Posted: 8/25/03

Moscow court convicts Okhotin, confiscates donations

By Frank Brown

Religion News Service

MOSCOW–In a case being watched closely by evangelical Protestants worldwide, a judge convicted an American Baptist youth pastor of currency smuggling Aug. 22, in the process confiscating $48,000 in charitable donations collected from believers in the United States.

The part-time pastor, Andrew Okhotin, was given a suspended sentence of six months and is free to leave Russia, where he has been stuck since March. But Okhotin vows to appeal the verdict and remain in Moscow, perhaps missing the start of the fall term at Harvard Divinity School, where he is a third-year graduate student.

"I don't know how long I'll have to stay," he said after hearing the verdict, calling the seizure of the $48,000 a "theft."

"If they stole from you, what would you do?" he asked.

Minutes earlier, Okhotin wore a crooked smile of disbelief as Judge Igor Yakovlev pronounced him guilty and declared the $48,000 in 50- and 100-dollar bills to be "contraband used in the commission of a crime" and now the property of the Russian government.

The judge acknowledged Okhotin's "exceptionally positive character references" witnessed by the dozens of faxed and mailed appeals from hundreds of evangelical Christians, Okhotin's professors and a letter from eight U.S. members of Congress. But, in arriving at the verdict, Yakovlev ignored Okhotin's version of what happened on the morning of March 29 when Okhotin arrived on a flight with the cash in his backpack.

In sometimes conflicting accounts, two customs inspectors testified that Okhotin's choice of the green, nothing-to-declare corridor was a willful attempt at deception.

Okhotin told the court he chose the green corridor by accident, cooperated with the inspectors and immediately produced a customs declaration for the cash that he had filled out on the flight from New York. The customs inspectors ignored it, Okhotin said, choosing instead to demand bribes of first $10,000 and then $5,000 for his release.

"We raised the question of bribery here. Did the judge take an interest? No. Did the prosecutor take an interest? No," Okhotin said, calling the court proceeding a "cover up" for the wrongdoing of the customs officers.

Neither the prosecutor nor customs officials were on hand for the verdict. The prosecutor, Alla Tomas, previously refused to comment on any aspect of the case. Irina Kondratskaya, a customs inspector accused by Okhotin of soliciting a bribe during his 12-hour interrogation at the airport, angrily declined in a brief telephone conversation to speak about what happened.

Aside from Okhotin's case, which has received scant attention from the Russian media, law enforcement corruption is a hot topic this summer in Moscow. In July, at the same airport used by Okhotin, three border guards were arrested and accused of taking bribes to allow wanted criminals to leave Russia on fake passports. On Aug 21, six Moscow police officers were charged with taking part in an extortion and contract murder racket.

Worldwide, Okhotin's case has taken on a life of its own by slowly, organically provoking the prayerful indignation of evangelical Christians. Supporters are following his journey through the Russian legal system, his 27-day hunger strike and the prayer appeals on the K-Love Christian radio network, through e-mail and on Christian-oriented websites from Denmark to North America to Russia.

About 50 young Baptists at the church where Okhotin volunteered weekends as a youth pastor stayed up until 2:30 a.m. the day of the verdict praying for "God to defend Andrew and help those Russian families who were waiting for the help he was bringing," said the church's pastor, Alexander Brover, in a telephone interview from Westfield, Mass.

Members of the Southwick Baptist Church contributed to the $48,000 sum raised to aid needy Russian Baptists, Brover said, adding that he thinks a divine plan is at work in Okhotin's predicament.

"God took Andrew on this path to prepare him for something bigger. God is teaching him something," the pastor said.

Indeed, of all the people who could have run afoul of customs officials, Okhotin is uniquely qualified to hold his own. Okhotin's father was a Soviet-era pastor in an underground Baptist church who was arrested for his faith and imprisoned for 2 1/2 years. The family–Okhotin's parents and his eight siblings–immigrated to the United States in 1989. After graduating from Harvard Divinity School, Okhotin wants to enroll in Harvard Law School and eventually specialize in defending the rights of religious minorities.

Okhotin's mother, Nadezhda Okhotin, who flew to Moscow from her home in San Diego for the legal proceedings, said the last time she had been in a Russian courtroom was in 1984 for her husband's trial on charges of anti-Soviet agitation.

