God and Culture

The Public as High Priest: Who Has the Power to Forgive Sins?

Caroline Ferdinandsen — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:38:16 -0800

This week Daniel Radcliffe and Demi Moore--with personal demons to spare--have again shown how celebrity confessions redefine redemption for a public community. I always believed forgiveness was an act of God wherein a man’s spirit is made right again through divine mercy. Yet the new faith for a secular world has made public opinion the modern high priest: we allow you to do bad things--and then forgive you for it--as long as a self-effacing confession comes with it.

It’s Public Relations 101: If You Judge Yourself, We Won’t. High profile confessors fare much better than high profile defenders. If you cop to your sins quickly in this country, you’re beloved. Radcliffe, who recounts struggling with alcohol as a young actor in the spotlight, humbly admits his faults this week and suddenly the public swoons over his maturity. Moore, who openly confesses a life of self-destruction and narcissism, is surrounded by supporters who wish her a safe passage.

But Charlie Sheen or Bill Clinton, whose self-delusions made them fit for public floggings, didn’t fare so well. Men and women who don’t own their sins are rarely given any grace from a judgmental public. You see, others’ faults give us plenty of steps on which to climb, until we feel morally higher than the rest. Who wants to give mercy to a sinner who has manufactured plenty of it in his own mind first? If you play the victim, you’re doomed.

This public system of redemption and punishment is certainly not Jesus’ way. When he teaches, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” it is not a public relations reaction. It is a deeply spiritual and private repentance wherein we gain access to a divine Savior’s compassion and justice. The enormity of Jesus’ sin-trade is sobering; it’s a gift beyond comprehension. A man who has fallen--and understands his brokenness under the sway of the Holy Spirit--is a man who needs no public redemption; he only needs God’s. The repentant man seeks only to be reclaimed by his Lord and Savior. Sometimes his reputation is rehabilitated, but sometimes it is not. God’s forgiveness is enough.

When Isaiah cries out Woe to me! . . . I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty, he agrees with two truths: one, that he is depraved, and two, that God’s holiness stands in contrast to that depravity. I might even go so far to say that he only realizes his depravity because he has “seen the King Almighty.” In a secular society, where reputations are often our paychecks, we might admit the first but only in isolation of the second. Fixing our depravity usually means we are seeking restoration of our public image--an effort as familiar as the Pharisees’ chronic public relations stunts among their Jewish peers.

In a secular society it makes perfect sense that we create our own kingdoms of righted wrongs. The wrongs are whatever strikes the public as icky at the time, and we right them by addressing the public with transparent confessions. Rehab, quite simply, isn’t the same as redemption. Neither is willpower, counseling, or public contrition. I make no judgment on the sincerity of Radcliffe, Moore, or any public persona for I do not know them. But for me, until I’m able to say, like Isaiah, that my eyes have seen the King, my admissions of guilt will only lead me back to myself.

Lessons of Suffering

Laurie Russell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:14:33 -0800

Recently, Mark and I had a conference call with a pastor of a large church to pick his brain on some potential writing projects. As he spoke wisdom poured out of his mouth and one of his comments struck me, “God just doesn’t seem real to a lot of people any more.”

He believed a big reason why is due to our avoidance of suffering.

Okay – I don’t like to suffer and I’m guilty of doing my best to rid it in my life and my family’s life. I want everything to be fun, easy-going and feel-good. However, by doing this, am I missing out on an opportunity to experience God in a new and deeper way?

Perhaps I’m not alone in dodging suffering. Our culture has made it convenient for us. If something hurts, we can numb it with a pill. Our mobile and transient lifestyle allows us to escape stressful relationships. We can change churches, schools, jobs, even marriages instead of dealing with the issue.

Please don’t get me wrong – there are times when meds are a must and for safety and sanity, it’s best for us to flee a situation and change location. God did give us a flight instinct as a survival mechanism.

But as I thought about our pastor friend’s comments I realized he’s right – not all suffering is bad and can be beneficial to us.

