matter of public policy, the Supreme Court has decided that it is public policy – not God – that defines marriage.  Instead of values determining policy, policies now set values.  How backwards?  In any case, the decision comes down to the dollar to a large degree.  Heterosexual couples get certain financial benefits as a result of being married – tax benefits, inheritance and property rights, survivor benefits, relief from certain campaign finance restrictions, workers’ compensation, insurance, child support – all of which are financial considerations.  Other marital benefits are more situational – the right to tell one person something in confidence and keep it that way despite a Court order to testify as to what was said (spousal privilege), the right for one person to be with you in the hospital and by default make healthcare decisions for you if you are incapacitated, the right to adopt a child, the right to have the loved one of your choice on your death certificate, and so forth.  The primary issue in this case revolved around whether same-sex couples should receive these same benefits as both a matter of personal choice protected under the due process clause and as a matter of equal protection of the law.

            To put the debate on same-sex marriage to an end, the Court also addressed the question as to whether a state could refuse to acknowledge a marriage performed in another state.  The Court held the states cannot.  The ultimate summary is this – same-sex marriage is now legal in the United States and the only real way to change that is to amend the Constitution.

            There are three primary things Christians should be concerned about as a result of this opinion.  We should first be concerned with the regard held for the Word of God.  Justice Kennedy quoted Confucius, not Scripture.  This opinion obviously discounts and disregards God’s Word.  Secondly, we should be concerned that although up until now people behaved contrary to the morality of God’s Word all the time, the conduct is now celebrated and solemnized as a matter of Constitutional law.  Finally, we should be concerned for the spiritual health of orphans because this ruling explicitly references the ability of same-sex couples to adopt in its wake. 

So how should we respond?

            
1.  Learn why Scripture is the inerrant, infallible, and ultimate authority as the Word of God.  If someone asked you why you thought same-sex marriage was wrong and you told them, “because the Bible says it is”, would you be able to articulate why the Bible is the ultimate moral authority?  If not, check back later and I’ll have another blog post up to help you with that.

            2.  Hold fast to a biblical view of marriage.  I am not saying that this opinion amounts to persecution of the church.  However, holding to a biblical view of marriage while a majority of the country celebrates this opinion will likely result in some insult and persecution of individual believers.  Prove yourself zealous for what is right and be prepared to defend the hope that you have.  Hold fast, be blessed, and be ready to defend the truth of Scripture with gentleness and reverence. (1 Pt. 3:14-16).

            
3.  Examine and adjust your own marriage to match the biblical definition of Scripture.  We can be pretty quick to quote 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 when defending the biblical view of marriage.  But let’s not forget that extra-marital sex, pornography, and adultery are other sexual sins listed as conduct unbecoming an heir of God’s kingdom.  Husbands, let’s not forget that we are told to love our wives sacrificially and lead our families.  Wives, let’s not forget that Scripture commands you to be subject to your husband.  (Eph. 5:22-33).  Let’s not forget that we are commanded to keep the marriage bed pure and undefiled.  (Heb. 13:4)  If we’re going to hold so passionately to a biblical view of marriage (as we should), let’s actually live it out.

            4.  Foster and/or adopt a child.  I don’t want to convey that children raised by same-sex couples will not be loved and/or physically and emotionally cared for.  However, it is safe to say that children raised by same-sex couples will be raised in an environment where regard for the Word of God is confused at best.  Notwithstanding this ruling, there has never been an excuse for there to be a single child in foster care – both because the circumstances which put them there are inexcusable and because the church’s mediocre response to the needs of the orphan falls short of biblical exhortation.  However, in light of the fact that this ruling was to some degree formulated so that same-sex couples could adopt, evangelical Christians should flock to the nearest human services office or adoption agency and raise those children in an environment where the Word of God is revered and cherished.

            5. Bridle your tongue.  Holding fast to a biblical view of marriage does not mean taking to Facebook and Twitter with scathing political commentary.  I intentionally avoided social media for a while after the opinion was released, and the first post I saw after my brief social media fast claimed that this case marks the beginning of the Christian holocaust.  Others say their renouncing their U.S. citizenship.  Panic, anger, and alarmism reflect fear and trouble.  They do not reflect the hope we have.  They do not defend that hope gently or reverently.

