EXCLUSIVE: Conservative Org Urges Congress To Root Out Biden Officials Who ‘Ruthlessly’ Waged War On Christian Schools
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How modern art became a freak show — and why only God can fix it
I was in college when I was first introduced to modern art. I don’t remember which museum I was visiting, but I keenly recall one painting that a group of hip-looking art students was clustered around while muttering nonsensical jargon.
Once I nudged my way around the observers, I saw what all the fuss was about. Well, I saw it, as in I looked at it, but I didn’t understand it. It’s been a decade, and I still don’t understand it. The “painting” they were captivated by featured a horizontal purple line bisecting an otherwise blank canvas. That’s it — just a straight purple line.
Once upon a time, art actually had to be good to be considered art.
According to the plaque next to the “artwork,” the artist wanted to capture infinity.
I love the concept of infinity. It speaks of galaxies bursting in starlight, oceans that plunge to unfathomable depths, or perhaps sunbeams fracturing storm clouds with golden radiance.
But a purple line? Is it a stretch to say Buzz Lightyear had a better grip on infinity than this artist?
My mom, who is an excellent oil painter, has an even better story about the modern art world. A few years ago, she decided to go back to school and get her art degree. She lives just a short drive from one of the most prestigious art schools in the state, so her path seemed set. But one semester is all it took for her to drop out of the program.
The most celebrated art at the school, she told me, wasn’t just talentless — it was downright disturbing. One installation that was so prized by the professors that it was put on display showcased a red-spattered pedestal sink filled with faux human teeth and a pair of pliers. A mirror with the word “smile” written in (she hopes) red paint hung above.
The school, by the way, had no shortage of extraordinarily talented young artists. They just weren’t lauded like the ones who specialized in the strange and grotesque.
You know, once upon a time, art actually had to be good to be considered art. And before that, it had to point to something greater than ourselves.
What spurred this seismic shift where suddenly absurd simplicity and morbid depictions of self-torture are not only considered art but are celebrated as tours de force?
I ventured off into the ether seeking answers.
But first ...
I’ve anticipated the question I know many of you are asking: Well hold on, isn’t beauty in the eye of the beholder?
I used to think so because that’s what the aesthetic experts say, the modern ones, anyway. But who’s trusting “experts” these days? Now, I put more stock in my gut. And my gut tells me that it’s man’s hubris that tells him he’s the arbiter of beauty and that what we call "aesthetics" is far more objective than we’ve been told.
After all, aesthetics, at their core, are divine in origin. God, beauty’s source and essence, set the standard long before He created man and gave him, as an imager, an inferior ability to create. Scriptural accounts of the heavenly realm paint mesmerizing illustrations of celestial splendor beyond imagination.
The heavens open before Ezekiel, and he sees God’s sapphire throne radiating rainbows (Ezekiel 1:26-27). John has a vision of God glittering like a gemstone on His throne that emits an emerald halo of light (Revelation 4:2-3).
And then, of course, in Genesis 1, God creates the natural world, which despite millennia of human meddling, is still visually stunning — at least the parts we haven’t destroyed yet.
But even after He was finished creating the spiritual realm, the Earth, and man — the crowning jewel of physical creation — God still had more to say about beauty. There are numerous examples I could cite that capture His clear aesthetic preferences, but none, I think, so persuasive as the instructions He gives David for His temple, which Solomon built.
In accordance with God’s commands, “[Solomon] overlaid the inside with pure gold. He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs. He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls, and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls” (2 Chronicles 3:4-7).
There was “no pragmatic reason” or “utilitarian purpose” for all this ornamentation, wrote American theologian and philosopher Francis Schaeffer in “Art and the Bible.”
“God simply wanted beauty in the temple” because “God is interested in beauty.”
These are some of the ways God set an aesthetic standard for humans to emulate.
What’s interesting is that we actually tend to agree that this standard is a good one. The most obvious example is nature. I dare you to find someone who doesn’t marvel at mountains, starry skies, and melting sunsets. Extensive research in evolutionary psychology has also found that symmetrical faces with balanced proportions are universally considered more appealing. The same can be said for certain musical notes and colors.
The best case for the objectivity of beauty, however, was made by architect and design theorist Christopher Alexander. In “The Nature of Order,” he outlined a simple but powerful experiment: He showed participants two contrasting images (e.g., a colorful slum vs. a stark modern home, a Persian rug vs. a plain rug, a Gothic window vs. a modern square one) and asked them to choose which image had “more life” in it and made them feel “more whole.”
Overwhelmingly, the participants — regardless of age, culture, and background — agreed on which image it was. (P.S. It wasn’t the designer house, the plain rug, or the modern window).
My friend Ren Miller, who’s studied and written about Alexander’s work, summarizes it like this: “There is more agreement on what beauty is when people see it rather than intellectualize about it. ... An agreed-upon hierarchy of beauty exists.”
