Through Condemned Eyes

I have a friend on TN’s death row who is an excellent artist. A few years back I asked him to draw some scenes from his interpretations of bible stories. I told him if he would do so, I would use those drawings in a sermon series. So far he has drawn 12 pictures for me. This is part one of that series and serves as an introduction to the series. As I preach through his drawings I will post them here. However, please understand I will not be preaching them straight through. It will take me a while to go through all 12 drawings. You can listen to the sermon here.

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Have you ever done something you wish you could take back?

Have you ever made one mistake that was so drastic it changed the direction of your entire life?

Have you ever done something so bad you thought there could never be forgiveness?

If you could go back in life to that one bad decision, that one bad mistake, that one bad moment in time and change it. Would you?

Or, would you rather accept who you are and where you are as a testimony of God’s mercy, God’s grace and God’s forgiveness in your life, in spite of your best efforts to thwart His plans for your life?

Here is a life lesson we all must learn: You are not the sum total of the worst day of your life. No matter what you have done, no matter how bad you think it is, and no matter what other people say about you. You are more than that and you are better than that. Much more.

The same thing is true for other people. This is why we have no right to judge. Other people are not the sum total of the worst day of their lives.

Prison Ministry

I, quote, “answered the call to preach” in July of 1981. I was fifteen years old. One of the first places I preached was a local jail in Nashville. It was called the “workhouse” and was a minimum-security jail across the interstate from the Titan’s stadium, off Shelby Avenue. The men housed in this jail worked regular jobs outside the jail and returned each evening. A man from my church led an early service every Sunday morning. On occasion, he asked me to come and preach. Even though I was a teenager, the jail gave me permission to go inside with him. While I loved the opportunity, in my youthful arrogance I thought to myself, “I can’t wait till I become a real preacher and don’t have to preach in jail anymore.” I also had the same thought every time I preached at the Nashville Rescue Mission. Now, all these years later, I find myself preaching and ministering to people in prison and people experiencing homelessness. And I would not change a thing.

In the Summer of 2014, I walked into Tennessee’s Death Row for the first time. Little did I know how much that day would change my life. And it wasn’t just because of Kevin Burns, although, next to Misty, my daughter and her husband, and my two grandkids, my relationship with KB may be my most important relationship. All the guys inside Unit 2, the home of Tennessee’s Death Row, have made me a better person. I went in, thinking I was taking Jesus with me. Jesus, however, was already on death row, waiting for me. I met Jesus in the faces of Batman, Diamond Jim, Bam-Bam, K-Hen, Fly, Big Bro, Little Pale, Skillet, St. Louis, and Taco. Just to name a few. All these men, condemned by the State of Tennessee, yet forgiven by Jesus, who Himself was condemned to die by the State, have become my friends. Thinking about all this, the Apostle Paul’s words have become real to me. Paul wrote, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The men in Unit 2 live out that promise every day.

As I have gotten to know these men, I have learned about their passions and talents. Some study philosophy. Others write music and poetry. Still others practice woodwork. Several are artists and painters. One such artist is Kennath Henerson. Kennath draws with colored pencils, and his work is astounding.

A few years ago, I asked Kennath if he would draw a series based on events in the Bible. I told him, if he would draw them and share with me the inspiration behind his drawings, I would preach a series of sermons based on his drawings. Recently, Kennath finished eight drawings. I think he is going to add a few more, but right now there are eight. My plan is to use the drawings in a series I am calling, Through Condemned Eyes. The series will not be eight weeks in a row but scattered over the course of several months. As we go through this series, I will also share more of the Kennath’s story. This is part one in the series, and it serves as an introduction. In this introduction, I want to focus on the title, Through Condemned Eyes. On the surface, that sounds like a horrible title, but it is not. The title is about forgiveness and hope found in Jesus Christ. Thus, the subtitle for this series is, “Life is beautiful when you see yourself the way God sees you.”

Through Condemned Eyes:

In his letter to the church in Rome, the Apostle Paul wrote, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10-12, 23). Those are harsh words, but they are true words. Later in Romans, Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). In other words, because of our disobedience to God, we have all been condemned. “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in (God’s) sight…” (Romans 3:20). We very easily condemn others for what they have done, but we bristle at the thought of being condemned personally. Other people, who do wrong, deserve the punishment they receive, but not us. There is always an excuse, always a reason why, always a way to explain our condemnation away. Others, we tell ourselves, deserve condemnation, but not me.

And so we try and try and try to prove how good we really are. The Apostle Paul told us he tried to escape condemnation by keeping the laws found in the Old Testament. “If I just tried harder,” the thought, “I will avoid condemnation.”  But Paul concluded:

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature^[b] a slave to the law of sin (Romans 7:14-25).

Then, Paul wrote what may be the single most important verse in all the Bible. He wrote, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Wow! Do you understand what Paul was actually saying? He has spent seven chapters telling us how sinful we are and how deserving we are of condemnation. He has made the argument that it doesn’t matter if you are a serial killer, a serial liar, or a good person who periodically makes mistakes, we are all condemned. The Message version of the Bible says, “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I am at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?” (Romans 7:24) Paul then answers is own question, “The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but I am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different” (Romans 7:25). It is out of this marvelous news that Jesus came to make things right. Paul says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he (God) condemned sin in sinful man” (Romans 8:3).

Here is how The Message translates Romans 8:1-3, “With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.”   

Sit with this for a moment. Take it in.

