Evangelism

VP Vance in Interview With Bishop Barron: Faith Cannot Be Confined to Private Life

It won’t surprise you that the mainstream media didn’t pay much attention to Vice President JD Vance’s wide-ranging conversation last week with Catholic Bishop Robert Barron, host of a show titled, “Conversations at the Crossroads.”

Officially assigned to the Diocese of Winona–Rochester in Minnesota, Bishop Barron is a theologian and founder of “Word on Fire,” a media ministry that produces and distributes sermons, videos, books and Bible studies. In many ways, he’s a modern-day Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the Catholic clergyman who hosted one of the top-rated television shows in America in the early days of the medium.

Vice President Vance, who is a convert to Catholicism, joined Bishop Barron on the show last Friday to talk about religion, philosophy, and public life – hence the relative silence about the appearance in secular media.

For the past year, Bishop Barron has served on President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, a group that was created to advise the White House on a broad range of issues involving religious liberty. Just before Independence Day, the commission submitted a report with a comprehensive list of recommendations that President Trump has vowed to implement.

In the midst of Friday’s conversation, Vice President Vance addressed head-on the reported tension between Pope Leo XIV and President Trump. Seated at a table inside a house looking out onto a leafy backyard and pool, the vice president suggested that perhaps the perceived strain wasn’t all that surprising – and maybe even an indication the system is working as it should be.

“Every time the Pope says something mildly critical of a Trump administration policy, it’s like, ‘Oh, the pope hates the Trump administration,’” Vance noted. “Well, you know, actually, no, maybe the pope is trying to provide the kind of moral teaching that is inherently part of his job. And then we have to take that and try to apply it, which is part of our job. Conversation is essential to that.”

During both the first and second Trump administrations, that tension has most frequently bubbled up over immigration policy. Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo have acknowledged that while countries have a right to enforce their immigration laws and their borders, they have often suggested the government should nevertheless provide a legal pathway to remain in the country and become integrated into the culture. Both popes have also stressed the need to treat illegal aliens with dignity and respect – a value that our government has likewise shared, but which is subjective when officials are forced to deal with violent, aggressive and uncooperative offenders.

During the conversation, both Vice President Vance and Bishop Barron advocated for the need for an active citizenry and noted that people of Christian faith need not check their faith at the church door. 

“Growing up as a young conservative Christian, it sometimes felt like whenever Christians engage in politics, we were very comfortable engaging with this or that social or cultural issue, but not anything else,” VP Vance observed. “And I actually think there’s an opportunity for us to rediscover a more fully Christian politics that says that, ‘Actually, Jesus has opinions about all these things. And in fact, if you don’t get all of it right, you risk getting the most important parts wrong.’”

He continued:

You can’t just confine your faith to these narrow little slices of society or of culture or of your own life. It’s gotta be true for the whole thing … Jesus really cares about how you treat your wife and how you treat your kids, but He also cares about everything else, too. 

Bishop Barron and Vice President Vance went on to discuss C.S. Lewis’ famous reference that God doesn’t merely want a place in your house, but the entire house because He is the architect who understands and is sovereign over every inch of it.

Reflected the vice president: “If you really believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and you believe all the truths that flow from that to your point, He actually has a lot to say about all parts of your life.”

It should encourage Christians that the vice president of the United States is openly and enthusiastically encouraging believers to seek God’s wisdom and then bring their deeply held convictions into the public square.

The Unshakable Grit and Unfaltering Faith of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri

The sudden release of Ezra Jin Mingri, the founding pastor of Zion Church of China, reads like something out of the dramatic sixteenth chapter of Acts.

You’re familiar with the passage: an earthquake at midnight suddenly throws open the prison doors and unleashes the shackles of the detained, including the Apostle Paul and his companion, Silas. The jailer is converted and the Roman magistrates come and escort the two men out of the city and to freedom (Acts 16:25-39).

There may not have been a physical earthquake in China’s Guangxi Province last week, but there was a political one when Pastor Jin walked to freedom after being held for 266 days. Eight of his members remain under arrest. The government had detained him last year and charged him with “illegally using information networks” – legalese for broadcasting his church services online.

