Your Voice

True or false: Filtering daily information flow

Do you remember those infernal true-false tests in school? They were good in one way. Always a 50% chance of getting the correct answer. Odds of a right response improved greatly if you studied for the test.

Daily you take true-false exams on information thrown your way. And lots of stuff flows from news outlets, social media, hallway conversation, family interaction, email, over the backyard fence, etc. Sometimes you can only guess at the true or false nature of data you receive.

Filtering news is necessary when so much of it exists. Consider some common sense sifters when sorting truth from error.

• Never believe everything you see or hear. Just because it appeared on your favorite news channel or preferred social media outlet does not make it so. In fact even the mainstream media now admits to the existence of “fake” news. If it’s way too outrageous to believe, don’t.
• Check the facts. Do you trust the origin of the comments? Is it reputable? Do other outlets agree? If not go to a trusted authority to confirm or deny. 
• Take care not to believe something to be true or false based on your prejudices. You are not the final authority on most things. You can define your own truth. But that doesn’t make it true.
• Acknowledge the ultimate source of all truth to be Jesus. He declared, “I am the … truth” (John 14:6) and His truth “will set you free” (John 8:32). John said “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (1:17). 

When confused about truth or error in your world be assured that the One who is the true light exposes and explains it all.

• Determine what part you will play in setting the record straight. Perpetuation of a falsehood advances no worthwhile cause and can be hurtful. Set your sights on furthering truth which honors your Christian calling.

Prepare yourself for a daily true-false pop quiz. What will your report card show? 

EDITOR’S NOTE — Darryl Wood is a retired pastor who lives in Vincent. In addition to supply and interim work, he serves on the State Board for Alabama Baptists. He writes a regular column called “A Personal Word from a Retread Pastor,” which he posts to his social media pages. He is a member of Liberty Baptist Church, Chelsea, in Shelby Baptist Association.

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Leverage your influence

Pastors, how many times have you been asked to make an announcement on Sunday morning? When reminded the announcement is already in the bulletin, on the website and social media, and promoted in small groups the reply is often, “It is different coming from you. You are the pastor. They listen to you.”  Hmm.

The reality is that God has given the man of God called out to serve as a “pastor” in the local church a measure of influence. Local church ministries can testify to the value of the pastor’s support in word and deed. Missional partnerships beyond the walls of the local church ask for the pastor’s support. 

Pastors, let me encourage you to leverage your influence with two continuous talking points:

• The gospel. Proclaim it every week, rightly dividing the word of God. Share your personal stories and challenge others to do the same.
• The Cooperative Program (CP). Talk about the CP. Overflow fresh examples of how the CP is having Kingdom impact in and through your local context. Challenge your church to grow in giving through the CP.  

Leverage your influence for gospel impact.

—Tim Cox 

EDITOR’S NOTE — Tim Cox is pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, Chelsea, and president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

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My Jesus Story

You may have read in previous columns that I am not a patient person and that God is still working on that with me. I also frequently urge people to keep praying and ask God for the desires of their hearts, just be prepared that sometimes the answer is yes, no or wait.

Well, I saw something the other day online that really spoke to the lack of patience in my life. It was anonymous but I think it was heaven sent: “Joseph waited 13 years, Abraham waited 25 years, Moses waited 40 years, Jesus waited 30 years. If God is making you wait you are in good company.”  

Look at the things these men had to accomplish in the time while they were waiting: God moved Joseph into a position where not only was he vindicated to his brothers, he was in a position to save thousands of lives; Abraham waited for Isaac to be born and while he did he was prepared to be the father of a great nation; Moses had to wait so his character could be transformed into one fully devoted to God; and Jesus had to wait because He had a mission to complete here on earth. 

I don’t know about you but I don’t mind being included in this company.

Jenni Ingram
Gantt Baptist Church, Gantt, Ala.