"This is the persecution of a Christian doing good works," she said after hearing the verdict. "I can't see it any other way."

Okhotin's lawyer, Vladimir Ryakhovsky, said he would appeal the verdict to the Moscow City Court. He called the grounds for appeal strong because "the judge didn't take into account at all the fact that there is no limit how much money you can bring into the country."

Ryakhovsky, whose own father was a Pentecostal preacher imprisoned for his faith by the Soviets, predicted Okhotin's case might reach Russia's Supreme Court before getting resolved. Ryakhovsky, one of the country's top religious freedom lawyers, won a victory earlier this year before the high court when it decided to allow Muslim women to wear headscarves in their passport photos.

Posted: 8/22/03

See second cartoon here

"For once, today's sermon is not about change. It's more about dollar bills –and tens and twenties."

Posted: 8/22/03

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Aug. 31

Living well & thriving in a fellowship of believers

James 5:7-20

By Jim Perkins

Madison Hills Baptist Church, San Antonio

Surely most of us would agree that our challenge is to live well and thrive in the fellowship of believers. To accomplish that possibility, we need guidance valid through the ages, such as James offers in the last chapter of his letter.

Be patient

The final section of James' letter (5:7-20) probably functioned as one last opportunity for the author to encourage and instruct his readers concerning appropriate ethical attitudes and actions within the community of believers. Also, remember that this section follows the condemnation of the wicked “rich people” of 5:1-6, who perhaps were the chief oppressors or persecutors of the Christians to whom James wrote.

James instructed the Christian community to "be patient" in the midst of the oppression as they awaited "the Lord's coming" (5:8). The author explained the logic for waiting patiently by employing an appropriate agricultural metaphor–the wise farmer waiting for the arrival of the harvest. In so doing, the farmer realizes two truths: He can do nothing to speed the development of the crop, and he must await patiently the timely arrival of the seasonal rains—something he cannot produce but desperately needs to water his crop.

The Old Testament provided James an opportune “example of patience in the face of suffering” as he reminded his readers of the lives of the prophets and specifically the “perseverance” of Job (5:10-11). James noted that his readers had access to the complete course of Job's life, and should be encouraged as they remember that our loving and compassionate God was faithful to deliver Job (refer also to Christ's words in Matthew 5:12).

One additional aspect of community life concerned James to such an extent that he encouraged these Christians in verse 9 to grow in patience and acceptance of one another (5:9). He recognized the stresses of persecution probably caused an atmosphere of “grumbling” against one another to develop and disrupt the harmony in the community of believers. Grumbling naturally includes an inappropriate judgmental attitude, so James warned these Christians that the true Judge (Christ) could return at any moment, in which case they would be liable to be judged “in the same way you judge others” (Matthew 7:2; see also Romans 14:4).

Pray often

James also was convinced that the harmony and spiritual vitality of the community of believers would be enhanced by their ongoing reliance on and participation in prayer. Specifically, the author instructed them to pray during times of trouble (look back to 1:2), illness, sin problems and to sing (prayer/praise) songs in times of great happiness (5:13-16).

Not only were these Christians to pray for themselves, but verse 14 seems to speak to a situation in which the individual was too ill to attend a gathering of the group of believers. In that case, the “elders” of the church (probably the pastors or ministers) were to come as a group to pray over the sick individual and anoint him with oil.

The anointing with oil could have been for medicinal purposes, but more likely here it was a symbolic representation of the great concern and healing power of our mighty God. Remember also that it was the “prayer offered in faith” (5:15) and not the anointing that was effectual in leading to healing, for “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (5:16).

These Christians were encouraged to “confess your sins to each other” for the express purpose that they may “pray for each other so that you may be healed” (5:16). The motivation for so doing is very clear, and the church's response to the confession is also clearly indicated–we do not talk down about one another, but we do talk up to God about their needs. We must be very certain and convicted about that.

As if for emphasis, James offered one last illustration to give evidence of the power of prayer: Elijah the prophet prayed, and not only were the heavens shut up so that it could not rain, but in response to his fervent prayer for the return of rain, the heavens opened and allowed the earth to produce an abundant crop (5:17-18).

Help the straying

In the last two verses of his letter (5:19-20), James applied the final strokes of the paintbrush to his portrait of a church in which the members displayed a commendable mutual concern for one another. According to James, this mutual concern would overflow naturally into the arena of every Christian's battle with sin.