            6.  Cheer up!  I’ve had to examine myself as a result of my feelings after this opinion was announced.  Who or what do I worship?  Do I worship the biblical view of marriage?  Do I worship the government of the land I was born in because it used to hold to a biblical view of marriage?  Or do I worship a living God?  Russell Moore made a great point: the Supreme Court can’t put Jesus back in the grave.  He’s still alive!  He’s still coming back for His church one day!  He still offers to fill the gap between our imperfection and God’s perfection!  He still saves!  He still loves me!  If we can’t rejoice and hope in these facts today because “five lawyers have… enacted their own vision of marriage as a matter of constitutional law” (see Chief Justice Roberts’ dissent), then perhaps we don’t truly grasp the all-surpassing greatness of these facts.

            
7.  Don’t act defeated!  You are not defeated!  Jesus has overcome the world! (Jn. 16:33).  While this opinion runs contrary to Scripture, it along with the Constitution that it purportedly defends will one day perish.  But the Word of God stands forever! (Ps. 33:11, Is. 40:8, 1 Pt. 1:24-25).  A defeated attitude is inconsistent with the ultimate victory of Christ and our resultant hope in Him.

            8.  Refocus your political energy towards religious freedom.  Pragmatically, Christians cannot afford to stand defeated today.  It is the height of naivety to believe that the more extremist proponents of the same-sex agenda are satisfied.  They will continue their efforts to force Bible-believing business owners to violate their own conscience.  They will continue their efforts to have religious speech manifest in the proclamation of the Word of God categorically redefined as “hate-speech” and criminalized in much the same way they have categorically redefined marriage as whatever the individual decides it is.

            Justice Kennedy at least tried to placate those who disagree with him on religious grounds.  He stated, “Many who deem same-sex marriage to be wrong reach that conclusion based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises, and neither they nor their beliefs are disparaged here.”  Later, he wrote:

            “It must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned.  The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered.  The same is true of those who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons.  In turn, those who believe allowing same-sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with their view in an open and searching debate.  The Constitution, however, does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex.”

These are sentences that Bible-believing churches must cling to for dear life going forward.  Churches should count this as a promise from the Supreme Court and vigorously hold it to that promise.  This opinion means that states must recognize same-sex marriages to the same degree that they recognize heterosexual marriages.  It does not mean that you or I have to recognize same-sex marriage as marriage, or that the church must recognize or perform same-sex marriage.


            9.  Pray.  Pray for those in authority that the church “may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:2).  Should we be concerned about what this means for the sanctity of what God calls marriage?  You bet.  Pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in America and in marriage.  Should we be concerned about what this means for children, especially orphans?  Absolutely.  Pray for orphans to be adopted into godly homes.

            Life goes on.  Remain in the Word and dedicated to the truth.  Follow Christ.  Remember and rejoice in the fact that Jesus still saves.
0 Comments

State Religious Freedom Bills

11/20/2015

0 Comments

 
In recent headlines, states across the country are passing state versions of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.  In my home state, the Arkansas General Assembly is getting slammed for passing similar legislation, and our governor is under immense pressure to veto the bill.  The primary opposition is coming from the GLTB community.  I support HB 1228 because it protects religious freedom.  However, since it fails to strike a proper balance between protecting Christians' fundamental need to avoid being an accessory to sin and otherwise treating all people as made in the image of God and therefore worthy of love, acceptance, and respect, I do not believe Christians should let this law be the standard by which they treat others.  Scripture must set that standard.

You can read HB 1228 here.  In a nutshell, it protects individuals, businesses, and religious institutions in their right to practice or observe their religion, including "the ability to act or refuse to act in a manner substantially motivated by a person's sincerely held religious beliefs" from any state action.  The bill defines state action as "the implementation or application of any law, including without limitation state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and policies, whether statutory or otherwise, or other action by the state or any political subdivision thereof and any local government, municipality, instrumentality, or public official authorized by law in this state."  In other words, no one in government may pass a law or rule which would require a religious person to act or refuse to act in violation of his or her sincerely held religious belief.  The only exception was set forth by the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972), in that the government can prohibit such action if that prohibition is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that governmental interest.

The chief gripe against this proposed statute is that it would allow Christian business owners to refuse to sell goods or services to anyone who is a practicing homosexual because it violates their sincerely held religious beliefs.  Conservative evangelicals have long held that Scripture's teachings on homosexuality clearly place the practice as contrary to the will, holiness, and perfection of God, and I hold to that position as well.  However, I do not believe the Bible condones refusing to do business with those who do not follow God's requirements in most circumstances (emphasis on the word most).