The world may condemn you. Other people may think you are worthless. Dogs may snarl at you when you walk by. No one may respect you or show you even the smallest amount of love and compassion. The government may think what you have done is so bad the only solution is to execute you. BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS! God loves you. God sees you. God has not forgotten you. God loves you so much that He sent His Son, not to condemn YOU because of your sin, but to condemn the SIN itself. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). In our piousness we like to say, “Love the sinner. Hate the sin.” But that doesn’t go far enough. Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, we should say, “Never, ever, ever, condemn the person. Condemn the sin (personal, structural, and systemic) that is all around us and that keeps us from being right with God. But don’t ever condemn the person.”

Because of Jesus we are no longer condemned. In other words, when you see yourself the way God sees you, life is beautiful.

 Then Paul says, because of the work of the Holy Spirit, we are more than conquerors. Listen to what Paul writes next:

“…in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children…

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:4-16, 37-39).

CONCLUSION:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). That may be the single greatest statement, not just in the Bible, but in the entire world. It is good news to everyone. When you accept that you are no longer condemned, and neither is anyone else, you will see the world through different eyes.

Kennath sees the world through the beautifully redeemed eyes of an artists. We can learn a lot through his art. Kennath also writes poetry. So let me close with a poem he wrote, entitled “This is Who I Am.” As I read it, remember this is a man condemned by the State, but redeemed by Jesus. Kennath sees himself the way God sees him, not the way others may see him.

I enjoy giving warmth and affection,

for I understand what makes a heart feel entirely free.

To run and play as I’ve seen many people do,

live-out the dreams of love given to me.

Love has given my heart the chance to know true happiness,

to feel the joy of total trust and honesty.

To see why love is deemed as very precious,

understanding how it can transcend feelings beyond reality.

I didn’t realize how much love could change life

and how it could make a heart choose right or wrong.

Liberating the deepest thoughts and feelings,

revealing beauty and pleasure that can’t be merely shown.

I didn’t know love could mean so much to me

 or make my heart want to give it all the time.

I couldn’t see how it would affect my life and I’m surprised

at how it keeps so many loving thoughts on my mind.

Love has given my heart its strongest desire,

a chance to experience my strongest inspirations.

To share the pleasing emotions from true happiness and

encounter feelings that free the sweetest sensations.

Love is in all that I am—a heart, mind, and soul—

Stirring with excitement, enchanting passion, exulting zeal,

wonderment, joy, peace, compassion, humility, patience, understanding,

exhilarating courage, and faith.

This is who I Am.

Where There Is No Vision

Our State Legislature in Tennessee started a new session on January 9, 2024. I participated in press conference before the Legislature started. I was asked to speak about a moral vision and a moral agenda. Here were my remarks:

Over sixteen hundred years ago church father, St. Basil the Great, wrote, “For the more you abound in wealth, the more you lack in love”[1] I would change that to read, “For the more you abound in power, the more you lack in love.” What we have seen over the last few years is a Supermajority Legislature that has “abounded in power” but “failed in love.”  

What we are asking for today is a moral agenda. A moral agenda strives to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). A moral agenda seeks the common good, not just the good of a select few. A moral agenda produces moral legislation.

The Book of Proverbs states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). A moral agenda requires a clear and concise moral vision.

A moral vision sees that our state is only as healthy as our sickest persons. Thus, a moral agenda expands healthcare instead of stripping healthcare away from our most vulnerable citizens.

A moral vision sees public education as the path to a greater future for all our children. Thus, a moral agenda fully funds public education instead of taking funds away to privatize education through vouchers and charter schools.

A moral vision clearly sees you can support the second amendment AND common-sense gun reform. A moral agenda puts the safety of our children ahead of the NRA.

A moral vision clearly sees the wisdom of working across the aisle, soliciting everyone’s input and opinion, regardless of their political affiliation. An immoral vision quiets dissenters and expels members of the other party for speaking up for the people of Tennessee! And then goes on TV and social media to brag about bipartisanship. But we, the people of Tennessee, have not forgotten what happened on this hill just a few months ago. We have not forgotten, and we have receipts.

The vison the Supermajority Legislature has provided has left many Tennesseans languishing in darkness. According to the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University…

• 37.7% of the people in Tennessee are poor.
• Across our state, a family of four needs to earn $21.94 an hour to meet their basic needs (Davidson & Williamson County requires $30+ an hour). Minimum wage in TN is $7.25 an hour and hasn’t changed in decades while the price of housing has skyrocketed.
• Almost 700,000 people in TN do not have health insurance.
• Between 2019 and 2020, TN experienced a 1.8-year decline in average life expectancy.
• Between 2020 and 2023, there were 28 voter restrictive bills introduced.
• In 2023 alone, there were 21 anti-LGBTQIA laws introduced; 11 of the 21 laws were enacted.
• Tennessee has only spent $112 million of the $3.7 billion it was allocated under the American Rescue Plan, which could be used for housing, healthcare and other pressing needs. If the state and local governments do not allocate these resources by December 2024, the remaining balance will be lost.
• TN’s abortion law is one of the strictest in the nation.

According to a recent poll conducted by Vanderbilt University, if the Supermajority Legislature had a moral vision, and if they listened to “we the people,” our state would have…

• …common sense gun reform (64% of voters overall[2]).
• …less restrictive abortion measures (78% of voters overall[3]).
• …Medicaid expansion (66% of voters overall[4]).
• …$1.8 billion dollars in federal education funds (58% of voters overall[5]).
• …free breakfast and lunches at our public schools (95% of voters overall[6]).
• And, as a side note, according to the Vanderbilt poll, 82% of registered voters believe you and I have a right to be here this morning, and every morning while the legislature is in session.[7] So, to our friends on capitol hill, “We aint going anywhere.”

