Category: Christian Living

Hurricane Helene – A Grass-Roots Emergency Response

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Bringing supplies and equipment to help others in a disaster? Learn how to have the biggest and best possible impact with limited resources.

By Mark D. Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA

Hurricane Helene caused historic damage to an unlikely location, the hills and mountains of western North Carolina. The flooding and winds surprised many, since hurricanes usually afflict those on the coasts. Not expecting disaster, many inland residents did not prepare. They suffered. Over 230 people are known to be dead, and the estimated damage is over $30 billion.

Our Situation

Churches in the Mountain State Baptist Association (MSBA) learned of the tragedy not only through the media, which can be deceitful, but also through stories from people on the ground. The suffering was real, but just showing up to a devastated area with a trunk (or a tractor-trailer) full of unsolicited stuff is no way to help. The responders may or may not be useful to the victims but will definitely need water, food, fuel, and shelter, which are already in short supply.  As good-hearted as it may be to respond, doing so without coordinating with those on the ground can be worse than useless.

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Church Security – Getting Started

Church shooter
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The news is largely tales of disorder and disaster leading to feelings of discouragement and detachment. Troubles from active shooters to natural disasters beset the houses of God. Guided by their leaders, churches are responsible for safeguarding their congregations and visitors from harm. This article teaches why church security is important, how to assess security risk, and the basics of a comprehensive plan.

By Mark D. Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA

While the need for enhanced security in churches may seem like a modern concern, protecting places of worship has been a consideration throughout history. Christians and their churches were attacked and destroyed both by mobs and by the government in ancient Rome, from Nero (AD 37-68) to Diocletian (AD 242-312).  Eastern and Western Christians sometimes damaged each other’s churches and persecuted people, as in the Byzantine centuries. The most notorious example in the Middle Ages is the destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem by the Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah in 1009.

Attacks on Christians and churches continued into the modern era. Muslim powers continued to persecute Christians. Ottomans butchered Christians and leveled churches in the early 20th century. The Nazis, Soviets, and Chinese Communists killed and imprisoned millions of Christians and eliminated churches in the 20th century. These threats were governmental and institutional, but destruction also came from the hands of hateful mobs.

The nature and scale of threats have grown, particularly in recent decades. Governmental attacks on Christians have been replaced in many places by smaller-scale attacks mounted by one or a few people. The number of these attacks has increased in the past century.

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Gender – A Biblical View

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A lava flow of anger, resentment, bitterness, and lies covers the landscape on issues of gender and sexual identity in Western culture in the 21st century. Some people believe in multiple, self-directed genders unrelated to biology while others believe in two genders, male and female, fixed by biology, culture, and ultimately God. What does the Bible say?

By Mark D. Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA

Sexual practices and gender identity have become hot issues in the United States and elsewhere. The “culture wars” pit those holding to traditional social norms against those who believe that such norms are oppressive. Followers of Jesus Christ need to know what God says about gender from both sources of revelation, Creation and the Bible. Finally, Christians must do what He commands, both in their own lives and in dealing with and teaching others.

Sex as an act or as an identity

For every culture in most of human history, sex was an identity conferred by one’s immutable biology and confirmed by one’s culture. The word “gender” was rarely used concerning people until the mid-20th century. The day-to-day living out of one’s sex was called sex because biology was so closely tied to identity and activity. Gender was primarily used in language studies. Only in the past several decades has the word gender been applied to sexual identity in opposition to sex.

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Spiritual Gifts

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One of the reasons that the Church is great is that God assigned specific roles to each believer and gave them spiritual gifts to ably serve their local church, and the universal Church, in those roles. Discover what spiritual gifts are, how they work, what gift you have, and how to use it.

By Mark D. Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA

The Apostle Paul wrote to the fractious Christians in Corinth that the kingdom of God is not merely in word but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20). People differ in how they view the Church. Some see the Church as billions of people from every race and tongue for all history led by the Almighty Himself and trampling every opponent, physical and spiritual. Paul would agree. Sadly, such a picture of the Church escapes most people, including Christians.