1. Suffering shows us what is important – A good friend was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. She’s not talking about success in work, the larger home or new car. Nope, she’s talking about the love of family and friends and a God who saves. Her uncertain future has cleared her vision and she sees what matters – God, family, friends and love.

2. Suffering makes us stronger – The best athletes are not always the most gifted but the ones who work through and endure the pain of training. Their bodies are stronger and they’ve earned a “can-do” attitude that won’t let them quit. The same principle works with our hearts and mind. We’re able to handle more and what use to paralyze us no longer has control over us. We develop perseverance through pain.

3. Suffering brings us to our knees – When times are good, we look to ourselves but when times are hard we fall on our knees and look to God. It is these times we see His face and feel His touch. We are able to overcome obstacles that we couldn’t do without Him.

4. Suffering engages our emotions – Emotions are strong motivators that push us to act. Our compassion and empathy go into sleep mode if they’re not used. When we’re sleeping life around us is happening but we’re not engaged with it and when we’re not engaged, we’re wasting the time God has given us on earth.

There’s a lot of suffering in our world and our quick-fix lifestyle tempt us to avoid it and by-pass it any way possible. But, by prayerfully enduring and facing our challenges, we’re experience God in a whole new and real way.

Praise God in times of peace and embrace Him in times of suffering. In both ways you’ll sense His presence.

What are your views on suffering?

Do you embrace it or avoid it?

How has suffering helped you?

Is it Spiritual to Be Healthy? Book Review

Laurie Russell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:12:40 -0800

Every now and then I’m asked by a publisher to do a book review. Not long ago, Zondervan offered to send me the book Every Body Matters by Gary Thomas for free if I’d be to write a blog post about it. Well, uh…yeah! I love to read and stuff that is free. Plus the topic of the book intrigued me.

The title is a play on words – it’s not talking about everybody but every body matters. Thomas connects our spiritual being with our physical body. When you take care of your body with healthy eating and physical exercise, you’re empowering your spirit with zeal to do good work for God.

Thomas is quick to point out that he’s not promoting one to build his or her body to be admired by others, but instead to strengthen it in order to serve God.

One point he made that stood out to me was that Satan is not concerned with “what” brings our ministry down but only that it ends. For some that may be poor health. God desires for us all to have many years serving Him and if our health is depleting, we rob God and ourselves of the opportunity to bless others.

In one chapter he mentioned Nelson Mandela who spent twenty-seven years in jail. His jail cell was no bigger than a queen size bed but Mandela would run in place for an hour, do push-ups and crunches in order to keep him from dwindling.

In his youth, Mandela had been an amateur boxer and devoted runner. He learned lessons of perseverance and strength from these sports that he was able to apply it to his extended stay in jail.

Mandela was 75-years-old when he became president of South Africa and remained in office until he was 80-years-old. He physical strength enabled him to lead his country once he was free. He was able to fulfill the role that God had created him for.

Thomas does warn about idolizing our body and exercising. He’s sensitive to those who may be struggling with food. However, he’s very bold in stating that the church needs to address (in love) gluttony how we care for our bodies.

Overall, this was a really good read that challenged and inspired me to see that caring for my health is a spiritual thing. I don’t need to feel guilty for taking an hour of my day to exercise. He does a lot of quoting to prove his points. At times this disrupted my reading, but not too badly. Plus, most of the quotes were really good so in a sense it negates it.

So what are your thoughts on exercise and healthy eating?

Do you see exercise as a spiritual discipline?

Is it a sin if we neglect our bodies and eat junk food?

Let me know what you think. I’m eager to hear!

Christian Time Machines and Internet Memes

Caroline Ferdinandsen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:40:38 -0800

Note: This post is completely indulgent and it could be totally stupid (my teenage kids tell me it’s probably fifty-fifty). Furthermore, unless you’re in your forties, lived in Texas as a teenager, love Jesus, and have been trolling the internet since its inception, you might not understand a word of it. Feel free to leave now, especially if you’ve enjoyed anything else I’ve written.