What can we do? Simple. We can come together and demand a change. We can come together and demand our legislature provide a moral vision and adopt a moral agenda.

You say, “But what if they don’t listen?”

Here is my moral vision: There are more of us out here (the entire state) then there are in there (the capitol building). They may have a Supermajority in there, but out here, if we would all come together, we would have a Super Supermajority!

We must come together and say, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”

Enough of the laws and regulations that protect the NRA over our C-H-I-L-D-R-E-N.

Enough of the laws and regulations that protect the rich and powerful over the poor, the working-class, and the middle-class.

Enough of the laws and regulations that take away, without exception, a women’s bodily autonomy.

Enough of the laws and regulations that discriminate against our LGBTQIA brothers and sisters, all of whom have been created in the image of God.

Enough of the laws and regulations that favor one small particular type of religion over all other religions and over people with no religion.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! We must come together and demand better. We must hold our legislators accountable. We must put them on notice. We must let them know we are watching.

We must vote.

We must organize.

And we must protest.

We must NOT be quiet.

We must raise our voices, and we must raise our voices together.

In the words of those prophetical geniuses known as The Beatles, “I know you. You know me. One thing I can tell you is you got to be free. Come together. Right now. Over me.”

If we all come together, right now, we will see the vision of the prophet Amos come true, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24).

We must come together and demand a moral vision, that results in a moral agenda, from all of our elected officials.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Riggs, Senior Pastor

Franklin Community Church

Franklin, TN

kevin@franklincommunitychurch.org

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[1] Schroeder, C. Paul, Translator. Popular Patristics Series, On Social Justice, 2009. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY, p. 43.

[2] https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/12/14/vanderbilt-poll-tennessee-december-2023/

[3] https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/12/14/vanderbilt-poll-tennessee-december-2023/

[4] https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2018/12/13/lee-popular-as-he-enters-office-health-care-top-priority-for-tennesseans-vanderbilt-poll/

[5] https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/12/14/vanderbilt-poll-tennessee-december-2023/

[6] https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/12/14/vanderbilt-poll-tennessee-december-2023/

[7] https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/12/14/vanderbilt-poll-tennessee-december-2023/

Christian Nationalism & Evangelism

Late last summer (2023), after reading an article about Christian Nationalism in which I was featured, (I can’t remember which article it was) the Tennessee Chapter of the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State contacted me and asked to come and speak at the monthly meeting in November. The event was held at First Lutheran Church in Downtown Nashville on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Below is the manuscript of my talk.

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I had a happy childhood. My parents loved each other, and they loved me and my two brothers. I am a stereotypical middle-child—competitive, self-motivated, independent, and a little rebellious. Growing up I was encouraged to be the best I could be at whatever I attempted. I excelled in sports. Especially basketball.

I grew up in a conservative denomination. In fact, I am a fourth-generation ordained minister in my denomination. I answered the “call” to preach at the age of fifteen. I was ordained in 1988. I started pastoring in 1989. I have been the pastor at Franklin Community Church for thirty years. Currently, I am still a part of the National Association of Free Will Baptists. The Southern Quarterly of the Cumberland Association of the Tennessee State Association of Free Will Baptists still hold my ministry credentials. When it comes to my conservative credentials, I can say, like the Apostle Paul, “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more; circumcised on the eight day, of the people if Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee, as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (Philippians 3:4-6).

How conservative? Until the 1990s, in my denomination, we rejected the phrase “evangelical” and preferred the label “fundamentalist,” Why? Because we believed in the “fundamentals of the faith.” Mainly, biblical inerrancy, the virgin birth of Jesus, the divinity of Christ, the literal resurrection of Jesus, His literal return, and the need for personal salvation. We looked with skepticism on organizations like the National Association of Evangelicals and the Billy Graham Association. We considered such groups liberal. Needless to say, we did not think highly of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. I will probably get in trouble for speaking to your group tonight. It won’t be the first time I have been in trouble with my denomination, and it won’t be the last. But that is okay. Right is right and wrong is wrong. I am now a proud member of your organization. I despise labels and no longer consider myself to be a fundamentalist. Socially, I am a progressive. Theologically, I am still an evangelical, but I have a hard time associating with evangelicals. I simply prefer to be called a follower of Jesus Christ.

My youth was full of saying the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag, the Christian flag, and the Bible. In that order. As a child, every church I attended had the United States flag in the sanctuary. We regularly prayed for our country. We believed we had a favored position in God’s ecclesiology and eschatology. We believed all our wars were just wars. We celebrated the Fourth of July as if it were a high holy day. I believed in American exceptionalism, manifest destiny, and that the USA was founded on Judeo/Christian values. I believed it was my Christian duty to keep my country, Christian.  I believed any problem our country faced would be solved if we simply “turned back to God.” I was comfortable with my beliefs.

In the spring of 2014, I attended a ministers’ luncheon in my hometown. Twenty people were present. All pastors. All males. All conservative evangelicals. All but two were white. President Barack Obama was midway through his second term. The criticism he received from white conservative evangelicals was growing more vitriolic every day. A few years earlier, during President Obama’s first term, was when I started noticing a problem in my tribe: The white evangelical church in the United States of America. The problem was Christian Nationalism. The problem has been there since the founding of our country. I just had not realized it because I was part of it. White Christian Nationalism was the pond in which I swam.

