To the extent that the Lord Jesus rules and reigns in the hearts of believers, the promises of "Kingdom" living are availed to each of us here and now. As regents of His Kingdom on earth, the Master graciously extends us the privilege of participating in the work of building His Church for humanity's good and His glory.

With this "great commission" in mind, Regent Forum has posted three articles this month that discuss the challenges and opportunities that are set before us globally, nationally and within the Church itself.




Pax Domini


When it comes to strife, it seems “everything that’s old is new again,” especially as it relates to events in the Middle East. Unless a suitable formula for peace is found soon, the ancient hatreds in this volatile region, taken to their logical conclusion—will one day draw the world into a future conflagration of Biblical proportions. How close we are to midnight on the theoretical doomsday clock is anyone’s guess. But if we are to have any hope of being saved from this fate, a new emphasis must be placed on the only levers that have ever motivated mankind—interest or fear.

The world’s preoccupation with a Mid-East peace is based on achieving a level of stability that ensures the continued supply and distribution of the region’s oil reserves. The purveyors of this fossil fuel however encircle the contested land of Israel—with the sovereignty of Jerusalem at stake. Achieving harmony amongst these different worldviews, from a region that has spawned three of the world's major faiths, remains an enigma that demands the world’s attention. Although they share a common ancestry through Abraham, the fundamental tenets of Islam, Judaism and Christianity cannot be reconciled—framing the real crux of these regional tensions.

The surrounding Arab regimes in this melee are sustained by self-appointed, often dictatorial rule over a largely uneducated populace through a compulsory belief system that assails modernity. Islam’s once proud heritage of thought leadership in the arts and sciences, have long since been overshadowed by the tendency of their closed societies to breed and stage terrorism. This environment has proven ideal for those allied with insurgent movements, acting as surrogates to covertly wage war against Israel and its chief ally, the United States. Proliferation of missile technology by these agents to rogue states also constitutes a serious threat to Mid-East stability. By comparison, the Arab plight that links the despot, the fundamentalist cleric dogma and the destitute zealots—provides stark contrast to a stable, prosperous and democratic state of Israel.

As the dominant military power in the region, Israel has emerged virtually unscathed by Arab instigated wars in 1948, ’56, ’67 and ‘73. Since its’ reformation in 1948, Israel has also enjoyed unequivocal support from successive US administrations, projecting the strength of the world’s only remaining super-power to the region. However, to maintain a semblance of order between opposing Mid-East factions, Israel’s military prowess has been bridled when confronting the guerilla-style insurgency that has arisen from spurious claims to land-rights for emigrating Arabs—ostensibly known as “Palestinians.” With secure access to the region’s energy resources at stake, the US-Israeli alliance—designed to create a unilateral deterrent, curiously acts as a vacuum for opposing world powers as well. This chess-game of problematic issues sustains the cycle of strife and misery for both sides here, raising the specter of new attacks from surrounding Arab nations and their surrogate patrons.

What’s to become of this “Gordian knot” of issues that fuels both religious hatred, as well as secular threats to world peace? By searching the prophetic texts found in Scripture, history’s final chapter for this region has already been penned. According to these texts, this generation will witness both the acceptance of a pretentious peace treaty, as well as new offensive campaigns launched against Israel. While these events are prophesied as an inevitable course for the nations involved, the individuals that comprise these factions are not left without personal recourse for realizing an ultimate peace. Rescue from what’s predicted to befall this region though, will require the fortitude of personal introspection and the muting of cultural pride. While the proponents of these contending faiths have debated for ages, the key determinant of any faith’s validity can be reduced to a simple yet profound litmus test—does it pardon, does it save?

To provide context for this standard consider the faith of Islam, which today boasts more than a billion adherents worldwide. The Islamic faith remains essentially unchanged from its original composition by the prophet Mohammed in the 7th century. For all its noble tenets and strictures, Islam has no precedent for personal relationship with the Almighty or atonement for personal sin. This places the faith of Islam squarely in the camp of other belief systems that depend upon a “works” righteousness, or human achievement to win favor from their God. Since no attainable standard is articulated however, Muslims have no apparent means to secure their standing or receive forgiveness—only the foreboding, eventual reckoning with Allah’s justice. Yet this precarious belief system is thrust upon many societies worldwide under the threat of death.

