Chris Howlett

One God

February 23rd marks the Feast Day of Saint Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, an ancient city in modern-day Turkey. Martyred in 156 A.D., Polycarp refused to burn incense to Caesar, a gesture that would have acknowledged Caesar as a divine being. He steadfastly refused to acknowledge or worship any false deity.

The Roman Empire, during which the early Church flourished, was characterized by pagan religious pluralism. The Romans worshipped numerous gods, and nearly every city had its own local deity. Religious minority groups within the Roman religious landscape worshipped their own gods, and it was not perceived as a betrayal of the polytheistic system because they also acknowledged the gods of others. Sounds similar to our modern attempt at pluralism, where we say, “You do you.”

In such a supposedly pluralistic atmosphere, why were the Romans so intolerant of Christians? Why did they feed them to lions or burn them at the stake? Christians, both then and now, recognize only one God and no others. There is only one God, and he has no rivals. The Romans demanded that Christians participate in the prevailing civic religion, paying homage to the city’s god and Caesar. While Christians were free to worship Jesus as a god if they chose, they were also required to acknowledge the gods of Rome.

Jews were exempt from this requirement. As a conquered and ancient ethnic group, their monotheistic beliefs were tolerated by Rome. However, Christianity was viewed as a novel religion, not rooted in ethnicity. Worshipping God in exclusion of others was seen as an implicit attempt to undermine familiar societal structures and the very foundations and security of the empire. The rapid spread of Christianity further heightened this sense of threat.

Christians were expected to adhere to societal norms, just like everyone else. For the Romans, the well-being of the empire hinged on maintaining the gods’ favor, as this was the key to sustaining strength. By keeping the gods pleased, one could ensure the prosperity of the nation. Given their religiously exclusive claims, Christians were perceived as “atheists” and, consequently, traitors who could potentially undermine the well-being of society.

Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, played a pivotal role in preserving and transmitting apostolic teachings. As one of the Apostolic Fathers, his influence significantly shaped the early Church, particularly in addressing heresies such as Gnosticism.

His martyrdom, documented in The Martyrdom of Polycarp, stands as one of the earliest and most comprehensive accounts of Christian martyrdom. Arrested and brought before Roman authorities, he faced pressure to renounce Christ but steadfastly refused. In a famous declaration, he proclaimed, “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” Subsequently, he was subjected to burning at the stake, though tradition holds that the flames did not consume him, leading to his subsequent stabbing death.

What we believe matters. Our confession has both temporal and eternal consequences. Polycarp serves as an exemplar of faithfulness in the face of opposition and persecution. May we be found faithful in our time.

Hope

Image by Gerd Altmann

Each baby born into the world represents hope. Think about it: when parents choose to bring a child into the world, it’s an act of optimism—a belief that the future holds promise. Every generation dreams that their children will live fulfilling and meaningful lives. Yes, babies also bring sleepless nights and endless worries (we’ll leave that for another conversation), but at their core, they embody hope.

Today, hope feels scarce in many parts of the Western world. Declining birth rates reveal a growing fear—that the future is bleak, that our children may inherit a world filled with despair rather than joy. What’s fueling this crisis of hope?

A significant factor is the dominant worldview of secular humanism. This perspective, which denies the existence of God, places humanity at the center of meaning and hope. Yet, when the human spirit falters and society struggles, secular humanism leaves many feeling empty and directionless. Despite our unparalleled prosperity, technological advances, and wealth of information, we are more spiritually impoverished than ever. Our houses are bigger, but they feel emptier. We are more connected online, but lonelier in reality. 

Hope, however, is essential. Without it, we cannot thrive. As the saying goes, you can survive fourteen days without food, two days without water, but not even two seconds without hope.

Thankfully, there are signs of a shift. Columnist Ross Douthat recently observed in The New York Times:

There is statistical evidence that the latest wave of secularization has reached some sort of limit. There is suggestive cultural evidence that secular liberalism has lost faith in itself, that many people miss not just religion’s moral vision but also its metaphysical horizons, that the arguments for religious belief might be getting a new hearing. Notre-Dame de Paris has been rebuilt from its ashes.   – Ross Douthat, December 21, 2024  

Remarkably, the rise of the “spiritual Nones” in the U.S. has plateaued after decades of rapid growth. Douthat suggests that a Christian revival may be on the horizon. He may be right. 