The conversation at lunch that day turned to politics and culture war issues. Mainly abortions, homosexuality, same-sex marriages, individual rights, the evils of socialism, and the goodness of capitalism. I was the only contrarian in the room. I pushed back on every issue. One pastor actually stopped the conversation, turned to me, and asked if I believed the Bible to be God’s Word. I assured him I did and told him my problem with the conversation, and what I was hearing, is that it all sounded like Christian Nationalism, which, in my opinion, was and is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. To say they took exception to my opinion would be an understatement. Some of them had never heard the term “Christian Nationalism.” As best as I can remember, this was the first time I had ever used the term, in a public conversation.

My core beliefs started shifting after I started teaching Sociology at Nashville State Community College. The students challenged my assumptions. The shifting sped up during the Obama administration. I could not understand the hatred shown towards him. The moment Donald Trump descended the escalator at Trump Towers I started using my voice to raise the alarm. I have lost a lot of friends since then.

After the election of Donald Trump, I was in full deconstruction mode. Through it all, and to this day, I was pastoring a local church, in the South, the buckle of the Bible belt. Franklin/Williamson County is, I believe, the unofficial headquarters for Christian Nationalism in the United States. I am convinced the greatest threat to Christianity in my country, and to our democracy, is Christian Nationalism. Furthermore, since I still believe the Bible is God’s Word, I believe our hope is in returning and re-examining the teachings of Scripture, especially of Jesus, and applying them to the heretical teaching of Christian Nationalism that has infiltrated our churches.

Christian Nationalism Defined and Explained

Simply put, Christian National is an attempt to “enforce the reign of Christ through the power of the state.”[1] In the context of the United States, Christian Nationalism is the belief—comprised of myths, traditions, symbols, language, and all elements of culture—that the United States is defined by a narrow type of Christianity. Christian Nationalism is the belief that the United States is defined by Christianity, and the government should take active steps to keep it that way. In his brand-new book, American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism betrays the gospel and threatens the church, Andrew Whitehead defines Christian Nationalism as “a cultural framework asserting that all civic life in the United States should be organized according to a particular form of conservative Christianity”[2] In other words, according to Christian Nationalists, America IS and MUST REMAIN a “Christian Nation.” The type of Christianity being pushed is a narrow, conservative, fundamentalist type of Christianity. On the one hand, Christian Nationalists will tell you they accept the First Amendment, but on the other hand they will tell you that their version of Christianity should enjoy a privileged position in the public square, and all laws and regulations should reflect their values to keep the United States, “Christian.”[3] 

In the United States there have been two major surveys on Christian Nationalism. Sociologists Andrew L. Whitehead and Samuel L. Perry summarized the results of their survey in a book titled, Taking America Back for God.[4] Building on the results of that survey, Sociologists Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry did additional research and summarized their findings in a book titled, The Flag and the Cross.[5] More recently, the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) surveyed 6,212 United States citizens and released their findings in an article on their website titled, “A Christian Nation Understanding the Threat of Christian Nationalism to American Democracy and Culture.” The article was released on February 8, 2023.[6] The research by PRRI is the largest study to date on the size and scope of Christian nationalist ideas in the United States.

All the research quantified the participants of the survey into four categories of Christian nationalistic beliefs based on the participant’s responses to a series of questions. The categories for the survey conducted by Samuel Perry and others were as follows:[7] (1) Rejectors. Those opposed to any connection between Christianity and politics; 21.5% of those surveyed. (2) Resisters. Those opposed to the government officially declaring the Unites States a Christian nation, but undecided about displaying religious symbols in public spaces; 26.6% of those surveyed. (3) Accommodators. Those who somewhat agree the federal government should advocate for Christian values, but undecided about declaring the United States a Christian nation; 31.2% (4) Ambassadors. Those who wholly support the federal government officially declaring the United States a Christian nation; 19.8% of those surveyed. When broken down by religion, 33% of evangelicals were Accommodators, while 54.9% were Ambassadors.[8] Put another way, of all evangelicals surveyed, 87.9% were favorable of Christian nationalistic ideas!

The PRRI survey was based on five statements about the relationship between Christianity, American Identity, and the United States government. The five questions were are as follows: (1) The United States government should declare America a Christian nation. (2) United States laws should be based on Christian values. (3) If the United States moves away from our Christian foundations, we will not have a country anymore. (4) Being Christian is an important part of being truly American. (5) God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of American society. Respondents were asked whether they completely agreed, mostly agreed, mostly disagreed, or completely disagreed with each statement.[9] The categories for the survey conducted by PRRI were as follows: (1) Adherents. Overwhelmingly either agreed or completely agreed with the five statements: 10% of those surveyed. (2) Sympathizers. Agreed with the five statements, but less likely than adherents to completely agree: 19% of those surveyed.  (3) Skeptics. Disagreed with the statements but are less likely than rejectors to completely disagree: 39% of those surveyed. (4) Rejectors. Completely disagreed with all five statements: 29% of those surveyed.[10]

One could take comfort in the fact only 29% of those surveyed completely agreed or mostly agreed with the five statements. Thus, only three in ten United States citizens supported Christian Nationalism. However, as a local church pastor in the United States, the picture was bleak. In sharing their findings, the  PRRI researchers concluded, “White evangelical Protestants are more supportive of Christian Nationalism than any other group surveyed. Nearly two-thirds of white evangelical Protestants qualify as either Christian nationalism sympathizers (35%) or adherents (29%).”[11]

Based on the surveys, one could conclude the evangelical church in the United States is in trouble.