Like some of you, I’m a strange hybrid of old and young. My formative years spent in the pre-tech 1980s have now collided with my maturing years spent in the tech-saturated new millennium. I was a Bible Belt native not too long ago: big hair, big churches, big shoulder pads, and big regrets in the 90s. With perspective, I can now see what was terribly wrong with us, and yet I haven’t lost my faith in Jesus nor his Church.

But it does make me wonder: what would it have been like if the 1980s Bible Belt had access to this generation’s internet memes? So in the spirit of silliness, here are ten ways my teen years would have been different if Al Gore had invented the internet ten years earlier.

1. Charismatics--not Double Rainbow Guy--getting attention for wild, spiritual epiphanies.

No disrespect to my Assembly of God brothers and sisters but somebody, somewhere would have surely videotaped themselves under the influence of the Spirit and been christened late night talk show guest-of-the-month.

2. WINNING! Charlie Sheen meets Jim Bakker.

In case you didn’t know, a guy named Jim Bakker, disgraced televangelist, was the center of tabloid fodder long before Sheen. It’s a shameful history, but the circus atmosphere prompted by some good old-fashioned narcissism was eerily similar.

3. LOLCats.

I’ve got nothing insightful here. “I Can Has Cheezburger?” would have been stupid in any generation.

4. Rick Astley Getting Rickrolled?

In the weirdest meta-moment ever, can you imagine Rick Astley of the song “Never Gonna Give You Up” himself being Rickrolled in the year 1987? Mind. Blown.

5. The Downfall movie (2004) dubbed with HItler’s reaction to“backward masking” found embedded in Satanic rock music.

There are over a thousand “Hitler Responds” videos floating out there. But I’m certain I could write the best subtitles ever if given the chance. It could be the most self-aware bit of irony ever.

6. Prince Charles and Princess Diana dance unselfconsciously down the royal wedding aisle to Chris Brown’s “Forever.”

Okay, if you’ve ever seen Prince Charles you know this is pure speculation.

7. Jimmy Swaggart’s televised “I have sinned” confession goes viral, gets autotuned.

Nothing else to say about this.

8. All thirty-six seniors at Glad Tidings Academy decide to Lip Dub Stryper’s “To Hell With the Devil,” and then get suspended.

This really happened in 1986. Just without YouTube.

9. Chernobyl shows up on Fail Blog.

. . . prompting Christians to actually pray for the Soviets in a stunning reversal of USSR angst.

10. The Feminist Ryan Gosling meme gets a Christian makeover.

Imagine Kirk Cameron in a chic, metro photo: “Hey Girl. Let’s revisit Ephesians 5. Despite its orthodox theology, I still think you’re the cutest weaker vessel ever.”

I used to have no sense of humor until I took an arrow to the knee, but there you have it: a time machine mash-up that maybe a few of you might appreciate. I’ll be back to my familiar posts before long, but thanks for letting me be completely ridiculous.

Are We Too Touchy on Touch?

Laurie Russell — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:55:54 -0800

It was the worst day in my life. Our daughter Anastasia was two-years-old. We were living in Germany in a townhome, three-stories high with winding, marble stairs. Anastasia, like most two-year-olds, was my shadow and followed me continually up and down the stairs.

I worked busily that morning, getting ready for an overnight guest. The drain to the shower was clogged so I used a spoon to pour with some Draino crystals directly into the pipes. A small amount of the crystals mixed with some water and stuck to the spoon.

At the hospital she was put in the pediatric intensive care ward. We were blessed that the majority of the burns were in her mouth but her saliva had carried some of the chemicals down her esophagus and the doctors needed to see the extent of the damage.

They performed an endoscopy on her, placing a tube with a light and camera down her throat to allow them to see if her burns would require surgery. Mark and I waited and prayed.

After a while a nurse hurried to get me. Anastasia was in recovery but was having a reaction to the anesthesia. The tubes attached to her body scared her and she was flailing and screaming. The nurses feared her cries would further damage her burns and cause permanent scarring.