Islam in summary makes no provision for the concept of grace or mercy. Obtaining grace relies on a theological concept found only in the Judeo-Christian doctrine of atonement, which enables God to accomplish something for mankind that we would never achieve on our own—perfection. The unmerited favor of grace, assumes that we’re accountable to a sovereign Creator who demands that justice be served, yet He provides the means to this perfect standard through His compensating love. In deed, God’s promise to reconcile humanity to Himself was accomplished at Calvary, such that those who put their trust in Christ's “saving” work are set free from both the penalty and the power of their waywardness. This standard by grace, acts as history’s fulcrum.

Because sovereign omnipotence by definition is an attribute of God alone, it’s been said that all of history is the outworking of His story. While God is not the author of chaos or evil, He has by design entrusted mankind with personal responsibility, bound only by free moral agency. Even though misuse of this volition is responsible for the inhumane acts visited upon this world, it was a necessary precondition for humanity if it was to fulfill the grander purpose for which it was created—to personally engage in relationship with the Almighty, by grace through faith.

History will record that it was Israel’s failure to fulfill their herald’s role, extending God’s invitation to the world—that brought about their subsequent judgment as a nation and dispersion throughout the world. Today, while the Jewish state has effectively been re-gathered, it has reemerged largely as a secular nation, still under persecution and no longer in search of the promised Messiah. Fortunately, the promises of God to His chosen people are irrevocable, and Israel’s greatest days are yet future, at which time their blindness will be removed.

Like the Jewish people who preceded them, the mantle for proclaiming God’s desire to be reconciled to mankind was later entrusted to American Christendom, as a country founded on the premise of religious freedom. Now in its own post-Christian era, the US too has lost the distinctive momentum that their trust in God initially set in motion. Current policy initiatives of this US administration notwithstanding, the pervasive secular outlook of America—if left unchecked will surely plunge it headlong into obscurity. In fact, the eclipse of American dominance may well be brought about by the corresponding rise of a reunified Europe.

In deed, the European Union that is in place today serves as the latest fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. As their chronologies intertwined with Israel, the empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome where displaced as prophesied, setting the stage for an end-time reunification of Europe. From this latter-day power will come a charismatic leader who will both negotiate and ultimately break a diabolical 7-year peace treaty between Israel and her neighboring enemies? Challenges to this leader’s global power at the end of this period also set in motion a final conflict, which ushers in God’s direct intervention, the consummation of history, and the beginning of the millennial Pax Domini—Messianic rule from Jerusalem.

In the final analysis, world peace will ultimately be realized on God’s terms, albeit at the expense of nations who wage their insurrection against the Almighty in vain. Although a sovereign God has predetermined this outcome, the choice of peace over peril has been extended throughout history—by grace through faith. Every other approach to earn God’s favor—whether the 5 pillars of Islam, the iteration of religious ritual, or even Judaism without a Savior, is destined to wind-up as a tragic footnote in the history of mankind—as another vain attempt to satisfy human pride.

Roy Tanner



Till Kingdom Come, American Citizen

”Therefore…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”…(Philippians 2:12-15 NKJ)

Have you noticed the quiet resurgence of America’s conservative movement recently? For example, four years ago the nation put a conservative president into the White House. Two years ago both houses of Congress added to their conservative majorities. And without much fan-fare, last year’s election ensured a majority of conservative governors now lead state houses across the nation.

This year's coming election however, promises to hold some of the most vitriolic and raucous political contests ever witnessed, pitting conservative incumbents against the “intellectual elite” who seem willing to resort to just about anything to reacquire power. So, in many respects these are the best (and worst) of times. It seems the American experiment that started with the pilgrims, has drifted dangerously off-course since then, in terms of the ideals we hold dear. As such, we find ourselves at a cultural crossroads today.

Data from Barna Research suggests America’s moral perspectives are continuing to degenerate. They go on to state that our moral climate will not improve unless “strong and appealing moral leadership emerges to challenge and redirect people’s thoughts and behavior.” Within this context, what is it that Christians in American culture are called to do today? While the opening passage (above) answers this question, we seem to be split by a polarity of opposing camps advocating pietisms on one hand, and quietism on the other. While no one disagrees that we’re called to pursue our individual maturity in Christ and proclaim the Gospel, “how” we carryout these dual imperatives are matters of much debate.