The Church

While Jesus proclaimed to Peter not even the gates of hell could defeat the Church, Christian Nationalism has negatively impacted the Church, and the Christian influence and witness, in the United States. While Christian Nationalism will not defeat the Church, the Church must defeat Christian Nationalism. Over the last several years, as a pastor of a local church in the southern part of the United States, I have seen at least four effects of Christian Nationalism on the Church in the United States. Only one effect is positive. Those four effects are as follows: (1) Division within the church and within families. I know pastors who have lost their churches for speaking out against Christian Nationalism, and I know families that have been divided over Christian Nationalism. Stated another way, I know pastors who have lost their pastorates for speaking out against Donald Trump, but I don’t know any pastors who have lost their pastorates for supporting Donald Trump. (2) A loss of moral authority in society; a loss of our prophetic voice. In the public square, the only people listening to evangelicals are other evangelicals. (3) An increase in people (especially young people) leaving the church and leaving their faith. This has been documenting in several studies. (4) A unique opportunity for authentic faith to shine.

On the night Jesus was arrested, Pilate asked Him, “Are you the king of the Jews!” (John 18:33).[12] Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36). Jesus’ first proclamation after His baptism was, “The time has come…the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15). With the incarnation of Jesus, God’s kingdom, on kin-dom, or what Dr. King called “the beloved community” began. The mission given to the Church by Jesus Himself was to continue to bring God’s kin-dom into reality while we wait for the fulfillment of God’s kingdom when Jesus returns. All Christians have recognized kin-dom building to be the mission of the Church, praying, “…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). The question is, how do we build God’s kin-dom on earth? Jesus answered that question in His response to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

The world build empires. The world uses violence, fear, retaliation, divisions, and intimidation to build empires. Jesus said if domination was His goal His followers would have used those things to prevent His arrest. Building empire through power was one of the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). Jesus resisted this temptation. Christian Nationalists have embraced the temptation to build power. Jesus clearly said, “My kingdom is from another place.” Followers of Jesus do not build God’s kin-dom in the same way the world builds empire. God’s kin-dom is built through non-violence, love, peace, forgiveness, humility, sacrifice and service. God’s kin-dome comes into the world as we care for the poor, clothe those who have no clothes, house the homeless, visit the prisoner (prison reform) and take care of the sick (healthcare). Instead of fear and control, the gospel of kin-dom is about freedom and liberation.

In Matthew 13:24-52, Jesus described how God’s kin-dom grows and what it looks like. He said the kin-dom of God is like a farmer who sowed good seed in his field and let it grow along with the weeds (vv. 24-30). The kin-dom of God is like a mustard seed that is the smallest of seeds but grows into the largest of plants (vv. 31-32). God’s kin-dom is like yeast that works its way through the flour to make dough (vv. 33-34). It is like a treasure hidden in a field and a merchant looking for expensive jewelry (vv. 44-46). The kin-dom of God, according to Jesus, is like a large fish net that collects all kinds of different fish. At the end of the day, the good fish are separated from the bad fish (vv. 47-52). Christian Nationalism is nothing like the kin-dom of God described by Jesus.

CONCLUSION

How are we to respond to the threat of Christian Nationalism? The Apostle Paul answered that question in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. The Apostle wrote, “Be on your guard; stand firm in your faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.” Paul gave the Corinthian Christians five admonitions that are applicable to the Church in the United States today. Those five admonitions are as follows (1) Be alert. Pay attention to what is going on in society and speak out against Christian Nationalism.  (2) Be steadfast. Don’t let anything shake your faith. Take a stand and speak out against Christian Nationalism. (3) Be courageous. Don’t be afraid. Tell the truth and speak out against Christian Nationalism. (4) Be strong. Now is not the time to back down. Now is the time to stand up and be counted and speak out against Christian Nationalism. (5) Be loving. Don’t be hateful. Show compassion. Speak the truth in love but speak the truth and speak out against Christian Nationalism.

The Apostle Paul warned the church in Galatia about “another gospel” saying, “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned” (Galatians 1:9). Theologically speaking, Christian Nationalism is “another gospel.” Socially speaking, Christian Nationalism is a serious threat to democracy. History has taught us the only thing worse than a dictatorship is a theocracy and the only thing worse than an autocratic government is a theocratic government. We must push back against Christian Nationalism at every level of our society.

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[1] Brian Zahnd. From a post on X on November 3, 2023.

[2] Andrew Whitehead. American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism betrays the gospel and threatens the church. 2023. Brazos Press. Grand Rapids, MI. p, xii.

[3] The above definition is based on two formal definitions: (1) “A cultural framework—a collection of myths, traditions, symbols, narratives, and value systems—that idealizes and advocates the fusion of American civil life with a very particular kind of Christianity” (Samuel Perry & Andrew Whitehead. Adapted from Taking America Back for God, p. 10). (2) “Christian nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way” (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/february-web-only/what-is-christian-nationalism.html)

[4] https://academic.oup.com/book/33661

[5] https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-flag-and-the-cross-book-review-finding-and-defining-christian-nationalism-11648826801

[6] https://www.prri.org/research/a-christian-nation-understanding-the-threat-of-christian-nationalism-to-american-democracy-and-culture/

[7] Whitehead, Andrew L. and Perry, Samuel L. Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States. 2020. Oxford University Press. New York, NY. Chapter One: “Four Americans.”

[8] Ibid, Table 1.2, p. 40.

[9] https://www.prri.org/research/a-christian-nation-understanding-the-threat-of-christian-nationalism-to-american-democracy-and-culture/

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid, Figure 3. The Christian Nationalism Scale, by Religious Subgroups.

[12] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from The Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1984 by International Bible Society.

A Reflection on Grief

It has been almost two months since our son was taken from us in a car accident. To say it has been difficult is an understatement. There are no words to describe what it is like to lose a child. People ask, “How are you doing?” There is no good way to answer that question. But here a few possibilities…

…our lives have been completely turned upside down. (By “our,” I primarily mean me and my wife.)