As it turns out, mankind can’t help but prefer vivacity over sterility, harmony over dissonance, life over death. It's almost as if he were created to be drawn to things that are good — “good” as in they are an outflow of the only One who is good. Funny how that works.
That’s not to say we all want to feature the same kind of artwork in our homes, though. Certainly, there is great variance in what humans find beautiful, but that diversity still exists within the scope of what God has already created and called good. Our personal preferences are not a negation of these foundational aesthetic principles.
Why hideous modern art then?
So if beauty is fairly objective, how, then, does that square with society’s celebration of modern art, which is often characterized by morbidity, nihilism, irreverence, and fragmentation — the very things humans have an innate aversion to?
In my last article, I pondered the potential advantages of welcoming aesthetics back into the low Protestant church, where they’ve been outright forbidden or strictly limited for the past 500 years as a result of the Reformation, which, for all its profound contributions in regard to democratizing scripture and exposing corruption in the Roman Catholic Church, overcorrected in its position on art — especially as it relates to the movement’s iconoclasm.
Scottish historian Peter Marshall called the Reformation an “artistic holocaust."
“Wherever the Reformation triumphed, it ruthlessly destroyed a priceless artistic and cultural inheritance,” he wrote.
But it did something else, too. It forced the church to release the reins on art. And over time, secular society picked them up. Of course it did. Whenever the church goes silent on any matter, certainly other voices will rise to take its place.
This is what they said in chronological order:
The Scientific Revolution (16th-17th centuries):
Reason trumps reverence; science beats spirituality. Beauty is no longer an act of worship but an act of empirical study. Art shall mirror physical reality, not invisible spirits, celestial throne rooms, and chimerical prophesies. What we can see and touch — that is what matters. Sever art’s divine moorings; anchor it to something we can measure.
The Enlightenment (late 17th to 18th centuries):
There is no divine mandate. Rationality, reason, and morals are the virtues of man; he holds the universe on his shoulders, not some obscure deity in the clouds. Forge ahead with intellect, burying superstition and religious tradition as the relics they are. Let art return to classical antiquity when rationality, balance, and order prevailed. Let it tell the story of enlightened man and his vast wisdom through marble heroes, portraits of society’s elite, and manicured landscapes. Embrace the secular, abandon the sacred.
The Industrial Revolution (late 18th to mid-19th centuries):
You see! — Man is supreme. Look at what he’s built: the steam engine, the telegraph, mechanized production — all products of his genius! Let art reflect industry’s gritty might and titan strength. And make it a commodity for the masses. Who needs potters when factories grind, carpenters when assembly lines crank, spinners and weavers when steam-powered mills roar? Churn it out. Let the people gorge.
Modernism (late 19th to mid-20th century):
Now, see, these wars — the death, the brutality, the uncertainty. Who escapes? Better to embrace. There’s no one coming to save us. Create as all goes dark. Let the canvas be a vehicle for the darkness in and around you. Scream. Mock. Rebel. Intuition, emotion, and thought alone guides the artist’s hand.
Postmodernism (mid-20th century to current day):
Everything’s a joke now. We’re all just cogs in a machine grinding ourselves to dust in this meaningless void. Have a little fun before it’s over. Tell your truth. Anything goes. No, really — anything. Art is whatever you want it to be. Gruesome? Sure. Cynical? Absolutely. Silly? Why not? Sanctity, tradition, and objectivity are long dead. We’re in the wasteland now.
Out of the wasteland
It is in this artistic wasteland we find ourselves now — celebrating purple lines and bloody teeth in a sink. But when you look at the aesthetic zeitgeist of each cultural wave following the Reformation, are you surprised? I’m not.
It’s almost mathematical: God’s vision of beauty – the church’s voice + the world’s ever-increasing darkness = total artistic debasement and collapse.
Art is crucial in God’s cosmic story.
I don’t mean to suggest that every one of these secular currents was all bad. Undoubtedly, each era had its bright moments and brilliant minds. I don’t mean to suggest that all post-Reformation art has been worthless, either. That would be absurd. Beautiful works (not all religious) have emerged from every age — even Modernism and Postmodernism — the periods that birthed these strange, warped creations I’ve been condemning.
Yet, none of this changes the truth that art’s sacred anchor is gone — 500 years gone. Are we better for it?
You know my answer.
But can beauty actually become an ideal again?
I hope so. This cold machine-world we live in desperately needs the softness and warmth beautiful art offers. Unwinding half a millennium of aesthetic secularism is no small endeavor, though. But if I had to suggest a starting point, I would say that we ought to fix what broke in the first place: the church’s voice.
Her silence needs to end. She can speak up by reclaiming art as part of God’s plan — and as part of the church.
Art is crucial in God’s cosmic story. Anyone who protests that would do well to remember that the Bible begins with an act of creation. Not only were humans part of that design, but they were also imbued with God’s ability and hunger to make things, meaning the act of creating was meant to continue.
