Welcome to Higher Ground, a newsletter and website dedicated to helping families of faith navigate a chaotic world with rigorous reporting, commentary and analysis on national, global and cultural issues.
Don’t forget to subscribe to have the Higher Ground newsletter from Billy Hallowell and Mark Kellner delivered to your inbox every Sunday.
Former Vice President Mike Pence — who says an encounter during his college years led him to Jesus — has faith in his faith, our Seth McLaughlin reports.
Mr. Pence is holding fast to his motto “I am a Christian, conservative and a Republican, in that order,” as he seeks the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Saying America’s belief in God needs to be restored, he wants to “bringing back humility and faith to our nation’s capital.”
Religious belief “is the foundation of Mike’s life both public and private,” Todd Huston, speaker of the Indiana House, told The Washington Times. “It really is his North Star.”
An event of ‘Biblical proportions’ as evangelist leads baptism for 4,500 in California cove
If you’ve seen the movie “Jesus Revolution” (it’s streaming now after a theatrical release), you might recall the scene at Pirate Cove in Southern California where a very young Greg Laurie was baptized along with hundreds of others in those heady days of the hippie-led Jesus movement.
Last weekend, Mr. Laurie — now an evangelist and radio broadcaster — led a baptism for 4,500 at the same Newport Beach, California, location. Contributor Alex Murashko reported on the 2023 event from the scene.
On social media, Mr. Laurie declared: “This may be the largest baptism in American history, maybe world history. God Knows, but it was AMAZING! We give Him all the Glory.”
For many people getting baptized, the movie’s baptism scene served as a catalyst for making a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and publicly showing their commitment at the same location, Alex reported.
‘Sound of Freedom’ spurs box-office shift for faith-forward cinema, observers say
A scrappy cinematic underdog has scored an upset at the box office: “Sound of Freedom,” a movie dropped by one major Hollywood studio, is now a successful drama showing in theaters across the country.
Angel Studios, the distributor that picked up the film about the rescue of child sex trafficking victims, is succeeding with its “pay it forward” ticket promotion and crowdfunding for future projects. The Provo, Utah-based company earlier succeeded with the crowdfunded launch of “The Chosen,” the mega-hit streaming series on the life of Jesus.
Jim Caviezel (“The Passion of the Christ”) stars in the film, based on the life and exploits of Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security agent who started a nonprofit organization, Operation Underground Railroad, to rescue victims. The movie was initially produced by 20th Century Fox, but was “shelved” when Walt Disney Studios bought the Fox firm in 2018.
Is this the start of a new way of making movies overall, or a flash in the pan? We hear from veteran film industry observers, a writer/producer and an Angel Studios executive.
Exiled Chinese Christian pastor: ‘No religious freedom’ under communist rule
The Chinese Christian pastor who led more than 60 of his church members to freedom in the U.S. earlier this year told members of a House committee there is “no religious freedom” in the People’s Republic of China.
The Rev. Pan Yongguang told a roundtable organized by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party: “There is a real price to pay for being a true Christian in China, and as a pastor, I am especially aware of this. Churches are often forced to stop [holding] services, they are relocated, banned and closed. And even their church offerings are not allowed to be collected.”
Other speakers included a Uyghur Muslim imam living in exile here and a Tibetan Buddhist exile who explained how the CCP represses religious freedom. Tibetans have suffered under CCP rule for decades, but it’s only been since 2017 that Uyghurs in the northwest of China have been subjected to severe attacks. “Imam Hajim,” as the refugee was identified, said he has not been able to communicate with his parents or family since that time.
As he expressed solidarity with the CCP’s victims, Rep. Mike Gallagher, the Wisconsin Republican who chairs the select committee, sounded a note of hope: “Even under intense persecution, faith persists throughout China, and the number of the faithful grows.”
Southern Baptists could expel ‘thousands’ of Black congregations over women pastor issue, leader warns
Thousands of Black Southern Baptist churches — as many as 4,000 congregations — are candidates for being kicked out of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination over the issue of having women on staff with the title of “pastor,” the leader of the group’s National African American Fellowship claims.
The Rev. Gregory Perkins, NAAF president, said in a letter to SBC President Rev. Bart Barber that recent actions by the denomination against women pastors have “created division within the SBC and may disproportionately impact NAAF affiliated congregations.”
Mr. Perkins asked Mr. Barber for a meeting, and the SBC leader said in a text message shared with The Washington Times that he looks forward to discussing the issue with NAAF leaders shortly at an event in Asheville, North Carolina.
But it isn’t only Black churches in the SBC pushing back against the female pastor ban.
The Rev. Rick Warren, founder and retired senior pastor at Saddleback Church, which was expelled from the SBC this year for having a woman “teaching pastor,” roasted the denomination as the “Shrinking Baptist Convention” for its restrictions and posted a response to the June actions at SBCstand.com, where supporters can register their agreement.
Podcast: Blasphemy, Bud Light and persecution
On this week’s “Higher Ground” podcast, Billy Hallowell interviews Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican seeking the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Like Mike Pence, Mr. Scott leans into his faith, saying his ascent to the Senate is “a blessing from God.”
Catch the podcast here.
In our opinion
Hallowell: ‘Sound of Freedom’ critics miss the point when attacking film’s message
Critics of a motion picture that “exposes the darkness of child trafficking” are missing the point when they slam “Sound of Freedom” with dismissive and damaging reactions, our columnist Billy Hallowell writes.
Whatever controversies attach to the film’s star Jim Caviezel or Tim Ballard, on whom the story is based, Billy says, “the film is shedding light on a topic desperately in need of attention. Rather than embrace that reality, some are seemingly so blinded by politics and an opportunity to poke back that they’ve gone out of their way to squander a life-saving opportunity.”
Instead, media headlines seek to link the film with unsavory groups. Britain’s Guardian newspaper, for example, “one-upped the insanity,” Billy said, with this headline: “Sound of Freedom: the QAnon-adjacent thriller seducing America.”
Laurie: America’s soul at stake in latest battle — but is it too late?
In an opinion column for The Washington Times, evangelist Greg Laurie — the pastor who oversaw that mass baptism a week ago in California — says we’re in a battle for America’s soul and that the nation has largely forgotten God.
“The freedom we enjoy today is built on the foundation of absolute truth. And when you remove that foundation, this freedom actually can turn into anarchy. We need God’s help. My belief about the future of our nation is that we have two choices before us: one is judgment and the other is revival. If we do not have revival, then judgment is inevitable,” he writes.
Ask Dr. E: Questions of heaven and hell
In his latest “Ask Dr. E” column, Everett Piper tells an inquirer that the question of why “a good God” would condemn non-Christians to hell.
“On the question of heaven and hell, there are some things that I just don’t understand, but my questions aside, I can say this: If there are those on the face of the planet who have lived such good lives that they need no forgiveness and need no grace, I’m sure not among them,” he writes.
Mr. Piper adds: “I’m ‘casting my lot with those of the Crucified’ and trusting him with my soul as well as all the questions I cannot answer.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.