…everything is different, and nothing is the same.

…even the most menial tasks are hard.

…regardless of how much we do, or don’t do on any given day, we are exhausted by evening.

…I am only good four to five hours a day to do anything productive.

…it does not get a little easier every day; it gets a little harder every day.

…our world has stopped while everyone else’s world has moved on.

…no matter how hard I try to get our world moving again, it doesn’t budge.

…it is difficult to focus.

…nothing makes sense anymore.

Here is what I do know.

…my wife loves me, and I love my wife.

…my daughter and grandkids mean everything to me.

…God is faithful, even though I do not understand.

…there is still joy to be found each and every day.

…grief is now part of our lives for the rest of our lives.

…grief and faith can coexist.

…the greater the grief, the greater the faith.

Here is what keeps me going.

            …love.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

KB Denied Relief from SCOTUS

Some of you know I visit Tennessee’s death row regularly. My church ordained one of the men on death row. (Pictured.) He is considered one of the pastors at my church. His name is Kevin Burns, and over the years he has become my pastor. After all, every pastor needs a pastor. I believe KB is innocent of the charges that put him on death row. He and I are writing a book together about our relationship. Recently, KB was denied relief from SCOTUS. He is now out of appeals and could receive an execution date at any time. Below is a press release I wrote on April 24th, the day he was denied relief. Please be in prayer for KB, and watch my blog for ways you can help.

_________________________________________

On behalf of the family of Kevin Burns, I would like to say that while we are discouraged by the Supreme Court’s decision to not grant Mr. Burns relief, we are not defeated. Even though we “hard pressed on every side,” we are not “not crushed.” While we may be “perplexed”by this decision, we are “not in despair” and we are “not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8).

We will continue to fight, not just for relief for Mr. Burns, but for his total exoneration. We believe Mr. Burns to be innocent of the charges that placed him on death row. We ask for prayers from God’s people and mercy for Kevin Burns. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:4).

Lastly, we would like to offer thanks to Kevin Burns’ legal team for all their hard work.

Below is a prayer Kevin Burns recently wrote,

O Lord God Almighty, Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace, and Wonderful Savior.

Lord You are Holy, and I lift You up and Magnify Your name.

I love You my God because you first loved me.

Yes, You loved me wonderfully.

And reverently created me in Your own image.

Then You gave me power to be called, “A son of God.”

O Lord God I will praise Your name forevermore.

For Your faithfulness is ever lasting,

and to Your mercy there is no end.

And now my Lord, I thank You that Your ears are open to the cries of the prisoners.

For upon You have we laid all our hope.

Neither will we look to any other.

For there is none other that is able to deliver like You can.

Deliver us therefore O Lord our God I pray.

Yea, deliver us swiftly.

Deliver us from bondage and shame.

Deliver us from sickness and disease.

Deliver us from the expectations of those that seek our harm.

And we will praise Your holy name.

Bring us out healthy and strong, and please don’t leave us alone.

Give us those of Your people that will help us and restore us to our place in society.

And Lord we will live out the rest of our days in Your service.

In the name of Your holy Son, Jesus, I pray.

Amen.

Franklin Pride

Below is a letter I wrote to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA). It came after someone contacted me about the controversy surrounding Franklin Pride applying for a permit to use a public park for their celebration. Thankfully, eventually, Franklin’s BOMA voted to approve their permit. However, it was a tie vote and only broken by a vote from the Mayor of Franklin.

__________________________________________________________________

Monday, April 3, 2023

Dear BOMA,

I am writing you to let you know of my support for our LGBTQIA+ community and their annual Franklin Pride Event. I am also writing to encourage you to approve their permit. With the reason for my writing out of the way, please allow me time to place my support of Franklin Pride and my concern of those opposing Franklin Pride into context. I apologize upfront for the length of this email. If you choose not to read any further, I understand. That is why I wanted to start with a sentence of my support.

I recently returned from Harris-Manchester College, Oxford University, Oxford, England. I was there by invitation only to participate in a colloquium on the rise and dangers of Christian/Religious Nationalism in our country and around the world. I returned on Sunday, March 26th. The week before my trip to England, I was in Mexico on vacation with my wife. Before I left the country, I heard a little bit about certain people trying to stop Franklin Pride from happening this year. To be honest, I did not pay it much attention because I knew there were no grounds to deny the permit. On Wednesday, March 29th, someone who is friends with PFLAG, Franklin Pride, and Wilco, contacted me to let me know what had happened at the BOMA workshop meeting on Tuesday, March 28th. This person told me how Mom’s for Liberty had many people at the meeting to speak against Franklin Pride and our beautiful LGBTQIA+ community. This person told me how bible verses were used to condemn people to hell and to promote fear in our community because of some hidden agenda the Franklin Pride organizers had. This person even told me how the tragedy at Covenant School, one day earlier, was used as reasons not to support Franklin Pride. It is for these reasons I have decided to speak. From my perspective, what happened Tuesday evening is evidence of the dangers of Christian Nationalism in our wonderful city. Now, in addition to constitutional reasons, you must support Franklin Pride to push back against an extremely dangerous ideology that has taken root in Franklin. (If you are still reading, thank you.)

