Greetings,
“We are in a populist moment” – so began an article in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday August 6. The statement was in reference to the political situation in the U.S. Middle America is a force waiting to be tapped by anyone who can rally the common people by creating a positive view of the future. This fictitious vision of hope is for those not among the financially elite 1% or a part of the concentration of power. The hope called for builds on America’s past successes and projects these into the future – as though nothing has changed to prevent the past being duplicated today. The article concluded by pointing out, “What is needed now is a new mythmaker who can describe the future of freedom.” This is leadership which will tell the people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.
Populism articulates a view of the future that generates a positive desire. Could a populist movement ever raise its head in God’s Church? After all, the Bible has many warnings for the New Testament Church of “mythmakers” who want to influence the members to follow their view of the “future of freedom.” As God’s people, we are very much future based people of hope. We also build our hope on past history and successful fulfillment of prophesied events which we then project into the future – dual fulfillment. As with secular populists, a healthy skepticism of the governing elite has developed over time. The Church has many apparent similarities to the secular populist movement.
Can we see warnings from Micah and Jeremiah as relevant in this regard? Micah chapter three, verse eleven states, “Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, is not the lord among us? No harm can come upon us.” Jeremiah adds a clear populist note to a similar observation. “The prophets prophesy falsely and the priests rule by their own power, and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” (Jeremiah 5:31). The “mythmakers” of the day tapped into the desire of middle Israel and told them what they wanted to hear in order to bolster their leadership positions.
The populists view of the future involves what is in it for self. As Israel prepared to enter the land of their inheritance, Moses warned them, “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today – every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes – for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 12:8-9). Ancient Israel historically demonstrated a strong populist mind set and their example is set before us for our learning. Moses was not a populist leader. Rather he told the people what they needed to be told even when it did not win him many friends.
The future of God’s people rests on the historical past of being a covenant people. That provides a great future hope but at the same time it means some hard, tough decisions that are not easy. We must give of ourselves – sacrifice – in order to serve the Living God as He unfolds “future of freedom” for all people. Our hope is in God completing His work of preparing the Church to serve mankind under Christ. Christ, like Moses, is not a populist leader. He tells us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear. “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life” (Matthew 7:14). However, if we embrace this way of give/service/sacrifice, Christ promises an unbelievable “future of freedom.”
Prayer Update
From Cliff Veal:
Hello Brethren,
I am beginning this writing sitting in the departure hall of the Kigali, Rwanda airport as I await boarding for the flight to Nairobi. At midnight I take the Nairobi-London route, which should get me home to England on Friday morning.
It is with mixed emotions that I leave Africa behind. On the one hand there is the shock of being confronted with the poverty of the region. On the other hand I return enthused and excited by the warmth and welcoming attitude of the brethren in this what seems to us far-flung region.
I find it unusual, wonderful and exciting that God, in this time so close to the end of this age, is allowing us to play a part in the spiritual well being of our brethren there.
It is interesting to think about just what it is that God is doing with us. We would do well to stay close to the Father and ask for His continued guidance.
I hope to give a more thorough report soon.
Cliff Veal is safely home in England. While in Rwanda, Mr. Veal baptized three people. He wrote in a personal message: “’Very sweet, gentle people who truly want to go God’s way. Have found [Mr.] Rushyikana to be an absolute pillar. So we have a congregation of four in Rwanda! All very encouraging.”
TFC Website
Several new things have been added to The Father’s Call website.
The last part of July, an In the News page was added under the main heading Info.
And this week two more pages were added to make it easier for people to get answers to their technical questions. Both are under the main heading Contact.
One is Frequently Asked Questions. Click on a question there and the answer will be displayed under it.
The other is titled Technical Support. It’s a place to ask for additional help on matters related to either streaming or to the website itself or to make suggestions.
In addition to this, a purple Support button has been added to the Live Stream pages.
During Services – now if a transmission/broadcasting problem occurs at the originating end, a notification message, in red, should pop up just below the video or audio live streaming player.
Otherwise, if you encounter technical issues during Services, clicking the Support button will take you to a live chat area where you can receive help.
Festival Music – Oxnard and Tulsa
To assist with planning for special music at the Feast, we need to know several things:
• Who would be interested in being a part of the choir?
• Who can contribute toward special music and/or offertory music?
• Who can offer piano accompaniment for hymns and/or vocal pieces?
For Oxnard please contact Ray Newby at raynewby@att.net or 925-783-3247
For Tulsa please contact Herb VanCuren at hgvancuren@yahoo.com or 918-683-8218
Warm Regards,
Brian Orchard