The author's advice was very specific: If a fellow Christian strayed from the truth, his brothers or sisters in the community of faith were responsible to walk beside him and encourage him along the path to spiritual renewal. With this interpretation of the passage it is given that to “save him from death” refers to the physical death of his body (compare 1 Corinthians 11:30). At the same time, the possibility that a proper response might “cover over a multitude of sins” could hearken back to the promise of leading a lost person to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior.

Question for discussion

What actions and attitudes are included in biblical “patience?”

Posted: 8/22/03

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Sept. 7

Lewis: 'Joy is the serious business of heaven'

Philippians 1

By John Duncan

Lakeside Baptist Church, Granbury

C.S. Lewis once proclaimed, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” The Cambridge scholar may well have had in his mind the book of Philippians.

When Paul remembered the church at ancient Philippi, he recalled Christ's joy as he remembered faces–the faces of women by the river, Lydia, a slave girl, the household of the Philippian jailer and even Silas with whom he once shared a prison cell (Acts 16:11-40).

The joy of Christ's work in each of their lives, the joy of God's work in the church and the joy of God's movement in the community caused Paul to overflow with joy. The joy leads Paul to pen a letter of gratitude as he imagined their faces overshadowed by the face of Christ on the cross.

Paul says, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3). Paul overflowed with joy, knowing that joy flows from God's grace and peace (Philippians 1:2).

In my heart

The key to understanding this Scripture passage is Paul's phrase, “I have you in my heart” (Philippians 1:7). He experiences the joy of remembrance–of walking through Philippi's marketplace, of praying with believers in the church and of knowing there were many people to reach for Christ in the cosmopolitan city of Philippi situated on the Via Egnatia, a main trade route for travelers and caravans.

Paul's thought turns toward the faces as he names them gospel partners (Philippians 1:7), partners because of God's grace. They were partners whose common bond was Christ. They were yoked together by the cross and shared the gospel as the answer (“apologetics”) to life and as a means of securing (“anchoring”) a life purposed in Christ's joy (Philippians 1:7).

For all that Paul has in his heart, he knew God's work progressed (Philippians 1:6) in their hearts toward maturity. A.T. Robertson says Paul's joy reverts to Christ's second coming and heaven as Paul thinks of his fellow believers and “is cheered by that blessed hope.” Paul's fellowship in the gospel leads him to pray with gratitude and to make specific prayer requests with joy to God (Philippians 1:4).

Since joy is the serious business of heaven, it connects earth to heaven and heaven to earth when humble servants of Christ seek God's face in prayer. Richard Foster says, “Intercession is a way of loving others.” Prayer intercedes. Prayer multiplies joy. What does Paul pray?

Paul's heart of prayer

Paul's love for the Philippians longs for them to serve Christ with joy and in a unified manner. A case could be made in Philippians that Paul longs to see his friends (Philippians 1:8) but has a greater longing for them to live in concord.

“Concord” was a Roman term implying unity, serenity and harmony that caused them to work together in a coordinated effort like a team pursuing a common goal. Christian concord was essential to spreading the good news of the gospel and for Christians to conduct themselves “unto the praise and glory of God” (Philippians 1:11). Consequently, Paul prayed with joy, with passion and with compassion (Philippians. 1:4, 8).

Paul prayed three prayers on behalf of those whose faces he remembered with joy. First, he prayed for Christ's love to overflow in such a way that they would have a full knowledge of Christ and be discerning in their everyday lives (Philippians 1:9). To “abound” is to overflow, like a river overflowing to moisten the earth to create fertile soil for producing beautiful crops. Paul yearns for their spiritual soil to produce the crops of a fruit of righteousness (Philippians 1:11). When the soil of the soul is fertile for God's joyful work, God produces a righteousness that spreads a gospel of joy until his coming. Paul prays for overflowing love.

Second, Paul prayed that they would approve things excellent (Philippians 1:10). Paul alluded to the fire of testing, like that of precious metals purified by fire. Had Roman oppression drained their joy? Had Roman society in its paganism challenged their faith? Had Roman conquest with its push for power threatened their own model of church polity, that is, the humility of Christ (Philippians 2:5)? Paul prays that their joy would endure the coming tests as they kept their faces turned toward Christ and the “day of Christ” (Philippians 2:10).