Immediately I went to her side and tried to calm her down. But she couldn’t hear me - she was in a panic zone. I looked at the cords around her and wasn’t sure if I could move her. I asked the nurses if I could try holding her. They worked to loosen and remove cords to help me.

I scooped her up and she nuzzled into me. She recognized my touch and then was able to hear my voice. She knew her mommy was with her.

Pete Wilson tells us that God’s most frequently stated promise in the Bible is, “I Am with you.” Knowing I’m not alone brings me peace but sometimes it’s hard to believe when you can't feel the touch of an invisible God.

When you compare our culture to the rest of the world, Americans are some of the touchiest about touch. I understand we need to be careful and teach our kids about inappropriate touch. It’s wise to be cautious at times in order to avoid a false accusation or putting yourself in a bad situation. Unfortunately, I’m too aware of the damage inappropriate touch can do and I’m very sympathetic to it.

At the same time, part of me wonders if God would like to use our arms to help others hear His voice?

My cuddles didn’t remove Anastasia’s pain or take her out of the hospital – she still had to endure her situation. But my touch calmed her enough so she was able to hear my voice and see that I was with her, the same way God is with us during our hardships.

Now I’m not saying to go and hug the next person you run into or to pat the lonely sole in the locker room on the back (and please don’t quote me in court if you do), but listen to the nudges God gives you.

It was awkward for me to ask the nurses to help remove the cords so I could hold Anastasia but that was the direction I felt and it worked. It may not always feel natural but it’s amazing what God can do through our touch.

What are your thoughts on how our culture handles touch?

Has God ever touched you with His power through the loving arms of another?

When Hate Rules, Our Children Fall

Laurie Russell — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:48:49 -0800

Last week, we passed the 1-year anniversary of the horrific day in Tucson, Arizona. On January 8, 2011, a lone shooter shot U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and eighteen other people. Six died, including 9-year-old Christiana-Taylor Green.

Recently I read the book As Good As She Imagined by Roaxanna Green and Jerry B. Jenkins. It’s a wonderful book that portrays the life of this 9-year-old, Christina-Taylor. My heart mourned for the victims and their families but especially for the Green family. No one wants to lose his or her child.

Green and Jenkins share stories from Christina-Taylor’s short life and I couldn’t help but fall in love with her and her family. It’s reminded me of the importance of community, love of family and how enduring challenges develops the perseverance needed to survive later trials.

It encouraged me to enjoy each moment with my loved ones. Not to sweat the small stuff and to avoid passivity. Christina-Taylor did a lot in her 9-years on earth and she left us with her mark and a smile.

The book does a great job not to glorify the shooter, however, part of me kept going back to him and wondering, “Why did he do it?”

Years ago, when we were preparing to go as missionaries overseas, Mark studied five common traits that start a movement. One of the greatest unifying factors was a common enemy. People normally at odds bond as they fight and, at times, are pushed to do things they normally wouldn’t do.

We don’t know why the shooter went on a killing rampage. Maybe it was politically motivated.

A voting year is upon us. Emotions are already flying and people are bonding over a common “enemy”. Adversaries are being named and their reputations are being destroyed.

However, when we view another as an enemy, hate is born. It brews and boils and moves us to action(s) and ones we often regret.

Jesus told us to love our enemies. It’s a pretty radical request and not always easy to do. We shouldn’t look at our neighbor as the enemy, even if we disagree or dislike what they say or do.

When we pray for our enemies, God’s power is at work in both them and us. We’re able to love and find real peace.

Before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed that we’d be united. Politics by nature divides us but at the same time it puts his children in each party. Perhaps this is God’s strategic way of shining his light on all sides.

As the debates and campaigns continue, think of Christina-Taylor. She was not at Giffords’ meeting to promote hate, rather to do good. We need to make sure we’re not working to defeat the enemy in the other party but to find the next man or woman God has chosen to lead our country.

Hate blurs our vision but love helps us to see clearly.

Do you have people in your life who are hard to love due to political affiliation?

How do you handle it?

Have you read Green and Jenkins’ book As Good As She Imagined?