To many, the church is an old (maybe historic) building visited weekly by aged and foolish (or at least uneducated) people who listen to fables from an ancient book. Greedy pastors pressure parishioners to give money while preaching about a supposed God who Himself is cruel and vain. The Church is anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-science, and anti-progress. Some consider the Church to be against “people of color.”[1]

Devoted Christians read the news about the decline of the Church. From the biased media reports, they fear that young people outside are ignoring the church and young people inside are charging for the door. Christians of all ages pine for the past and fret about the future. The rich and powerful raise their glasses to celebrate the supposed triumph of secular humanism which Voltaire prophesied in the 18th century. These “elites,” like Satan himself, try to turn our eyes away from the local church, the universal Church, and its Divine Source.

Ultimately, God, through the Church will prevail. The gates of hell will not stand against it (Matthew 16:17-19). Jesus created His Church with exactly the right amounts and types of teachings on freedom, order, doctrine, ritual, peace, war, earth, and heaven.  He did not require large sums of money, warriors, or a slick marketing plan. Jesus and His successors did not allow Greek or Jewish cultural baggage to hinder the Church (Acts 15). He left the Holy Spirit to ensure the success of His venture.

In the first century “the Way” movement developed into the enduring organization of the Church, in its many forms. The transformation happened through the establishment of the deaconate (Acts 6), elder leaders (1 Timothy 3:1-7), and the adaptation of a congregational structure and practices like the Jewish synagogues. Another contributor to the endurance of the Church was the God-ordained use of complementary roles in the Church and in local churches. Everyone had work to do, but the Lord wanted them to do it in accordance with His assignments. God provides each of His children (those who believe in and follow Jesus) with a special ability to serve Him in a unique way. These abilities are called spiritual gifts (Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-12). Spiritual gifts are mentioned in many places in the New Testament.

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Southern Baptist Disaster Relief

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Truck and Trailer
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Natural disasters can devastate a community and even a region. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) employs hundreds of volunteers around the country to meet peoples’ needs after disaster, and to introduce them to Jesus Christ.

By Mark Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA

The state of Vermont endured historic flooding in July 2023, the worst since Tropical Storm Irene hit the landlocked state in 2011. Rivers overflowed, with the Winooski in Montpelier cresting at 21.02 feet, the highest since 1927.[1] Two people died, including one hiker on the Appalachian Trial.[2] Local police, fire, and emergency medical services responded, as did the National Guard from Vermont and the surrounding states. The American Red Cross arrived to provide shelter and other services.

Other groups came to Vermont to help, but with much less fanfare, including the Samaritan’s Purse, Salvation Army, and Billy Graham’s chaplains. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief sent hundreds of volunteer responders to help flood victims recover. I joined the West Virginia team in Barre VT, from 23 to 29 July. Led by Ron W and supported by Roy P. (SBDR’s incident commander), our group of eight tackled recovery jobs throughout the region.

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What must I do to be saved?

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The Bible leads people to salvation, but sometimes is unclear about what is required. What are the core beliefs that one must have to be a Christian? When the apostles tell us to follow the fundamental truths of the Faith, what do they mean? What can followers of Christ disagree on without breaking fellowship? What differences in theology are so serious that Christians must separate themselves from people who hold wrong views ? What must people do to be saved?

By Mark D. Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA

Our Sunday School class has been working through the letters of John for the past several weeks. In them, the Apostle repeatedly calls for his readers to know the truth. Most people, even those who deny objective moral truth, believe in some kind of truth. Religions, and non-religious philosophies, claim to contain and convey truth, and ask their adherents to accept it.

The word “saved” differs from one religion and/or philosophy to another. To a Christian, one is saved from separation from God. To a Buddhist, one is saved from false beliefs. To a Marxist, one is saved from economic oppression. To a Muslim, one is saved from hell. Keeping in mind that “salvation” differs by context, we will investigate how to achieve it.

How to be “saved” in major non-Christian religions

Every religion requires adherence to a set of beliefs and actions by those who wish to be part of that faith. For example, Islam expects its followers to do the five pillars:[1]

  1. Shahada – testify that “there is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is His prophet.”
  2. Zakat – pay tithes.
  3. Salah – pray towards Mecca five times per day.
  4. Sawm – fast during Ramadan.
  5. Hajj – make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Muslims are likewise required to perform good works, having just dealings with others, and may be called to fight in a holy war (jihad). Islam has dietary requirements, such as prohibitions on alcohol and pork, and rules for the social order. If one believes and does these things, he or she can justly consider him or herself to be a Muslim and will be considered so by others.[2] After death, if a Muslim’s good deeds outweigh the bad, or if he is killed in a jihad, he or she will enjoy paradise.

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