Sadly over time, sin and darkness mutated humanity’s creative bend. You saw the drift. The more the West distanced itself from God and truth, the more twisted and alien the works of our hands became. And all this while, the Protestant church, especially her “low” branches, was quiet.
What would happen if she weren't quiet anymore? What if artistic tradition was revived within her walls so that a world starving for depth and meaning might behold genuine beauty and wonder what other soul-nourishment lies there?
Romantic composer Gustav Mahler said, “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”
I think that’s often true. Rekindling the sacred art of old isn’t about nostalgia or even reverence. It’s about preserving the spirit and energy of an age that was keenly aware of art’s divine origins and the role it plays in God’s kingdom.
Five centuries of silence left us with blank canvases and bloody sinks. Either the church speaks or the wasteland claims us still.
3 unpopular dating truths I'd go back to tell my younger self
Growing up in the Christian community, girls especially were encouraged to write their list: “What do you want in a husband?”
Like most girls, I listed things like, “godly, tall, handsome, prays without ceasing, plays guitar, drives a truck.”
As I focused on this fictional dream guy, someone asked me, “Are you mirroring those same qualities in yourself that you want in a guy?” No, I wasn’t praying nonstop. No, I could barely play guitar. No, I had a grandma car. No, I wasn’t a bombshell. No, I wasn’t as godly as I apparently expected my future spouse to be. (I was, however, awkwardly tall as a teen.)
The Christian dating world can be a zoo, and I’d argue it’s much tougher now than it used to be. From all the stories I’ve heard, our grandparents' generation tackled dating with directness and simplicity, though I’m sure it was not perfect. I’ve been married for nearly four years, so there’s little marriage advice I can fork out, but I’ve had my fair share of millennial dating experiences. I’ve done it poorly, and I’ve done it well.
Dating doesn’t have to be agonizing, hard, or confusing. Here are the top three pieces of dating advice I’d go back and give myself if I could.
1. Get healthy first
Do all you can to get healthy — spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
It wasn’t until I was in my late 20s that I went to Christian counseling after yet another breakup. My counselor asked me the hard questions. She made me self-reflect and dig deep until we found the root issues.
When I started counseling, I didn’t understand why guys I had dated treated me poorly or didn’t value me or would say rude things to me out of spite. It baffled me that this scenario kept repeating itself like a bad nightmare.
Throughout counseling, I realized this endless cycle was entirely a "me" problem. I wasn’t some limp fish that had no control over my life or dating decisions. I had to take full responsibility for allowing myself to be treated poorly and end the vicious unhealthy dating cycle once and for all. My unhealthy thinking patterns and lack of self-worth played a momentous role in the kinds of men I attracted and was attracted to.
While we date and wait, we should strive to become holier and healthier.
Once I began valuing myself, I didn’t settle for mediocre guys or half-hearted dating efforts. Everything changed once I rooted out the lies that I believed about God, as well as my own unhealthy thought patterns.
Even though I would publicly profess how God is good, deep down I didn’t believe it. I believed the lie that “God isn’t really good. He doesn’t want good things for me.”
It seemed so easy for other girls to get married. After all, most of my friends already were, so I didn’t understand why I had such bad “luck.” I felt like God would dangle a carrot stick in front of me, and when I’d reach for it, he’d instantly snatch it away. It seemed cruel. The waiting seemed endless, and the rounds of dating grew exhausting, especially as I got into my late 20s.
But the moment I realized that I was believing a key lie about God, everything changed. God wasn’t snatching anything from me but rather protecting me, growing me, and transforming me.
A huge burden lifted off my shoulders and chains were broken once I confessed this lie and realized I had been feeding it.
I began to live my life weightless from believing that God didn’t care about my desires to get married and have a family one day. He wasn’t taunting me with these guys I dated. Rather, God had an incredible plan for my future, and it didn’t involve them. I began to wholeheartedly trust in God’s sovereignty and timing, and those couple years of waiting after counseling and before I met my now-husband were some of the best years of my life.
We are called to be faithful before we’re called to be married.
2. Ignoring red flags doesn't make them green
Don’t ignore red flags; it doesn’t make them go away. I learned this the hard way because I didn’t just ignore red flags, I bulldozed right over them.
How many unhealthy and stagnate relationships continue because we ignore the bright flashing lights? Far too many. They are warning signs that beg us to stop and re-evaluate a relationship. Ignoring them is a sign that we are in denial. Call a spade a spade.
No matter how amazing someone might appear or how many good qualities they might have, if there’s a red flag — it’s time to pause.
Not ignoring red flags may seem like such a simple concept, but it wasn’t for me during my dating years, and it’s not for a lot of Christians I’ve talked to. When someone doesn’t think it’s a big deal to have an addiction, that’s a red flag. When someone treats you like garbage, that’s a red flag. When someone has no boundaries with the opposite sex, that’s a red flag.