A History of Israel's Struggle: Part 2

Matt Chapin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:39:06 -0800

Previously I wrote on how the nation of Israel received its name, what the name means, and its theological implications. Jacob was named Israel by the angel who wrestled him, who many believe is the preincarnate Christ. The name Israel means, he struggles with God. I then provided a macro view of how the nation of Israel split apart into two different kingdoms, their exile to Babylon, and their return. The Israelite’s who survived the Babylonian invasion and were exiled off to Iraq, became known as the remnant. (2 Chron. 36:20; Jer. 25:11)

In 539 B.C, a year after Persia’s overthrow of the Babylonian Empire, Cyrus the ruler of Persia, decreed the Israelites who were under Babylonian captivity were free to return to their homeland. This is all in keeping with the words of the prophet Isaiah who prophesied 200 years before Cyrus’ decree that God himself would raise up Cyrus to bring about God’s purposes of bringing the remnant back to their homeland. (Isa. 44: 28, Isa. 45:1-5)

Although the Israelites were allowed to return to Jerusalem and settle in Judea, the Persian Empire still exercised control over their region. Because of that the returning remnant was unable to establish a sovereign nation like they had in place before their exile.

During the Hellenistic Period, between 331-164 B.C. Israel witnessed a great deal of political power changing hands which they couldn’t help but be effected by. They witnessed the overthrow of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great, and decided to submit to the rule of Alexander. Then they saw Alexander’s kingdom divided, which gave opportunity for power and rule by the Egyptian Ptolemaic Empire. Egyptian control ended in 198 B.C. About this time the Syrian Empire rose up and terrorized the Jews living in Palestine, denying them their way of living and making a mockery of their religion.

The Syrian’s power of the Jews in Palestine was short lived. By 164 B.C. the Syrians were displaced and overcome by a Jewish revolt led by Judas “the Maccabee”. Judas was from a priestly lineage, and this priestly family formed a government amongst their people, and their period of reign was known as the Hasmonean or Maccabean Periord which was from 164-63 B.C.

Near the end of these 100 years of self governing, the government began to collapse due to corruption. With the level of upheaval going on within their government, the Jewish leaders sought the Roman General Pompey to come restore order. Part of Pompey’s reestablishing order brought with it Roman rule. So from 63 B.C. to well into the fourth century A.D. the Jews lived under a Roman occupation.

With the dismantling of the Roman Empire occurring in 476 A.D. the land of Palestine was again vulnerable to attack. In 591 the Romans made a treaty with the Persians, which led to the Persians taking control of Jerusalem in 614.

At around this time Muhammad (570-632) establishes Islam, and in 637 A.D. the Arabs take control of Jerusalem and asserted themselves there by building the Mosque of Omar a year later. The mosque, better known today as the Dome of the Rock, was completed in 691 A.D.

Because of the rapid spread of Islam by force, fear developed in the Eastern part of the church as well as the West. Back then politics and the church were intricately related, and as a result of Europe’s fears the Crusades aimed to push the Muslims away from Europe and the holy places.

The Crusades lasted several centuries and the battle for Jerusalem between European nations and Muslim nations changed hands several times. The Muslims took control in 1244 A.D. and the last Crusade left in 1291 A.D.

Eventually Muslim control of Palestine became part of the Ottoman Empire, which lasted until the conclusion of WWI when the empire began to be broken up, and the Balfour Declaration declared British Palestine a national Jewish homeland. A few years later in 1922 Jerusalem was declared the capital city of the British mandate of Palestine. This of course led to the British giving full national sovereignty back to the Jews, and after WWII in the year of 1948 the nation of Israel was reborn.

This is obviously a very rough outline of the history of conflict in the Promised Land between the coming of Christ, and his ascension. What I hope it illustrates is the truth of the words the angel spoke to Jacob so many centuries ago. The truth that Israel has struggled with God, and with man, but the question remains and has remained around for a long time, how will they overcome?

Why Does God Interrupt My Goals?