Paul's prayer focuses here on things excellent. He desired for the saints at Philippi to excel, that is, to possess a virtue by which their own faith matured and made a difference in the lives of others. Christian concord in the church could not be achieved in isolation; it involved God's Spirit of joy, their willingness to serve Christ and their concern for others.

Third, Paul prayed their joy would be counter-culture. Roman culture and relationships flowed in a river of insincerity and pollution. Paul prayed for a sincere joy, one unpolluted by the world and one that would not cause others to stumble. He prayed God's love would overflow in a river of sincerity and blamelessness.

Joy

Joy is the serious business of heaven, but it also is the serious business of the people of God on earth. Thus Paul remembered faces and sought God's face while longing for Christ's joy to spread.

Questions for discussion

How would you describe joy? If you are not joyful today, what would it take for that to happen?

Posted: 8/22/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Aug. 31

Grasp the sovereignty of God, as Joseph did

Genesis 50:15-25

By Tim Owens

First Baptist Church, Bryan

At the end of Genesis 49, one reads the record of Jacob's death. There was a time of mourning in Egypt for 70 days. Pharaoh sent all the dignitaries of Egypt with Joseph and his family, and together they made the pilgrimage to Canaan. There they buried Jacob in a cave at Machpelah, where his ancestors were buried.

Upon their return to Egypt, it was 39 years since the 10 brothers had sold Joseph into slavery. They had lived for 17 years in Egypt, where they were treated as royalty by Joseph, Pharaoh and all the Egyptians.

After the death of their father, the brothers expressed a concern in Genesis 50:15-18: “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: “I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.”' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.”

When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

After 39 years, the brothers came and confessed their sin all over again. In essence, they said, “It has only been because of our father that you have not taken revenge on us; surely now you are going to take your revenge.” They refer to their father's will, and they say, “Our father said before he died that you are to forgive us.”

Joseph wept because he thought: “What am I going to have to do to convince you that I have forgiven you. I have treated you like royalty for 17 years. We are brothers. We are back in fellowship with one another. We are reconciled. Can't you accept the forgiveness I have offered? What more do I have to do?”

This encounter reveals as much about the brothers as it does about Joseph. It is as if they expected Joseph to react like they would have reacted. In practice, most people believe, “You think like I think,” or at least, “You should think like I think.” Could it be that the brothers knew how they would have reacted in a situation like this? Could it be that they knew they would have finally reacted with revenge if they had been in Joseph's shoes? They were minimizing the power of God at work in Joseph's life. Joseph was a man who truly understood the depravity of his own sin, and he had experienced the power of God's grace and forgiveness in his own life. Out of the overflow of his humble gratitude toward God, he extended genuine forgiveness to his brothers. This is a spiritual reality: Only those who grasp their own sinfulness and who have embraced the grace and forgiveness of God can be tender and forgiving toward others who have sinned against them.

Here is Joseph's response to his brothers: “But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.' And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them” (Genesis 50:19-21).

One of the greatest verses in all the Bible is in Genesis 50:20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Paul would say it like this, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Oh, that God's people might grasp the sovereignty of God, as Joseph did. What a difference it makes when believers see the hand of God even in the adverse circumstances of life.

The study of Joseph should lead God's people to incorporate these lessons into everyday life. First, bring the guilt of sin to the cross of Christ. Nothing weighs a person down like guilt. Every human being, because of sin, is guilty before God. God has provided forgiveness through his Son. Living with guilt is unnecessary. Accept God's gracious offer of freedom by repenting of sin and turning in faith to Christ.

Second, don't grow old with bitterness. Looking for revenge will make one misinterpret every good thing that God is doing.

Third, forgive anyone who has caused hurt. Forgive others freely.

When Christians deal with guilt under the blood of Christ, when Christians eliminate bitterness, when Christians freely forgive all people–God will bless and use their lives in ways that perhaps, up to the present moment, have only been a dream.

Questions for discussion

Why did Joseph's brothers expect him to deal harshly with them? Have you ever had false expectations of how someone would deal with a situation?

What are some ways to rid your life of bitterness?