Marriage amplifies problems we battle in singleness, so we must be hard at work rooting sin out of our lives. One older woman shared with me that she rushed into marriage, ignoring all the red flags because she thought she’d never have another opportunity to get married. She’s now divorced because her husband had been unfaithful most of their marriage, and she now regrets her decision deeply.
I was almost 30 years old when I got married because that’s what God had planned for me. But I can look back with utter thankfulness that I waited instead of rushing into marriage out of fear.
Dating doesn’t have to be a drawn-out affair if you’re intentional about it. But get married for the right reasons, and don’t dismiss those “this seems off” gut feelings and warning signs.
3. Give each other permission to ask hard questions
Have hard conversations: Give each other permission to ask the hard questions in the early phase of dating.
Before our first date, my now-husband asked, “Can we give each other permission to ask the hard questions?” We both were believers who dated for the intention of marriage, so we weren’t interested in wasting time by beating around the bush. Why would we want to ask the deal-breaker questions later down the road when we’re already emotionally too far gone? That would be a waste of time and energy.
Shockingly, I’ve heard of engaged couples at marriage counseling sessions who never asked each other how many kids they wanted or if they had debt.
While dating, my now-husband and I asked each other everything from theology to money to how we wanted to raise our children to what we envisioned the future to look like. Not everything has to be shared in great detail (especially at the beginning), but being transparent and clear with each other from the get-go is incredibly important. Plus, it builds trust.
Money issues are one of the biggest causes of divorce, so we should be open and honest about our finances, too. God (and Dave Ramsey) have a lot to say about handling money in a biblical way. By asking these types of questions, it can help get the hard stuff out of the way and make dating more fun.
Marrying someone who aligns with your worldview and your values is the glue that holds a marriage together. A good marriage can’t be built without it. Beauty fades, attraction can whither, emotions can come and go.
My mentor in college told me, “Don’t ever go down the aisle unless you can run down it.” We shouldn’t have any lingering questions or anything we’re holding back, either. A strong marriage is built on trust, which only comes by asking the hard questions and having those conversations long before you say, “I do.”
As I matured, my spouse “wish list” went from lengthy and unattainable to bare-bones with a few non-negotiables. Oddly enough, I became more selective as I got older. Not necessarily picky, but I wasn’t willing to settle because I knew not being married was better than being in a miserable marriage.
Dating should be fun and for the purpose of marriage, but strong relationships come by putting God first and asking the hard questions and not ignoring red flags.
While we date and wait, we should strive to become holier and healthier. God gives good gifts to us, and waiting for the right person can be one of them.
God's will isn't a mystery: Follow these 3 biblical truths
I believe that walking in God’s will and making decisions with confidence are impossible without the power of the gospel at work in our lives.
Why? Because the gospel is attached to our purpose, and the gospel transforms us. When we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, we receive a brand-new heart (2 Corinthians 5:17), and a new heart will supernaturally result in a new direction.
Purpose is found in Christ alone. Keep your gaze fixed on him.
As we reflect on our purpose and the way we approach decisions (with the wisdom of God versus in the foolishness of this world), living out the three truths below will be a game-changer for our past, present, and future.
1. Repent of sin, turn to Christ in faith, and commit your life to God’s glory.
I like to say that no Christian ever graduates from the gospel.
Can I encourage you to go back to the gospel again and again? You need it, I need it, and it takes us back to the foundational reality that we can do nothing apart from Christ (John 15:5). The gospel is a wellspring of living water to the parched soul. The gospel turns the bitter heart sweet with grace. The gospel melts the heart of stone into a soft and submissive vessel. You need the gospel to live out God’s will.
There is no greater next step toward purpose than to turn from sin, put your faith in Jesus Christ, and commit to live for his glory. If you’ve never done that, today is the day of salvation — you can be born again and experience how Christ makes all things new.
If you’ve been saved by his grace, go back to that first love that changed your life and renew your commitment to live for him all the more.
2. Focus on Christ as the key to your purpose.
Identity is everything.
Walking in the will of God starts with walking in your identity. Jesus doesn’t save you and then say, “Okay, now you take it from here. Muster up the strength to be good enough, to stay saved, and get yourself to your destiny.” Instead, the Bible reminds us that growth begins with our gaze. Where are you looking? If not on Christ, you won’t make it.
Do you remember the story of Jesus walking on water and the lesson Peter learned in the process?
Matthew 14:28-31 tells us: “Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’”
Peter started out with his gaze fixed on Christ, even committing to do whatever the Lord asked. Before he knew it, he was walking on water! But the miracle was short-lived because Peter took his eyes off the one who called him out of the boat in the first place. He sank into the waves that the one who called him out of the boat controlled.