The hope the world desperately needs will never be found in the hollow promises of secular humanism. True hope is found in the radical truth that there is a God—a God who created the cosmos, who placed the stars in the sky, and who breathes life into his creation. This same God entered our broken world as one of us, born as a baby in Bethlehem. His name is Jesus, and he is the hope that sustains us, the light that shines in the darkness.

Today, we celebrate his birth. Let this be a day of joyful reflection and renewed hope. God is moving, and his work is far from finished. Let us open our hearts to him and join in his mission.

To Seek and Save the Lost

Photo by Todd Trapani

A 3-year-old boy in Alto, Wisconsin, wandered into a cornfield next to his home while chasing a cat. His parents called for help after losing sight of him in the vast 100-acre field. As night approached, deputies searched nearby homes and barns without success, prompting them to search the cornfield on foot. Thankfully, a police drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera quickly located the boy around 9:30 p.m. Deputies guided by the drone rescued him, and he was safely reunited with his parents. The boy had innocently followed a cat, but the situation could have turned dangerous without the technology and teamwork used in the search.

This story reminds me of the lengths to which God goes to search for us when we’re spiritually lost. Like the boy who wandered away chasing something harmless, we can sometimes find ourselves lost, having pursued things that seemed insignificant or innocent at the time. But God, much like the deputies and technology used in this rescue, is relentless in his pursuit of us. 

If you’ve wandered from God, or you know someone has wandered to a “far country” or just a cornfield, then know that God is searching. He won’t give up until the lost are found.

Are You Growing?

“The excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you’re learning you’re not old.” – Rosalyn S. Yalow

A tree that stops growing eventually withers, but one that continually reaches for sunlight and nourishment remains vibrant and resilient, even through the fiercest storms. Its roots sink deeper as its branches extend wider and higher. In much the same way, we thrive when we continue learning—stretching our minds, deepening our understanding, and adapting to new challenges. Lifelong learning keeps us flexible, strong, and engaged.

This principle applies to every area of life, including our spiritual growth. There’s a saying: “If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind.” I love how the Phillips New Testament captures Jesus’ words from John 15:4: “You must go on growing in me, and I will grow in you.” Is Christ growing in you? Are you growing in Christ?

What's Valuable to You?

Vanmoof, a Dutch bicycle manufacturer, faced a significant problem: their bikes were often damaged during delivery, which was a costly issue given that most of their sales occurred online. They needed a creative solution, and they found one in an unexpected place.

Vanmoof discovered that the boxes used to ship their bicycles were similar in size to those used for large flat-screen TVs. Unlike bicycles, TVs rarely arrived damaged. So, the company decided to print a graphic of a flatscreen TV on the side of their bike boxes. The result? An 80% reduction in damaged goods!

We treat things with greater care when we perceive them as valuable. Genesis 1:27 reminds us, "God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (NLT). When we understand that every person bears the image of God, we begin to see each individual as precious in his sight. God values humanity so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to redeem us. This profound truth compels us to treat others with the utmost care and respect.

How do you value the people around you? What worth do you place on human life? How do you recognize the eternal value and infinite worth of human beings who are created in the image of God? 

Bait and Switch

Image by Frank Minjarez

“Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.” – Edmund Burke

The endangered Corpse Flower, know as the “world’s stinkiest flower,” recently bloomed in Scotland.  The plant is native to Sumatra, but a specimen at the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden last week. The last time a specimen of this species bloomed in the UK was 2015. It’s a rare occurrence, one that attracts curiosity seekers due to the size of the bloom and its distinct odor. 

In nature, flies and other carrion insects are attracted to the flower, which mimics the smell of rotting flesh. These insects, seeking to lay their eggs on what they believe to be decaying meat, inadvertently aid in the flower's fertilization process. However, the flower plays a clever trick: it quickly decomposes within days, leaving no material on which the insects' larvae can thrive.

The Corpse Flower offers a striking metaphor for sin. At first glance, it may seem appealing, like a beautiful bloom, but its foul odor and deceptive promises reveal a deeper truth. Sin can appear enticing, but it ultimately delivers nothing. Don’t be deceived by its allure; its promises are empty and lead only to destruction.

How Much Lead in Your Applesauce?