Christian Nationalism is “A cultural framework—a collection of myths, traditions, symbols, narratives, and value systems—that idealizes and advocates the fusion of American civil life with a very particular kind of Christianity” (Samuel Perry & Andrew Whitehead. Adapted from Taking America Back for God, p. 10). Christian Nationalism is the belief that the United States is defined by Christianity, and the government should take active steps to keep it that way. In other words, according to Christian Nationalists, America IS and MUST REMAIN a “Christian Nation.” The type of Christianity being pushed is a narrow, conservative, fundamentalist type of Christianity. On the one hand, Christian Nationalists will tell you they accept the First Amendment, but on the other hand they will tell you that their version of Christianity should enjoy a privileged position in the public square, and all laws and permit approvals should reflect their values. It is my belief that Christian Nationalism is really a dog whistle for White Christian Nationalism. In other words, it is associated with white racial identity.

The reason I am sharing this is because, from my perspective, Moms for Liberty is a Christian nationalist group. As such, they and others like them, believe they have a God-given mandate to keep our country Christian, as defined by them. They believe they have the God given mandate to take control of the seven mountains of influence in every culture. Local governments and local school boards is one of those seven mountains. Through their efforts, and the efforts by our State Legislature, they are slowly turning us into a theocratic city/state. History has shown us the only thing worse than a dictatorship is a theocracy, and the only thing worse than an autocratic government is a theocratic government. It is my belief, as a conservative Christian pastor, that the kingdom of God, what Dr. King called “the beloved community,” advances through non-violent resistance, love, peace, forgiveness, humility, sacrifice and service. God’s kingdom does not advance through intimidation, divisiveness, fear, or force. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned” (Galatians 1:9). The gospel of Jesus, the one that has been passed down through the Apostles, is one of mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love of enemies. This “other gospel,” the one espoused by Christian Nationalists, is the antithesis to all Jesus taught. It is also anti-democratic.

Everyone, including LGBTQIA+ persons, are created in the image of God. The LGBTQIA+ community is an essential part of the beloved community, the kingdom of God. Their total acceptance by our community, and complete inclusion in our community, is one of the many reasons our city is one of the best cities in the country. Not to grant them a permit for Franklin Pride would be to denigrate the intrinsic worth and dignity they possess as humans made in God’s image. It would also violate their First Amendment rights. Living in a representative democracy where freedom of religion is valued, no form of government can favor one religion over all the others. The First Amendment is for everyone’s benefit and safety. I implore each and everyone of you to approve Franklin Pride’s permit. I promise, you will not go to hell for doing so.

Thank you for your time.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Riggs, Senior Pastor

Franklin Community Church

Christian Nationalism

(The below was read by me at a press conference in opposition to the Re-Awaken Tour that stopped in Nashville.)

The Apostle Paul warned the church in Galatia about “another gospel” saying, “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned” (Galatians 1:9).

Our purpose today is to give a prophetic witness against “another gospel” that is being preached at the ReAwaken America Tour this weekend in Nashville, TN. This “other gospel” is known as Christian Nationalism. And just to be clear, we strongly oppose Christian Nationalism becauseit harms the witness of Jesus and our democracy. I believe Christian Nationalism is “another gospel” and is contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I will let others give the textbook definition of Christian Nationalism.My task is to compare this “other gospel” with the teachings of Jesus as found in Matthew 5:3-11. His words in this section of the New Testament have become known as The Beatitudes.

Christian Nationalismsays, “Blessed are the rich, for they receive power and prestige in the MAGA kingdom of this world.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Christian Nationalism says, “Blessed are those who live the good life, putting themselves and their country first, and rarely suffering oppression because of their privilege and their belief in exceptionalism.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

Christian Nationalism says, “Blessed are the arrogant, and those who always fight back, never turning the other cheek, for that is how you advance in a meritocracy.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

Christian Nationalism says, “Blessed are those who hunger for political influence and who push others out of the way so they can have a seat at the table.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Christian Nationalism says, “Blessed are those who live by the rule of punitive justice; an ‘eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’”

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Christian Nationalism says, “Blessed are those who lie and deceive and use fear and conspiracy theories to advance their political agenda.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).

Christian Nationalism says, “The way of peace is through strength so we must build an unrivaled military industrial complex, believing God is always on our side because “might makes right.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Christian Nationalism says, “Blessed are those who pass laws keeping people different from themselves oppressed and discouraged, stoking fear of the other; for that is how you hold on to power.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10).

Christian Nationalism says, “Blessed are those who are always on the attack, ridiculing, insulting, and calling other people names.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11).

The gospel of Jesus is one of mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love of enemies. This “other gospel” being preached in our city this weekend is the antithesis to all Jesus taught.

As followers of Jesus, we have the responsibility to advance Christ’s kingdom on earth. But Jesus taught us to do so through love, humility, service, and sacrifice. Not fear, intimidation, force, and deception.

Zachary Kevin Riggs

Well, I thought I would start blogging again, and even said so on March 24, 2023. My plan was to try and write a couple of blogs a month. But something tragic happened. My beautiful son, Zach, was killed in a car wreck on Saturday, April 15, 2023. His death has devastated Misty and me. This is a parent’s worst nightmare. It is also a nightmare for my daughter-in-law, Margie. She and Zach were only married for seventeen months. There are are no words to explain the pain.

There is, however, hope. In the middle of our grief and pain I am choosing to press into the Jesus. It’s not easy, and sometimes my prayer is “Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief.” But God’s grace is sustaining us.

We had a Memorial Service for Zach on Sunday, May 7th. I believe the service honored Zach and gave glory to God. Below is what I read at the Memorial Service.