How often do we fall into the same pattern? We’re all in, only to take our eyes off the one who calls and sustains us. Purpose is found in Christ alone. Keep your gaze fixed on him.
3. Reject the worldly opinions of fools.
With what Proverbs says about fools in mind, along with Paul’s instruction to put away worldly patterns and walk in a manner worthy of your calling, you can confidently reject the opinions of those who live their lives for self-glory and self-satisfaction and boast that they are self-made.
Instead, choose to heed and treasure the divine wisdom God provides for your purpose.
There will be days when the Enemy will lie to you and put temptations in your path that invite you to take shortcuts, give up, or see God’s will as little more than a cosmic killjoy meant to ruin the fun of life. The devil is predictable, having tempted Christ with the same self-serving routine, only to fail. He will fail with you as well if you stick to God’s word over his wicked lies. One of the primary ways he will assault you is through the peer-pressuring opinions of fools.
Turn down the lies; turn up the truth.
Taken from "Walking in God’s Will" by Costi Hinn. Copyright ©March 2025 by Zondervan. Used by permission of Zondervan, www.zondervan.com.
Most Kansas lawmakers side against the devil, pass resolution denouncing satanists' 'Black Mass'
The Kansas state House voted 101-15 on Thursday in support of a resolution denouncing the satanic worship ritual scheduled to take place outside the state Capitol on March 28.
This denunciation, although an important signal to Kansans and the nation, is not law and does not amount to a cancellation of the event. In fact, the satanists still intend to flock to the state grounds and to flout Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly's directive to remain outside the Capitol building.
However, the Satanic Grotto's planned desecration of the Eucharist is now in doubt, given recent indications that the satanists may not actually be in possession of a consecrated host as well as new guidelines adopted for use of the Capitol grounds by the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council, which would make the unlawful possession of a consecrated host grounds for removal.
It appears, therefore, that the satanists' planned "Black Mass" might end up being nothing more than insubstantial anti-Catholic theater exemplifying their bigotry and uniting lawmakers from both parties, Christians from various denominations, and even some nonbelievers in affirming the state's "identity as one nation under God."
Former Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), who has been involved in the efforts to prevent a real Black Mass from taking place at the state Capitol, told Blaze News that the satanists' efforts to provoke Catholics and draw attention to themselves may serve as "spiritual kick in the pants to Christians across Kansas," prompting them to "say, 'Hey, wait a minute — this our state too.'"
Lawsuit
The Satanic Grotto, a leftist anti-Christian hate group that appears to be little more than an unpolished knockoff of the Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple, received a permit to hold a "Black Mass" at the Kansas Capitol building in Topeka on March 28.
The group's event listing states that the group will "dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan" and notes further that members "will be performing rites to the black mass and indulging in sacrilegious blaspheme [sic]."
Michael Stewart, the leader of the anti-Christian hate group, told KSNT-TV that he would lead the "Black Mass," noting that he would "heavily lean into the four blasphemies, kind of representing an alternate to the stations of the cross."
The satanists are expected to break crucifixes, tear up at least one Bible, and mock Catholics' central sacrament — intended actions Stewart confirmed in a Wednesday op-ed. A flyer for the event further indicates that as part of their "theuraputic [sic] blesphemy [sic]," the satanists will denounce Christ, desecrate the Eucharist, and corrupt "the Blood."
'God takes Satan to court. Satan wins.'
There has been intense backlash, particularly from Catholic groups in the state who were led to believe by self-identified members of the Grotto that the group had stolen a consecrated host and sought to "use its desecration to manifest the link between Satan and the capital [sic] building."
In addition to social media posts, Chuck Weber, the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference — a group that leads public policy advocacy efforts on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Kansas — stated in a sworn statement that Stewart told him in a March 8 phone call that he was in possession of one or more consecrated hosts.
In addition to encouraging prayer, inviting the faithful to attended a Eucharistic Holy Hour at a church near the statehouse on March 28, and calling for state officials to cancel the event, the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City filed a lawsuit demanding the return of consecrated hosts the satanists suggested they had stolen.
It is the conviction of the Catholic Church that "at the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood." The archdiocese noted that given the highest importance of the consecrated host and wine to Catholics, any attempt to "desecrate or attempt to destroy or otherwise harm these items is a grave concern to Archbishop [Joseph] Naumann, the Catholic Church, and countless of the Catholic faithful."
Archbishop Naumann demanded resolution through a civil jury trial.
The Leavenworth County District Court dismissed the lawsuit Thursday, prompting the Grotto to state on Facebook, "God takes Satan to court. Satan wins."
Stewart told WIBW-TV that the supposed hosts he has in his possession were not obtained by criminal means.
"We didn't do it," Stewart said, referring to the allegation that he or his compatriots stole consecrated hosts.
Stewart suggested to the Oklahoma Voice that his anti-Christian hate group has its own consecration rituals and will mockingly "consecrate" some unleavened wafers purchased online.