Laurie Russell — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:06:42 -0800

Do you ever feel your life is full of many “almost made it” opportunities? The interruptions of life continually prevent you from accomplishing your goal and living out your dream. You almost got the promotion, almost got married, almost won the competition, almost got into that college, almost bought the house, almost had a baby, almost beat cancer…

They can happen to us or even our loved ones, either way they put a sharp curve in the road, taking us in another direction, to a destination we have no desire to visit.

Some times these are self-invoked and happen because we (or another around us) turned the steering wheel in the wrong direction due to a bad decision – texting while driving, cheating on our taxes, shaving our legs with a dull razor. (Uh…TMI on that last one?)

Other times we’re driving innocently down our path when God, for some unknown reason, sticks a “detour” sign in the middle of the road. Instead of our intended direct route, He sends us on the scenic one and it feels as if we’re wasting, or losing, time in the process.

Many (many) years ago I was a dancer, a hip-hop dancer (Yep, makes me laugh too, but I was not bad for a white girl, ha). I was getting hired in small jobs around Atlanta and working my name into the business. I was a new Christian and figured I could use music and dance as a ministry to reach the younger generation. It would meet a need.

However, right as my dancing began to take off, God called me into missions. I fought it hard initially but the calling into missions never went away. In fact it grew the more I opened my mind to it.

While in Russia I met a guy who was also a missionary. He became my best friend and remained a friend until four years later, when we began dating and soon married. We continued in missions and traveled all over the world and now have two wonderful kids and have begun our own publishing company.

I don’t share this to brag on me but instead on God and the adventure He gave me via a “detour” sign. You see, if I had of ignored the “detour” sign in the road, I would have never met Mark. I’m sure God would have still blessed my hip-hop dancing ministry, but it would have been without Mark.

I’ve recently begun Priscilla Shirer’s bible study, Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted. She teaches that life’s interruptions are often God’s divine interventions.

I joke now about my dancing but at the time it was a very, very hard dream to let go. I didn’t understand why God would give me the gift and desire to dance, only to take it away. In a way, I still don’t. But, I do know is that I would do it all again.

When you follow God’s scenic route, it may take longer. The road may not be as smooth. The curves may even make you carsick. BUT…it will be a great adventure and so worth any discomfort and extra time it takes.

How do you handle God’s divine interventions?

Do you have an advice to offer anyone who may be facing a curve in their road?

BTW – if you are looking for a good study to do - check out Priscilla Shirer’s Jonah study. I LOVE her stuff!

Seeing God When He's Silent

Laurie Russell — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:35:24 -0800

A cool thing happened to me this morning. I went for an early morning run before work. It was still dawn (I was going to say “twilight” but I didn’t want to distract you and cause you to think the movie Twilight and then wonder if I believed in vampires - which I don’t, btw). The sun was beginning to rise over Boise’s foothills but not enough to give much light.

I like running in the dark. It keeps me from looking at how far I still have to go and instead forces me to focus the steps in front of me. I’m not distracted by the scenery around but look solely at the path in front of me.

It was peaceful and therapeutic.

Life’s been rough lately and the world’s craziness makes it even harder to find peace. God tells us in the Bible not to be anxious about anything but that is easier said than done.

As I ran in the quietness, I prayed through my same petitions, hoping God would hear me in the stillness of the night. But He was quiet.

An old friend once reminded me that God inhabits the praise of His people. “If you want God’s attention, then praise Him!” So I tried it.

It was awkward at first but as I continued, I looked around me and noticed the foothills were glowing more as the sun continued to rise. It was gorgeous, making it easier to praise God for His creation and beauty.

I sensed more of God’s presence but He was still silent. I needed to know if my prayers were being heard. In desperation I pleaded, “God I just need to know that You hear me and see us. Please can You shine some light on us. Please shine Your light on us.”

I walked around a curve on the path that put our house in my direct line of vision. Our neighbor’s trees framed it and exactly behind our house was the sun shining on it, like a spot light. At the moment, only our house was illuminated by the sun. It felt as if God were saying, “Oh yes, I see you. I see all of you!”

It was cool, really cool.