GIANT STRIDE ENTRY (For Zachary, May 7, 2023)

Zach started scuba diving when he was thirteen years old. The summer after he graduated from high school, he and I spent a week on a boat sailing through the Bahamas scuba diving. One night we were caught in a severe storm. Early that morning I was thrown out of my bunk by one of the violent waves. Zach wasn’t in his bunk so I went up top and saw him at the back of the boat, hanging on to something, soaking wet, but with a big smile on his face. I joined him and grabbed something to hang on to. With every crashing wave drenching us, Zach said, “Isn’t this great! This is an adventure we will never forget. I’m glad mom doesn’t know what’s going on right now.”

On the Saturday after that trip we flew from Nassau, Bahamas to Charlotte, NC. From Charlotte we were to fly home to Nashville, but because of the weather, our flight was cancelled. I went to the ticket counter to try and get another flight home, but they said we would have to wait until Sunday morning. I said, while trying to remain calm, “You don’t understand. I have to get home tonight. I am a pastor and I have to be at church in the morning.” The lady behind the counter said she was sorry, but there was nothing she could do. In a more intense voice, I said, “That’s unacceptable!” Once again, she apologized.

In an even more intense voice, I said, “Well, you need to at least give us a hotel voucher so we don’t have to stay in the airport all night.” She said she couldn’t do that because it wasn’t the airlines fault the plane was delayed. It was weather related.

Zach could sense I was about to say something I would regret. He calmly placed his hand on my shoulder and said, “Dad. It will be ok. You can call someone and have them preach for you tomorrow. They can have church without you. We can sleep on the floor in the airport. It will be fun. We survived a terrible storm. We can survive this.” Then he said something I will never forget. He said, looking at the lady behind the counter. “Besides, it’s not her fault.”

She tried not to smile, but she did not succeed. I said to her. “He’s right. I am sorry. I know it’s not your fault.” She said it was ok, handed me our tickets for the next day, and then handed me a hotel voucher, winked at Zach, and said, “Have a good evening.”

I tell you those two stories because they summarize my son. He saw all of life as an adventure, he always remained calm, and he treated everyone with love, kindness, gentleness, and respect. He was a wonderful son, and incredible husband, and a great brother, uncle, and friend to all who knew him. Because of those characteristics, those of us who loved Zach have asked ourselves, “How are we going to live without him?”

KING DAVID

In 2 Samuel 12, after the prophet Nathan confronts King David about his sin against Bathsheba and her family, David and Bathsheba have a son. The son becomes ill and David begs God to heal him. The Bible says, “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground…and he would not eat any food” (2 Samuel 12:16-17). This lasted for seven days, and then the son dies.

Because of the way David had been carrying on, no one wanted to deliver the news to him that his son was dead. They said, “He may do something desperate” (2 Samuel 12:18).

Instead of doing something desperate, the Bible says when David found out his son was dead, he “got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. His attendants asked him, ‘Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!’ He answered, ‘While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me’” (2 Samuel 12:20-23).

I believe, it is in that story we find the clue to living after our loved one has died.

My faith tells me I will see Zach again someday. But can I be honest, that doesn’t really help me today. In my pain I scream, “I don’t want to see him someday! I want to see him today!” As the days, weeks, months, and years go by, I believe I will find comfort in knowing I will see Zach again. But until that comfort comes, how do I live each day?

The clue, I believe, is from the part of the story that says David “got up…washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes.” The way we continue to live is to get up, take a shower, and get dressed. And then do it again the next day and the next and the next. It’s a choice you have to make every morning. And sometimes just getting up is a victory in and of itself. Sometimes, just getting up is enough for that day.

Here’s another clue. The choice to get up each day leads to other choices. The way to honor my son’s memory is to choose to get up every morning, and then choose hope over despair. Choose love over bitterness. Choose to see life as an adventure. Choose to remain calm in the middle of storms. Choose to treat everyone with love, kindness, gentleness, and respect. In other words, honor Zach’s life by getting up each and every day, determined to make the world a better place.

CONCLUSION

Zach, in a good-natured way, made fun of my sermon illustrations. I took it as a compliment. So, in his honor, I’m going to leave you with one last sermon illustration.

In scuba diving you enter the water, especially from a boat, by taking a giant stride off the boat into the water. You don’t jump. You pump a little bit of air in your vest, place your right hand over your regulator and mask, place your left hand over your waist, keeping your gauges secure against your body, and take a giant stride into the water. Once in the water, you surface, turn to the divemaster standing on the boat, and give the universal “ok” sign by tapping the top of your head with your right fist. This means everything is good and you are ready to go diving.

Friends, family, and loved ones. On Saturday morning, April 15, 2023, at 6:59 a.m., Zachary Kevin Riggs took a giant stride off the boat of this life into the Jordan River, turned to his DiveMaster, Jesus Christ, gave the ok signal, and swam safely to the other side. We will see him again; of that I am confident. But until then, honor Zach’s memory by getting up each day and treating one another with love, kindness, gentleness, and respect; making this world a better place.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.”

I’m Back

Hey Everyone. After a couple of years being absent from writing. I am back! Not sure how regular I will write, but it will be more than once every few years. What are some topics you would like me to cover?

Discouragement

dis-cour-age-ment (dis-kerijment) noun; a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; dispiritedness

I don’t think I have ever been depressed, or at least clinically depressed. But then again, isn’t that something a depressed person would say? Still, I don’t think I have ever suffered from depression. I guess I’m to stubborn…or stupid.

Have I ever suffered from burn out? Yes. More than once.

Have I ever been on the verge of depression? Probably. Ok, yes. (I need to quit living in denial.)

While I have never been depressed, I do have a running battle with discouragement. If I am honest with myself, I think I have PTSD (Pastoral Trauma Stress Disorder).