"I find it very entertaining that [Archbishop Naumann] is convinced that I have Jesus trapped in a cracker and he would take it to court," said Stewart.
The Satanic Grotto similarly did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News. The anti-Christian hate group did, however previously provide this response: "The Satanic Grotto says get f**ked blaze news."
Voting against the devil
Gov. Kelly appeared reluctant early on to condemn the planned event or acknowledge the Grotto as bigots; however, she indicated on March 12 that in order to "keep the statehouse open and accessible to the public while ensuring all necessary health and safety regulations are enforced," the group's anti-Christian demonstration would have to take place outside.
The satanists maintain that they will enter the state Capitol building to perform their dark ritual, even if that means they'll end up in handcuffs.
The governor's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Huelskamp told Blaze News that like Gov. Kelly's "really weak" response to the "Black Mass," the response from the Kansas legislature was also "pretty timid."
"The general philosophy was, 'Well, if we ignore evil, it will go away,'" said Huelskamp. "But what I've seen in the last couple days — I've been in touch with a lot of legislators who are really stepping up, saying, 'You know what? We need to take a stand on this.' And they have."
Kansas House Resolution 6016 states that the "planned satanic worship ritual is an explicit act of anti-Catholic bigotry and an affront to all Christians. It blasphemes our shared values of faith, decency, and respect that strengthen our communities."
Those who voted for the resolution affirmed that they denounced "the planned satanic worship ritual scheduled to take place on the grounds of the people's house, the Kansas state Capitol grounds, on March 28, 2025, as a despicable, blasphemous, and offensive sacrilege to not only Catholics but all people of goodwill, and it runs contrary to the spiritual heritage of this state and nation."
"We call upon all Kansans to promote unity, mutual respect, and the values that uphold our identity as one nation under God," added the resolution.
The resolution passed in a bipartisan 101-15 vote.
While some Democrats voted for the resolution, all 15 state legislators who voted against denouncing the satanic ritual were Democrats, namely Reps. Wanda Paige, John Carmichael, Ford Carr, Jo Ella Hoye, Heather Meyer, Silas Miller, Brooklynne Mosley, Melissa Oropeza, Dan Osman, Jarrod Ousley, Susan Ruiz, Alexis Simmons, Lindsay Vaughn, Valdenia Winn, and Rui Xu.
The Kansas Catholic Conference stated, "We are shocked and appalled that 15 Democrats voted NO," adding, "Anti-Catholic bigotry is alive and well in Kansas."
'It's the same arguments that the pro-KKK people had in the 1920s.'
Kansas state Rep. Sean Tarwater, a practicing Catholic, said, "What eats at me the most is that I fear for the souls of those that are going to be involved with this Black Mass, and especially for those that are supporting the Black Mass in this room and on that committee," reported the Kansas Reflector.
Huelskamp told Blaze News that "we're still looking for a little more from the legislature," underscoring that the matter at hand is plainly a battle between good and evil.
Huelskamp, a Catholic with four adopted black children, noted that Kansas has a really proud history of repelling bigots, highlighting the battle that made it the first state in the union to ban the Ku Klux Klan.
"In the 1920s — 100 years ago — the KKK tried to make a big entrance into Kansas. There was a significant political battle," said the former congressman. "They refused to recognize the KKK and they kicked them out of the state."
"All of the arguments of the left on this, on the satanists, it's the same arguments that the pro-KKK people had in the 1920s. 'Hey, it's free speech.' 'Let them come in, free to organize.' Eventually, the State of Kansas — I think the '24 election — said, 'No. We will not let the KKK in the state,'" continued Huelskamp. "I mean, at that time, there were rallies of 50,000 Kansans that were KKK supporters demanding recognition by the state."
"I'm still upset the [Kansas] secretary of state, Scott Schwab, recognized the satanists when he gave them nonprofit status," said Huelskamp. "We might like to go back and re-examine whether any group, you know, any hate group just receives automatic recognition by the State of Kansas. So 100 years ago, we said the KKK didn't qualify. So how did the satanists qualify? It's obviously a hate group in my books."
Catholics and Christians from other denominations plan to protest the "Black Mass."
TFP Student Action has, for instance, invited counterprotesters to attend a rosary rally of reparation at the south side of the Kansas state Capitol building at 10:15 a.m. on March 28.
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Blaze News original: Satanic group threatens to invade Kansas Capitol to worship Lucifer — but Christians fight back with holy resistance
A satanic organization plans to hold a "Black Mass" at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka on March 28, mocking Christians — particularly Catholics, their faith, their central sacrament, and the stations of the cross.
Proponents of the anti-Christian hate group, which maintains that "only might is right and violence is the ultimate source of all authority," apparently intend to break crosses, destroy Bibles, and dedicate the Capitol building to the devil.