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We detest [human trafficking] because it flagrantly violates the unalienable rights that belong to every human being. Every person, everywhere, is inherently vested with profound, inherent, equal dignity. … We cannot fall short on this challenge.

Mike Pompeo
U.S. Secretary of State

There’s a race in today’s culture to the heart of every child and the first one there wins. If we can disciple and raise up and empower kids and teens, they’re actually the best way to reach our city.

Jim Britts
Pastor and church planter, Oceanside, Calif.

When the church rises up and knows who she is in Christ and knows she is forgiven, redeemed, loved and chosen, she is going to operate differently.

Alex Kendrick
Writer and film director

Laughter really is the best medicine. Laugh with your friends often, and even laugh at yourself. Nothing negative can come from a good laugh.

JoAnna Garrett
Student, University of Mobile

Pastors and church staff need to be in the community with people.

Thom Rainer
Founder and CEO of Church Answers

If you dare do something, expect obstacles. If you dare say something, expect criticism. If you dare to stay the same as you are now, expect disappointment.

• Read constantly.
• Listen intently.
• Learn daily.
• Act swiftly.
• Think positively.
• Love faithfully.
• Follow Christ passionately! 

Scott Dawson
Author and founder of Scott Dawson Evangelical Association

Many times when I make a mistake or say something that I should not say, I think, “If I only had an undo key to correct the error.” … For those of us who believe and trust in Jesus, we have been granted a divine key that erases our mistakes: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more” (Isa. 43:25). That key activates the grace of God that has been revealed to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, once we admit that we have made a mistake. “Repent, then, and turn to God,” Scripture instructs us, “so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19).

Robert Lopez
Co-founder of Church2Church fellowship of Hispanic Baptists

As long as you are angry and as long as you have not forgiven, it’s a cancer of the soul that rots you from within. And it doesn’t hurt the other person that you’re angry at, it destroys you.

James Dobson
Author, pastor and founder of Focus on the Family

Racial division is a real problem that demands real solutions that can lead to real transformation. These divisions that have been caused by racism, classism, sexism and every other “ism” are not new in our time. A lot of the New Testament was written about the same types of divisions that we are facing today.

Dhati Lewis
NAMB vice president and author of “Advocates: The Narrow Path to Racial Reconciliation”

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From the Twitterverse

@MyEasternShore

What are your actions saying? Choose kindness and share a little love today! While you’re at it, invite a friend to come to church!

@JackieHillPerry

Be honest with God. He can handle it.

@LWGenerosity

“Lead with your own story and your own transformation and you will have passionate staff member[s] that follow your lead because of your transparency.”
@GunnarJohnson  @MortarStone

@JamieKDew

After several weeks on the job and countless hours with key leaders here on campus, I’ve been delighted to meet and discover so many talented and godly people here @NOBTS. What a great blessing to be here & work with this team! Looking forward to great things in the days to come!

@DustinBenge

World population: 7.6 billion

Mobile phone users: 5.1 billion

Internet users: 4.3 billion

Social media: 3.4 billion

Instead of retreating from and complaining about these platforms, believers need to use them for gospel advance and disciple-making.

“Redeem the time” (Eph 5:16).

@shadesmtn

Don’t allow fear to rob your faith and separate you from the truth of God’s promises.

@Rgallaty

I’ve seen far too many Christians who are more than willing to travel around the world to volunteer for a week in an orphanage, but who cannot bring themselves to take the risk of sharing Jesus with the co-worker who sits day after day in the cubicle right next to them. 
— [Lee] Strobel

@SHoddeMiller

If there is a slippery slope toward liberalism, there is an equally slippery slope toward legalism, and perhaps that is why Jesus calls it the narrow way.

@AdamGreenway

One of my prayers for Southern Baptist life is that we will recapture the ability to differ on nonessential/tertiary matters and embrace one another as brothers/sisters rather than engage one another as combatants. Let’s believe the best, not assume the worst, about each other.