Praise is not a magic formula that will make an invisible God visible, but does help to redirect our prayers. It took me out of my “I want, I need” prayers into petitions of asking to see God.

The time of praise took my eyes off myself and onto God.

God may at times seem silent and but when we persist in praise He makes his presence known.

Has God ever revealed Himself to you in a time of praise?

Trend Forecasts for 2012

Stan Jantz — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:06:15 -0800

I’ve never been big on making predictions for any particular New Year. I suppose it has something to do with not wanting to be wrong, but 2012 seems different (and it’s not just because the Mayan calendar has the world ending on December 21). Because there are so many significant global trends that seem to be converging in a way that could produce more change and opportunity than any of us have seen in quite some time, I’m very interested in the future.

So, for what they’re worth, here are seven “trend forecasts” for 2012, and why I think they matter:

1. The 2012 U.S. elections will be contentious and bitterly fought (like it takes a genius to predict this one). We’ve all been disheartened at the way the political process has been working in the last few years, and the elections in 2012 may hit a new low point.

Why this matters: As Christians called to be responsible citizens, we can’t give up on the governing process God has put into place, no matter who wins and no matter how much we disagree with some of our leaders, laws, and public policies. No matter who’s in power, we need to submit to and pray for those in authority over us (Romans 13:1-7).

2. The European financial crisis will have an impact on our own economy. Several countries—Greece and Spain in particular—are teetering on the brink of a full financial meltdown.

Why this matters: Besides the effect such collapses could have on our own financial markets, a full-blown disaster in Europe could dissuade many on this side of the Pond from steering our own country towards a European socialistic model of governance.

3. Persecution of Christians will continue in many parts of the world. The killing of dozens of Nigerian Christians by Islamists on Christmas Day is a stark reminder of the kind of violent opposition that awaits countless Christians in the coming months and years.

Why this matters: Our hearts should break anytime Christians are killed simply because they follow Christ. At the same time, we need to remember that Jesus warned His disciples that if the world hates Him, it will also hate those who follow Him (John 15:18).

4. The assault on marriage will continue. It isn’t just the gay issue and the relentless push to redefine marriage as a covenant between two people rather than between a man and a woman. Marriage itself is falling out of favor as more and more people seem reluctant to make covenant relationships of any kind.

Why this matters: According to the way God set things up in His created world, marriage between a man and a woman isn’t a right. It’s a divine model established by God for human flourishing and as a picture of our own relationship to His Son.

5. The Charismatic church will continue to outpace all other faith traditions. At the present time, one in four Christians in the world is Pentecostal/Charismatic, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down.

Why this matters: People are longing for a deeper experience with God and a touch of the miraculous. The Western Church in particular has promoted a pragmatic kind of faith that excludes the supernatural work of God in the world. We need to live as if the supernatural is real and the miraculous is possible, and that begins by embracing the promise and the power of the Holy Spirit.

6. People are reaching a level of social media exhaustion. Facebook will grow to 1 billion users in 2012, but users and usage have leveled off in this country. Twitter is still growing, but many users don’t tweet all that much if at all. The bottom line is that many are growing weary of the social media rat race.

Why this matters: Is it possible that people are getting tired of relating to other humans digitally rather than directly? Technology has brought us so many opportunities, but it’s no substitute for face-to-face connections. As those who are called to love our Creator and our neighbor, we have an opportunity to wisely use both social media and personal social interaction to bring the light and life of Jesus to a world hungry for authentic relationships.

7. Books and publishing will continue to be transformed. 2011 was the year of the ebook reader—most notably Amazon’s Kindle and Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble’s Nook. More than half of all fiction sales are digital, and in all categories the ebook is growing as a percentage of total book sales.

Why this matters: I believe we’ve reached a “tipping point” in terms of people being comfortable reading books on a screen. Print is not going away, but ebooks will continue to grow in influence. This trend poses enormous challenges and opportunities for publishers and writers alike.

There you have it. Seven trend forecasts for 2012. I admit they aren’t bold or surprising, but I hope they prompt some reflection as you ponder your own life in the New Year.