Writing in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal, Pastor Jin described his release this past Independence Day.

“When guards ushered me into a van last Friday, I thought they were taking me to my trial,” he wrote. “I expected a long sentence for founding and leading Zion, one of China’s underground, or house, churches. But hours later, I was free. No negotiations,no confession, all charges dropped.”

This past spring, President Trump personally appealed on his behalf to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his trip to Beijing. At the same time, Mr. Trump pressed China for the release of Jimmy Lai. Mr. Lai is a strong Christian and has been under arrest for over five years. Now 78 years old, his crime was running a pro-democracy newspaper.

While flying back to the United States, President Trump told reporters, “He (Xi Jinping)  said he’s gonna strongly consider the pastor.” He then told the press, Jimmy Lai’s case was “a tough one.”

“My gratitude goes first to President Trump, whose diplomacy secured my release, as well as to the members of Congress and other U.S. officials who worked on my behalf,” reflected Pastor Jin.

Grace Jin Drexel, Ezra’s daughter, both testified before Congress and publicly advocated for her father’s freedom.

Although he founded the church in China in 2007, Jin received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Ezra and his wife, Anna Liu, have three children, all of whom were born in the United States and are American citizens. In 2018, given increased harassment and pressure from the Chinese government, the family moved back to California, but Ezra remained to continue shepherding his congregation. 

Reunited on Friday with his family in Los Angeles, the courageous evangelist acknowledged the reunion was hard to fully comprehend. 

“It was disorienting to go from a crowded prison cell to watching Fourth of July fireworks with my family over In-N-Out burgers,” he wrote.

It’s difficult for Christians in America to fully appreciate just how risky it is for active Christians in China. Government officials claim there is religious freedom in the country, but they expect pastors and their congregants to first pay loyalty to the state not their Savior.

“When I started Zion Church in 2007, my aim was simple: to share the immeasurable love of God with those around me,” Jin writes. “As I wrote from prison, ‘We do not oppose dialogue with the government, nor do we confront it, but rather emphasize obedience to those in authority.’ At the same time, we hold fast to our beliefs, recognizing Jesus Christ as the sole head of our church.”

That rock-ribbed commitment got Pastor Jin jailed for nine months. Although he’s been freed, he believes his work and ministry in China is far from over. He writes:

China’s political authorities have no reason to fear the tens of millions in China who worship in unregistered congregations. These Christians love their nation. They only want to worship God peacefully according to the Bible and to serve others, especially the poor, the disabled and the elderly. Zion Church is proud to have been among the first responders after the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake and to have hosted major blood drives in Beijing.

My earnest prayer is that my release can mark the beginning of a new chapter for people of faith in China. Freedom of religion is a universal right promised in the Chinese Constitution. I hope that all our church members are freed and that China becomes a place where all people can freely worship. A first step would be to legalize house churches alongside state-run churches in the same way China has legalized private industry alongside state-owned enterprises.

Pastor Jin has shared that the prayers of Christians around the world on his and other believers’ behalf, have sustained them through extremely difficult circumstances. This should serve as both a reminder and a charge to continue petitioning the Lord for persecuted Christians everywhere. The Lord is sovereign, but our prayers matter and make a difference. 

“Mine is a God of miracles, and He constantly surprises me,” writes Pastor Jin.

In the days and weeks to come, we pray that the Lord will surprise us with His goodness, too.

Asbury Seminary’s Offense: Believing the Bible as Written

The recent news from the United Methodist Church (UMC) and our friends at Asbury Theological Seminary reads almost like a story straight from the Babylon Bee.

Late last month, the United Methodist Church removed Asbury Seminary from its list of approved schools for candidates for the denomination’s ordination. 

In short, the liberal and heretical UMC can no longer tolerate the biblically faithful standards of Asbury Seminary.

You might recall that it was at the Wilmore, Kentucky campus back in 2023 that a 16-day spiritual awakening erupted. During those historic couple of weeks, upwards of 70,000 people flocked to the campus where prayer, Scripture reading and hymn singing occurred around the clock. Many committed or recommitted their lives to the Lord.