Should Christians strive to advance a godly public agenda, or just “let go and let God?” I believe the answer is both, as these are two sides of the same coin. We show our world the beauty of righteousness, while resting in the sovereign power of God’s love. Polling data reveals that non-believers are seeking evidence that Christianity is truly life transforming. Individually, we need to “walk the talk” in our homes, communities and at work. Nationally, we must continue to “talk the walk,” as the promoters and defenders of freedom—“endowed by our Creator with inherent rights.” Together, America’s 90 million born again adults comprise an ever-growing percentage of the electorate. As keepers of the flame, are we not to be the champions of the Judeo-Christian ethic in Western culture—especially if we have the mind of Christ?

As for our plight, I am reminded of the book Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, which is best understood as a satire on 18th century morals and thought. In Book I of the story, the small size of the Lilliputians is in inverse proportion to the amount of their corruption. Today, albeit for different reasons, the Lilliputians could easily represent the liberal movement in America. Although relatively small in number, they hold sway over a slumbering conservative majority through control of the media, academia and the courts.

Liberal domination in America though, is a recent phenomenon. The America I know rose to prominence in large part because of a tradition of thrift, energy and intellect that its Puritan founders set in motion. Their lives were a direct outgrowth of their Christian faith. That we’re referred to as a Christian nation today, originates from the tradition of passing our faith and practice to the next generation. Unfortunately, an erosion of these Godly influences and values has accelerated during our generation.

Today’s noisy and rebellious coalition of liberal activists seems bent on removing all vestiges of Christianity from the public square. Under the ruse of “separating church and state” they really seek to “banish their most savage critic”—the Almighty. Try as they may, to scour the landscape of our traditions, they will not succeed, for the Critic lives within us. As temples of the Holy Spirit, Christians remain humanity’s last best hope to reach a world in spiritual darkness. And by His grace we will prevail.

I’ve read the Book. I know how it ends—and it’s glorious (Rev. 21). But until that day, let’s stay vigilant and persevere by remembering who we are and why we’re here. We are called to be light bearers to our generation—till Kingdom come, as American citizens.

Roy Tanner

“You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14, 16 NIV)



Gimme That Ole-Time Religion


“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way, which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJ)

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work…Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:1-5 NKJ)

Apostasy results when the Church conforms to the secular culture around it. So who’s influencing whom in American Christendom today? And if the Church here is losing its distinctiveness, what can be done about it? With these challenging questions in mind, consider the following article (excerpt) written by Gene Edward Veith, entitled “Unbelieving ‘born-agains’.”

“Research continues to reveal a steady theological collapse among professing Christians in America.

Secularists, liberals, and Muslims do not need to fear conservative Christians, says Dave Shiflett in The Wall Street Journal. Christians, he says, are not all that interested in converting the heathen. They don't really believe that there is such a thing as the heathen, tending to believe instead that every religion is equally valid. Even the most feared of Christians—the dread 'born-agains' who have cost the high priests at People for the American Way so much sleep—often embrace the modern orthodoxies of tolerance and inclusion over the traditional teachings of their faith.

He cites poll data from Christian researcher George Barna that 26 percent of even “born-agains” believe all religions are essentially the same and that 50 percent believe that a life of good works will enable a person to get to heaven. He goes on, though, to cite data that cast doubt on whether some of these born-again Christians will be there. More than one in three (35 percent) born-again Christians do not believe that Jesus rose physically from the dead. Slightly more born-again Christians believe in the devil than believe in the Holy Spirit... Ten percent believe in reincarnation. Twenty-nine percent believe it is possible to communicate with the dead.

As for moral issues, one out of three born-again Christians (33 percent), according to Mr. Barna's numbers, accepts same-sex unions. More than one out of three (39 percent) believe it is morally acceptable for couples to live together before marriage. And, significantly, born-again Christians are more likely than non-Christians to have experienced divorce (27 percent vs. 24 percent)…

Obviously this is strong evidence of how American Christianity is conforming to the dominant secular culture. It is all right to be religious, according to the dictates of postmodernism, as long as your faith exists just in your head. If you start claiming that your beliefs are more than just a private mental state that makes you feel good, asserting instead that what you believe is objectively real and valid for everybody, then you are an intolerant menace to society…

(The article goes on to report that) Preachers sometimes exhort people to "invite Jesus into your heart" without proclaiming whom Jesus is and what He has done for sinners. This is evangelism that forgets to preach the gospel. The result will be "non-evangelical born-agains." New Christians, like babies, need to be fed, taught, and cared for; otherwise, they will die in their cribs. What they need is intensive nourishment from the Word of God.”