The Satanic Grotto originally planned to hold its dark ritual inside the Capitol, but following backlash, the group was informed that organizers would have to take their mockery of Christians outside. The satanists bemoaned their pre-emptive ouster, threatening to break into the statehouse and suggesting that their First Amendment rights may have been infringed.
Dr. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, and others told Blaze News that contrary to the satanists' contention, lawmakers are within their rights not only to keep the planned "Black Mass" ritual out of the statehouse but to keep it off government property.
Apparently Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach (R) and Kansas lawmakers agreed.
The state Legislative Coordinating Council has amended Capitol grounds policy to prevent a "Black Mass" from taking place, and Kobach noted that in this circumstance it would be appropriate "for the state not to facilitate this crime occurring either inside the Capitol or on the Capitol grounds."
In the event that the Grotto flouts the prohibition and follows through on its threat, Kansas Catholic groups and other opponents of the demonic are planning to hold a counter-demonstration on site as well as to pray for the conversion of the satanists.
Satanic infestation
The Satanic Grotto is a leftist anti-Christian hate group that goes out of its way to provoke adherents of the Abrahamic religions both with demonic imagery and by denigrating their faith.
This unpolished, less organized knockoff of the Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple identifies as a "non-denominational satanic church that utilizes philosophies from many walks of the left hand path." Among the leftist outfit's stated goals is support for satanic art and culture, the promotion of satanic education, and political advocacy for "pluralistic change."
'Kansas will be embrace by the black flame of Lucifer.'
The satanist knockoff group, like the better-known Satanic Temple, appears to be insincere about its claims of religiosity and religionhood — using these claims as an excuse for such anti-Christian demonstrations. Nevertheless, John Daniel Davidson, the author of "Pagan America: The Decline of Christianity and the Dark Age to Come," told Blaze News that they "are indeed in service to demonic powers even if they personally don't believe in the existence of them."
"Such a thing is not only possible but quite common," said Davidson. "When insincere satanists invoke the devil or other demons, they are calling on real created beings that have agency and will and power. If these beings are invited, they will come. It's foolish — and indeed quite dangerous — for the Satanic Grotto to suppose that because it uses the term 'satanist' ironically or sarcastically, then its practitioners are safe from the machinations and malevolence of Satan. They're not."
The group recently shared an event listing inviting people to join them at the Capitol building in Topeka to "dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan."
"We will be performing rites to the Black Mass and indulging in sacrilegious blaspheme [sic]," said the event listing. "God will fall and Kansas will be embraced by the black flame of Lucifer. Hail Satan."
Michael Stewart, the leader of the anti-Christian hate group, noted that he received a permit to hold the "Black Mass" at the state Capitol on March 27.
Responding to a 2014 Satanic Temple re-enactment of a satanic Mass on the Harvard campus, Monsignor Roger Landry, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, struck a distinction between political stunts by "publicity-hounding satanic groups," and the diabolic worship undertaken by "committed believers in the devil who don't send out press releases and whose clandestine Black Masses always feature stolen consecrated Hosts."
In the early days of Black Masses, rebellious clerics consecrated the Eucharist during the ceremony before defiling the Host with spit, blood, urine, excrement, sexual fluids, and blasphemies. Since renegade ex-priests willing to debase what they once adored are hard to find, however, Satan worshippers eventually began to resort to stealing consecrated Hosts by breaking into church tabernacles or taking them from Mass.
Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the Catholic Bishops of Kansas, suggested the "Black Mass" that the Grotto has planned will be more of the "publicity-hounding" variety, calling it an "act of bigotry from a small minority who crave public attention by insulting Christians."
Stewart told KSNT-TV that he would lead the "Black Mass," calling it an "act of defiance." He further indicated that the Grotto would "heavily lean into the four blasphemies, kind of representing an alternate to the stations of the cross."
Stewart subsequently suggested to the Topeka Capital-Journal that the event was a "specific response to our legislatures continuing to pander to groups like the Kansas Catholic Conference and to Kansans for Life, where they keep trying to come back and attack abortion rights, much less other rights."
'It would [do so] in violation of the constitutional tenets established in Lynch v. Donnelly.'
Weeping and gnashing of teeth
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly refrained from characterizing the Grotto as bigots but indicated on March 12 that in order to "keep the statehouse open and accessible to the public while ensuring all necessary health and safety regulations are enforced," the group's anti-Christian demonstration would have to take place outside.
Kelly noted in her lukewarm statement that while there were "more constructive ways to protest and express disagreements without insulting or denigrating sacred religious symbols," she had a duty "to protect protesters' constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression, regardless of how offensive or distasteful I might find the content to be."
The group seeking Kansas' "embrace by the black flame of Lucifer" still did not take the news well.
"We will not be swept aside to protect your career madam. We will not acquiesce the same rights you have afforded to other religious organizations. You do not get to decide what is appropriate for us," stated the satanic group. "Your only job is to protect your constituents constitutional rights. You have failed in this in the most cowardly way, like Pontius Pilate washing his hands."