“Holiness is not the privilege of a chosen few – it is the obligation, the call, and the will of God for every Christian.” – Mother Angelica

How much lead do you like in your applesauce? None, you say? Well, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise if you or your children consumed certain cinnamon-flavored applesauce sold in grocery and dollar stores last year. According to a story in The New York Times, the Food and Drug Administration identified a spice grinder in Ecuador as the likely source of contamination for potentially three million applesauce pouches sold in the United States.

Children in forty-four states ate the tainted sauce. Some of it contained alarmingly high levels of lead. But, even a small amount of lead in applesauce is too much.

How much sin do you think God wants in your life? About as much lead as you want in your kid’s applesauce. Zero. None. Nada. Yet, we often justify sin. We think, “No one is tempted the way I am.” “I’m only human.” “I just can’t help myself.” These are the enemy’s lies.

Everyone faces similar temptations (1 Cor. 10:13); to be human is to be like Jesus (Philippians 2:7); and, God can make you holy (1 Thess. 5:23-24). God wants to fill your life to overflowing with his love and Holy Spirit, leaving no room for sin.

During Lent, examine yourself and invite the Lord to open your heart to the fullness of his grace. Allow him to transform you into the person he created you to be.

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Image by Taken from Pixabay

Changed Circumstances or Changed Heart?

“No amount of regret changes the past, no amount of anxiety changes the future, any amount of grateful joy changes the present.” – Ann Voskamp

There was a mouse who was scared of cats until a wizard changed him into a cat. Then he met a dog, so the wizard transformed him into a dog. The mouse-turned-cat-turned-dog was fine until he encountered a tiger. So, once again, the wizard changed him into a tiger. When the tiger complained about meeting a hunter, the wizard refused to change him again. He said, "I will make you a mouse again, for although you have the body of a tiger, you still have the heart of a mouse!"

When we find ourselves dissatisfied with some aspect of life, we often look externally. We think, "If only my circumstances would change." However, a change in circumstances does not necessarily mean a change of heart. What we often need is a transformed heart. We need a heart filled with gratitude, joy, hope, and faith.

God loves you. He cares about your circumstances, but he may not necessarily want to fix them. What he does want is to fix you. He sent Jesus to change your heart. This week, surrender your circumstances and your heart to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften, shape, and make you more like Jesus. In doing so, you can experience the transformation you need to live fully, joyfully, and gratefully in the present.

Contagious Joy

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” – Henri Nouwen

According to C.S. Lewis, both good and bad things can be contagious. Just like standing near a fire makes you warm and getting into water makes you wet, if you want to experience joy, power, peace, and eternal life, you need to be close to or even immersed in the source of these qualities. They are not simply prizes God distributes to anyone; rather, they are the fundamental forces of energy and beauty that exist at the core of reality. If you are near this source, you will be touched by its influence, but if you are distant, you will remain unaffected.

Choosing joy means choosing to be with Jesus, the source of all joy. This is what we celebrate at Christmas, the gift of God’s Son, our Savior and Lord. It’s in and through a relationship with him that joy is encountered. I hope this season you will evaluate in what you’re immersed and turn your heart to the Christ of Joy.

Everyone Begins as a Novice

“I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” – Pablo Picasso

Everything you’ve ever done, you began as a novice. Think about it. When you first learned to walk, you began with a step, maybe two, if you were awesome, three. Then, what? You plopped back down on your behind. Aren’t you glad your parents didn’t say, “Well, this isn’t going to work out, she can’t walk. Let’s get her a wheel chair.” No, that’d be crazy. Or, how about when you learned the alphabet. Did you get it right the first time? No. Did it take some work and effort? Sure! Did you persevere? Yes, or you wouldn’t be reading this.

These are nearly universal experiences. I could go on and on and on with other examples. Life is about learning new things. We should never not be learning and growing. 

Discipleship is like this. A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, who grows in the character and competencies of Jesus. A disciple is a follower-learner. These are verbs. They take doing: following and learning. What are you learning from Jesus? How are you growing in spiritual maturity? What are you doing that you cannot do so that you may learn how to do it? Is it regularly reading and applying God’s Word to your life? Is it growing in prayer? Is it sharing your faith with a neighbor or friend? Is it worshiping with the community of faith consistently? Is it serving and showing the love of God through your actions? What’s your growing edge? Do you have a growing edge?

A child never learns to walk without taking that first, wobbly step. In your discipleship, it’s time to get to stepping.

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Photo by Gustavo Fring