​In short, Christians must treat people as they would want to be treated while refusing to be an accessory to sin.  In some situations, the determination of how the Christian should act is simple.  Christian grocery store owners and managers should not refuse to sell groceries to a practicing homosexual, even though this bill would allow it.  Doing so is by no means making the store owner or manager an accessory to sin.  Likewise, Christian restaurant owners should not refuse to sell their food to a practicing homosexual, nor should Christian barbers and hair stylists refuse to cut a practicing homosexual's hair.  On the other side of that coin, however, Christian bakers must absolutely have the right to refuse to bake a cake for a homosexual wedding because doing so would make that baker an accessory to sin.  Christian wedding photographers should likewise have the right to refuse their services to a same-sex couple.  Christian churches should have the freedom to only perform wedding rituals for couples that meet the definition of marriage provided by Scripture.

Although this standard is painted as a bright red line, that line is not necessarily as clear as one might think.  Should Christian lawyers refuse to draft a will that leaves the property of one person in a same-sex couple to the other?  Should Christian accountants refuse to prepare and file a joint tax return for a same-sex couple?  Should a Christian landlord decline to lease a house or apartment to a same-sex couple?  These are the questions that Christian ethicists, theologians, and pastors must debate and the answer to which must ultimately be left to the individual conscience of the Christian who is faced with the situation.  

In each instance, there will be varying opinions.  Some Christian lawyers may feel that writing a will for a same-sex couple looks too much like a family affair and conclude that he or she would be an accessory to sin by writing it.  Christian accountants may feel similarly about preparing and filing a joint tax return for a same-sex couple.  Others may conclude that whether two people of the same gender are having sex has little to do with what happens to their property when they die or the manner in which they file their taxes.  

But in either case, it is the individual's conscience before a holy God that must make the final decision.  Not the government.  Not the church.  The individual.  If a person cannot stand confident in their decisions as pleasing to God or ashamed in their decisions as displeasing to God, that person cannot practice religion.  It is from interference in these moral decisions that society at large must be protected.  This is why I support HB 1228.
0 Comments

    RSS Feed


    Subscribe and you'll receive one weekly email only if I write something. Your email address is private and I will not share it with anyone.

    Topics

    All
    Accountability
    Adoption
    Bankruptcy
    Bible
    Book Reviews
    Charitable Giving
    Christ
    Church Discipline
    Church Membership
    Counseling
    Criminal Law
    Devotionals
    Discipleship
    Elections
    Estate Planning
    Ethics
    Evangelism
    Events
    Family
    Family Law
    Finances
    First Baptist Rogers
    Foster Care
    Hard Times
    Isaiah
    James
    Leadership
    Marriage
    Missions
    Persecution
    Planned Giving
    Prayer
    Preaching
    Relationships
    Religious Freedom
    Reproductive Issues
    Same Sex Marriage
    Same-Sex Marriage
    Suffering
    Teaching
    Theology
    Wealth
    Worship

    Archives

    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    October 2013
    July 2013

    About Josh

    I follow Christ.  I have a beautiful wife Megan and three wonderful children, Harrisen, Rebekah, and Carter.  I have an M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, am licensed to practice law in several state and federal courts, and live in Rogers, Arkansas. I write a blog and produce a podcast.  And I do it all that others may know Christ.

    RSS Feed

    Josh Bryant Links
    | Twitter |
    ​ | 
    LinkedIn |
    | 
    Google+ | 
    | 
    BrandYourself |
    | 
    Facebook |
    | Slideshare |
    | 
    Vimeo | 
    | 
    YouTube | 
    | 
    CrunchBase |
    | 
    Quora |
    | About.me |

Let's Touch Base

866.597.5621 | josh@josh-bryant.com

Get social!


Copyright (c) 2019 by Josh Bryant. All rights reserved. No portion of this site may be used, copied, transferred, stored, or otherwise manipulated without the express written consent of Josh Bryant. Nothing on this site should be construed as a commitment to represent you. Any person desiring legal services offered by Josh Bryant may apply for said services, but Josh Bryant does not represent any person who has not completed his intake form, signed his engagement agreement, and paid the appropriate retainer. Josh Bryant is licensed to practice before any court in the State of Arkansas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. 

Josh Bryant

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Law
    • Wealth Law
      • College Student Powers of Attorney
    • Church Law
    • Business Law
  • Blog
  • Store
  • NWA Lawyer App