What exactly did the UMC find so objectionable about Asbury?

In a gracious and charitable response to the news, Dr. David F. Watson, Asbury’s president, explained:

The [UMC] Senate’s requirements, particularly those related to the UMC’s 2024 Social Principles concerning ‘Human Sexuality’ and ‘Marriage,’ are not aligned with Asbury Theological Seminary’s institutional ethos and the historic witness of the Christian faith. We affirm marriage as sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union for life, as delineated in Scripture, and provides the sole context for sexual intimacy, helping to ensure the blessings of that relationship as God intended.

Our theological commitments, including our commitment to Scripture, remain unchanged. As an independent, multi-denominational seminary in the Wesleyan tradition, we have remained steadfast for more than a century in teaching the unchanging truth of orthodox Christianity. Our mission and values are the same today as they have been for more than a century.

In other words, it’s an old and familiar story. Asbury Seminary hasn’t wavered when it comes to God’s Word — it’s the United Methodist Church that has chosen to reimagine and reinterpret timeless truth.

The social “principles” that the UMC has revised over the years now declare that marriage can be between any “two adult persons of consenting age.” 

Founded in 1923 and now the eighth-largest seminary in the country, Asbury’s motto has long been “The Whole Bible for the Whole World” — a declaration that doesn’t leave any room for politically or socially correct editing. 

Although rooted in Wesleyan theology (an emphasis on grace and holiness), the seminary has traditionally recruited and taught not just Methodists but students from upwards of 80 different Christian denominations at any one time.

Given the heretical trajectory of the UMC over the years, it should come as no surprise that the denomination and the seminary have parted ways. Perhaps the only curiosity is why it took so long — and why it was the UMC that first initiated the breakup. But Dr. Watson subtly suggested Asbury’s patience and long-suffering may well have been because of their commitment to loyalty and unity. He noted last week:

We value our long history of serving United Methodist students and churches, and we are grateful for decades of partnership. Today, more than 4,000 living Asbury Theological Seminary alumni affiliated with The United Methodist Church are serving, or have served, faithfully around the globe. We love and respect our United Methodist students, alumni and faculty, whose presence has enriched our community for generations. We pray for God’s continued blessing on them as they minister faithfully across denominational lines.

However generous in tone in its response, Asbury Seminary can and should consider the UMC’s rejection of the school as an affirmation of its ongoing commitment to biblical orthodoxy. In fact, when it comes to future recruiting and enrollment, it might just come to be considered a helpful and fortunate “defeat” to be repudiated by the current UMC.

From the World Cup to the Stanley Cup, the Lord’s Cup Overflows

Christian athletes aren’t a new phenomenon, but the public boldness of their witness appears to be contagious and growing. 

From track star Eric Liddell (“When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”) to baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday to C.T. Studd (“Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”), the famed British cricket player who gave up the sport to become a missionary, followers of Jesus have long honored the Lord in sport.

In recent years, we all remember Tim Tebow’s unapologetic defense and promotion of his Christian faith. From referencing Scripture verses in his eye black, kneeling in prayer on the sidelines, and joyfully giving thanks to his Savior in post-game interviews, the former star quarterback took lots of grief from cranks who criticized him for proselytizing on his various platforms.

The recent boldness of San Francisco Giants’ pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, all of whom added Bible references to their teams “Pride”-themed caps, was a response to being bullied. But if it seems that some athletes are more often and more vocally acknowledging their faith in media interviews, it might just be because they are.

We’re only in the opening days of the FIFA World Cup, but after their very first match, the USA’s Mark McKenzie led his teammates in prayer after their 4-1 win over Paraguay. The USA’s Christian Pulisic is another strong Christian who often talks about his “Bible time.”

“The Bible is a big part of my life,” he recently shared on social media. “I want to use my platform in a positive way.”

Pulisic has told reporters he always feels as though the Lord is watching over him while he’s playing. “I reach out to God to give me strength. With that behind me, nothing can stop me, really.”