Posted: 8/22/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Sept. 7

Jesus communicates solemn truth on how to live

Matthew 5:1-16

By David Jenkins

New Hope Baptist Church, Big Sandy

Try to imagine the setting in which Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount. He had appeared as a young peasant from Nazareth, an itinerant teacher, a rabbi “without portfolio.” He spoke not only with authority, but also with winsomeness and compassion. Furthermore, he authenticated his ministry by performing miracles to prove his compassion and concern for those who were hurting.

The crowds came in great numbers (Matthew 4:25), bringing sick people for him to heal. Jesus had just called the men who would be his closest companions. Other people also had become “disciples,” desiring to learn more about him and his teachings. Jesus wanted his followers to understand at the beginning the true meaning of citizenship in his kingdom.

Jesus could not escape the crowds. One day, he led his disciples to a hillside, probably somewhere in the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee. The crowds followed, and he sat down and began to teach them. Sitting was the general posture of synagogue or school teachers.

On the hillside, Jesus likely sat cross-legged, with the people assuming the same position before him. The multitudes were not the quiet, respectful crowds that today would fill an outside arena to hear an evangelist preach. Likely they were a boisterous, noisy people, some probably pushing to get to Jesus with a sick friend or loved one.

Jesus may have raised his hand, signaling for silence. Then he “opened his mouth and taught them.” This phrase was a common expression indicating a solemn truth was about to be spoken. He then began to speak what we know as the Beatitudes, which comprise an introduction to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He identified the children of the kingdom, showing how they are blessed of God, despised by their enemies, yet valuable to the kingdom as salt and light in the world.

The Greek word translated “blessed” means “fully satisfied,” including a sense of wholeness, joy, well-being and peace. In the New Testament, it is used to describe the joy of one's salvation, which is the result of being indwelt by Christ. “Happy” is not the best translation, since the word comes from the English word “hap,” suggesting only luck or favorable circumstances.

Jesus revealed that the spiritual progress of the kingdom citizen depended upon the fulfillment of the conditions set forth in these beatitudes. The “poor in spirit” (v. 3) describes a totally helpless person, not one who is poor but still able to help himself. Thus the first step toward full, spiritual satisfaction is to realize one's total helplessness. Such a person begins immediately to enjoy the Messiah's reign and the blessings of his kingdom.

Those who “mourn” (v. 4) experience a deep, godly sorrow for their sin and for the sin of others. This word translated “mourn” is very strong, describing the sorrowing for the dead. Jesus promised God's comfort as a result of this kind of mourning. A truly repentant spirit invites the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Divine Comforter.

The “meek,” (v. 5) who have submitted themselves to God reflect a disciplined and controlled spirit. Christian meekness is a combination of self-control and genuine humility. It does not suggest weakness, but a special joy in handing God the reins of one's life.

The “hungering and thirsting ones” (v. 6) are those who desire to experience more and more of God's righteousness–the realization of being rightly related to him. The words translated “hunger” and “thirst” describe those who are starving for food and who will die unless they eat and drink.

The “merciful” (v. 7) are those who have received God's mercy and have become channels of mercy to others. They reveal a genuine caring attitude toward those who are hurting. “Mercy” expresses the everlasting mercy of God who identified with human suffering in Christ.

The word “pure” means unmixed, without alloy. Because of the sinful world in which we live, we are “pure in heart” (v. 8) only as we experience the continual cleansing of God's presence within us (1 John 1:7).

The “peacemakers” (v. 9) are those who, because they are at peace with God, are filled with peace. They work to keep and to make peace whenever it is threatened or lost. God calls such peacemakers his “children,” for they have proved their relationship with him.

In the final beatitude concerning those who are “persecuted for righteousness' sake” (vv. 10-12), the word “blessed” appears twice. The second (v. 11) is a repetition of the first, and provides a strong conclusion to all of the beatitudes. Those who live consistently according to the teachings of Christ often will be considered obnoxious to the world. Those who receive such persecution graciously will be rewarded in heaven with all of the grace, gifts and glory that accompany the reign of the Messiah.

Jesus concluded the beatitudes with two symbols of true discipleship–salt and light (vv. 13-16). Both salt and light indicate that which focuses beyond oneself. Salt suggests preservation and flavor. True believers are a preserving element in society, and they provide the flavor of righteousness in an evil world. Light indicates radiance and openness. Christian commitment is not secretive. It reveals the joy of fellowship with God, which is a witness to the world.

Question for discussion

How has God chosen to impact the world with his truth?