Bad theology is often the offspring of those who marry secular marketing technique with church growth theory. Yes, we can draw crowds with preaching that offers blessings without need of God’s forgiveness, and His salvation apart from their repentance. But, ministry is to build depth (Eph. 4:12), while God supplies breadth (Acts 2:47). Apparently, we’re doing a great job of attracting, and romancing unbelievers—but now that we have their attention, what are we really teaching them? Perhaps a better balance can be struck between our “thinking globally and acting locally.”

Surely, we are to have ambitious plans for the advancement of the kingdom, and yes, we are called to be culturally relevant. But in our approach to reach the world, we seem to have adopted a fractured world-view, splintered across myriad affinity groups and community outreach programs that individually target the post-modern’s: boomers, busters, crooks, cults, gen-Xers, Jews, Muslims, seekers, singles, seniors, …and any other demographic dimension you can imagine. But if all of our demonstrated empathy to attract the lost doesn’t ultimately lead to their repentance, why bother going through the motions?

Unfortunately, in the process of attempting to accommodate such diversity, we’re also tempted to embrace a tolerance for “broad road” views that seem to be elevating human wisdom over that of God’s. We are called to enter the “narrow gate” and maybe that requires we advocate people first count the cost of having the Lord be Savior. If salvation is a work of God (Jn. 6:65), why do we feel that anyone other than the elect will respond in a genuine fashion to the Gospel anyway? Sadly, both our methods and the message tend to be compromised in our outreach approaches.

As an international cultural strategist and lead pastor of Mosaic Church, Erwin McManus circumnavigates worldview barriers differently. His outreach includes a populace so diverse that they share few of our Christian presuppositions. McManus suggests that regardless of what cultural bent we start with, the “touch-points” that all of humanity will resonate with include: that life has meaning, that a significant destiny awaits each of us, and that these are found in the context of community, as part of the family of God. He reports that once they establish a relationship of trust on these fronts (with any affinity group), seekers embrace the Gospel message.

As for post-conversion progress, statistics also bear-out an abysmal grasp of even the historic fundamentals of the faith including: the deity of Christ, salvation by grace through faith (in Christ), and the inspiration-inerrancy of Scripture. Aside from evangelicals, there also seems to be little that’s being taught to advance even a modest understanding of hermeneutics, for appropriating Biblical truth. At a minimum, American congregants need to identify with the dispensational truth of the “Church age” across four broad themes, namely that we are to be: saved, sanctified, Spirit-filled and (dare I say it) that we be prepared to suffer for our uncompromising faith.

Essentially, the Church is called to be distinctive, and not perceived as “lukewarm”(Rev. 3:14-22). As a result, we need to stay committed to preaching the full counsel of God in an unadulterated fashion (Acts 2:38-41). In addition to staying true to the “ole time” message, we need to reinforce the pulpit’s impact in at least three key areas when it comes to our core membership tracks:

First and foremost, we need to adequately equip our people such that they clearly understand what they believe and why. According to Josh McDowell, we’re in dire need of a revolution—a “CrossCulture” revolution. (www.mycrossculture.com/overview.spl)

Second, it should be a fundamental tenant that believers be instructed on how to share their faith. Willow Creek’s training approach leverages personality styles and contagious relationships in evangelism. (http://www.willowcreek.com/conferences/evangelism)

And third, we need to inculcate a life of stewardship with our time, talents, and resources, in order to staff and fund the work of the kingdom. Crown Ministries plans to train 300 million people by 2015 in these areas. (www.cfcministry.org/other/about.asp)

Ultimately, God will add to the Church those who have been elected for salvation (Acts 13:48). With the enormous privilege of participating in His outworking, let’s be mindful of Jude’s exhortation to the Church, that when it comes to our faith and practice—we are to (by all means) “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

Roy Tanner