With an expanded 48-team format, World Cup play is expected to reach over 5 billion people. Not an insignificant portion of those soccer fans follow McKenzie and/or Pulisic or other openly Christian athletes in social media. The various platforms are rightly criticized for dispensing lots of garbage – and yet at the same time they also publish and promote the Gospel through their online forums.

The Stanley Cup Finals just wrapped up this past weekend with the Carolina Hurricanes edging out the Las Vegas Knights four games to two. Hockey players are known for being tough, rough and aggressive, but the NHL also features devout followers of Christ on nearly every team.

Carolina Hurricanes star defenseman Jaccob Slavin is one such convictional Christian. The Colorado born Slaven has been playing in the NHL since 2015. Known for his workmanlike dedication, he is well grounded.

“If the Lord wanted to take hockey away from me tomorrow, I’m still good,” he once said. “My identity’s not in this sport. My relationship with Christ is the only thing that doesn’t change.”

After Jalen Chatfield joined the Hurricanes five years ago, Slavin became a mentor to the fellow defensemen both on and off the ice.

“He’s known about all my struggles, because I was very open with him and talking to him about stuff,” Chatfield has said. “Whether it was my first year or second year, getting scratched or things like that, he’s always been there for me and he’s been my best friend.”

He also added:

“Just his guidance, and seeing how he is as a father, as a teammate, as a leader, I learned a lot from him and I appreciate (him) every single day. And especially being able to work with him, play with him. It’s special, for sure.”

Jaccob’s wife, Kylie, also wound up mentoring and discipling Jalen’s girlfriend and now wife, Drew. The Chatfields were drawn to the Slavins – and Jaccob wound up baptizing both of them in the couple’s backyard pool.

Only the Slavins brush off any credit.

“God literally did everything and just let us be a part of it,” reflected Kylie. “I think that was also so that we could never boast about it. We didn’t do anything. … It’s been cool to see God move so evidently.”

It was King David who wrote, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5). Indeed, the world is full of many hostile actors who are resistant to the Gospel. But the Lord remains in the middle of it all, working through all kinds of individuals, with all types of platforms. 

From the World Cup to the Stanley Cup, the Lord’s cup is the most important and most abundant of all. May He continue to instill boldness and joy in athletes on the world stage as they share the Good News of Jesus.

Prayer Is Perfect Complementary Medicine

It was King Solomon who suggested that laughter or a cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22) – but a new study confirms what Christians have long believed: there’s evidence that prayer works as well or likely even better.

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine worked with 180 patients who had reported suffering from moderate to severe anxiety or pain. Some were struggling with both afflictions.

Representatives from the school’s Department of Family and Community Medicine split the group in half. They assigned 90 patients to relax in a room with soothing music. They then took the other 90 and invited them to visit with a minister who prayed with them in-person for five minutes.

School representatives met with each person immediately following their sessions and then again two and six weeks later.

What did they find?

While individuals in both groups showed improvement, those who were prayed for in-person saw the greatest reduction in symptoms.

Researchers concluded:

Proximal intercessory prayer was safe, effective, and well-received as complementary treatment for pain and anxiety … Proximal intercessory prayer may be a low-cost, non-pharmacologic, effective adjunct to standard care with particular relevance for underserved populations.

Just a note of correction or clarification to researchers at the University of Maryland:

Prayer isn’t low-cost. It’s free.

Writing to Timothy, the Apostle Paul suggested prayer wasn’t just effective but also in everyone’s best interest.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

James struck a similar sentiment when he wrote, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (5:16).  

If a Christian believes in the power of prayer, and recognizes its effectiveness, it does beg the question:

Why don’t believers pray more often and more fervently?

One sobering conclusion would have to be that we really don’t fully believe what we claim to believe.

We’re also quickly distracted and sometimes even self-consumed, self-centered, and self-sufficient, believing that we can handle things on our own.

As Christians who believe in the authority of Scripture, we don’t need social science to firm up our biblical convictions. But it’s always affirming when the two agree. The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, a former Focus on the Family board member and pastor, often said with a smile, “Every now and then science may disagree with the Bible. Just give the scientists time, and maybe they will catch up.”

In this instance, they’ve caught up – no prescription or co-pay required.