By Jonathan Ho

Dear readers,

In January 2020, the first case of COVID-19 in the United States was confirmed. Since that time we have seen over four and a half million deaths related to COVID-19 globally (per the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/); a fiery and divisive presidential election season in the U.S.; a shutdown of schools, restaurants, and workplaces; and protests in person and online related to police brutality and racial tensions.

 During this time we have also seen confirmation of allegations of Ravi Zacharias' (a prominent Evangelical apologist) sexual abuses and prominent pastors such as Carl Lentz (former lead pastor of Hillsong NYC) step down from their posts for allegations of misconduct.

 If there were any time to be called a time of shaking, this would be one of them. We are seeing shaking from our fears related to physical health, social health, spiritual health, and shaking in our institutional authorities.

In a letter we today call the book of Hebrews, the author wrote,

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

(Hebrews 12:25-29, NIV)

 The writer describes that which can be shaken and that which cannot be shaken. During this time of shaking, we can start to see what we grasp for, what we’ve taken for granted, and whether it will stand or collapse.

When we are in trouble, we reach for what we think will save us. If I’m drowning, I reach for whatever I think will help me get out of the water. If I’m afraid of someone, I will either run away, face them, or try to get help from someone who I think can help. Or in some cases, I’ll just cover my eyes, hoping nothing bad will happen.

And sometimes we reach for the feeling of addressing an issue when we’re really just running circles in our heads. In an age of massive technological advances, it has become easier and easier for our imaginations to cast a shadow of illusion. It’s easier to watch someone do something or talk about something loving on TV or YouTube and easier to message about concerns on Telegram or another chatting app, read articles, or retweet on Twitter than it is to follow Jesus in loving our neighbors concretely and in person. Have we begun assuming our beliefs in these ways rather than living them as Larry describes in his article? What have hours and hours of time on social media or internal chat groups really accomplished aside from occupying our minds?

Or maybe we’ve forgotten our call to be cross-cultural as Scott writes. Have we decided to ignore those who are different from us in the name of feeling tired or being too busy? Or maybe we’ve (understandably) prioritized comfort during these times rather than pursuing others in loving self-sacrifice as Jesus did?

Or maybe the issue starts much deeper. What if our theology has been so affected by our culture and context that we’ve lived out a faith that exaggerates one aspect of the gospel while neglecting another aspect of a fuller gospel as Clement describes? And what if this distortion will cost us unless we adjust course?

Our prayer is that God would use this edition to challenge, soften, and change your heart as it has ours, that the Holy Spirit would convict our hearts towards loving God and others.

Do you seek spiritual revival for your community, neighborhood, or nation? Then let us remember that true revival begins not with fire and powerful speeches, but with humility, prayer, and turning from our fleshly ways (see 2 Chronicles 7:14).

Let us turn to God and his ways in obedience and trust.

Jonathan Ho

P.S. As usual, please share your thoughts with us. Email us at hello@projectarctos.com. We’d love to hear from you. Or visit us at www.projectarctos.com and sign up for one of our workshops. We’d love to connect further with you as we journey with Christ each day.