The satanists are planning to defy the governor and execute their dark ritual inside the state Capitol on March 28.
"The Satanic Grotto lead by its President Michael Stewart will enter the state capitol building and perform our ritual on March 28," the Grotto noted in its statement. "You will have to have us arrested to stop us from practicing our free speech and religious rights."
Whereas the violence championed by the Satanic Temple — which is basically a devil-branded Enlightenment cult that supports hyper-individualism and secularism — appears to be limited to the unborn babies it seeks to help mothers kill at an average cost of $91 per head via its satanic abortion clinics, the Grotto appears to excuse all forms of violence if exercised by the maximally powerful.
According to the "Law of the Grotto," "only might is right and violence is the ultimate source of all authority."
Blaze News asked the Grotto a number of questions, including whether it would rule out the use of violence on March 28. The response was: "The Satanic Grotto says get f**ked blaze news."
While the satanists are prevented from legally holding their dark ritual inside the state Capitol, lawmakers and the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City figured it would be better to boot their dark ritual off state property altogether.
Legal action
Catholic League President Bill Donohue suggested that not only should Kansas refuse to permit the "Black Mass" outside the Capitol building, it has an obligation not to allow it on state property.
"If a private institution uses private space to perform a 'Black Mass,' it is protected by the First Amendment," Donohue noted in a written statement to Blaze News. "But if the government were to authorize a 'Black Mass,' it would [do so] in violation of the constitutional tenets established in Lynch v. Donnelly (1984): the Constitution forbids hostility to religion. And the Satanic Grotto has admitted that its purpose is to blaspheme Catholics."
"The one planned in Kansas is being launched by a private group, the Satanic Grotto, so that part is constitutional," continued Donohue. "However, it is being done on public grounds near the Kansas statehouse, and thus it could be argued that the government is giving tacit endorsement to it. That is why the event should be moved to a spot where no one would think the government is sanctioning the 'Black Mass.'"
Donohue noted further that "state lawmakers have a right to object on constitutional grounds and should therefore seek to have the permit revoked."
Donohue was hardly alone in his assessment of lawmakers' duty and ability under the law.
John Horvat II, vice president of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property's TFP Student Action, noted that "total cancellation is the only reasonable option."
"Public officials are elected to foster the common good of society. Satanism, by definition, is evil and therefore harmful to the common good. That’s why the Kansas state Capitol and its grounds should not be misused as a platform for evil to defile what is sacred or mock what is most holy," added Horvat.
'This is to be expected, as he works for the prince of lies.'
John Davidson told Blaze News, "These kinds of stunts are explicitly anti-Christian and not be construed as 'religious' activities or services. They are public attacks against one religion, Christianity, and should be understood in that light."
"As such, they shouldn't be permitted or allowed to take place at all," continued Davidson. "Religious freedom was never meant to sanction, let alone endorse, religions that are hostile to our American heritage and the Christian faith which is the substance of our heritage."
State legislators apparently are using the allegation of theft to cancel the event.
Lawmakers belonging to the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council met on Tuesday and unanimously passed new guidelines pertaining to the use of Capitol property, which include a prohibition on gatherings if the actions of the group or its members are unlawful.
Now, people cannot gather if a group or a member of a group "has stated explicitly that the meeting or gathering will involve a violation of law," reported the Kansas Reflector.
Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for Gov. Kelly, indicated that the "governor's office is reviewing actions from the Legislative Coordinating Council."
A stolen consecrated host is required in order for an authentic "Black Mass" to proceed, hence the suggestion that the new guidelines preclude the satanic ritual from taking place on Capitol grounds.
The Kansas Republican Party previously indicated that if the group intends to use a real consecrated Eucharist, "then it was obtained via theft or deception, meaning these people are in possession of stolen property."
Attorney General Kobach noted, "You cannot use the cloak of the First Amendment to commit crimes, and here there would be at least two crimes committed on state property," referring to the alleged theft and intended destruction of a consecrated host.
Catholic Archbishop Joseph Naumann also filed a lawsuit Friday against the Grotto seeking the immediate recovery and return of whatever consecrated hosts and wine are currently in the satanists' possession.
"We are fully aware that the Satanic group and its leader have made conflicting and contradictory claims about their possession of the Sacred Eucharist," Chuck Weber of the Kansas Catholic Conference said in a statement Tuesday. "This is to be expected, as he works for the prince of lies. Sadly, there is enough evidence to believe that this group does in fact have the Eucharist. We cannot take chances, and we will continue to pursue, to the extent possible, every practical legal action to secure what rightfully belongs to the Catholic Church."
"I find it very entertaining that he is convinced that I have Jesus trapped in a cracker and he would take it to court," Stewart said in a recent interview.
Condemnation
TFP Student Action was quick to condemn the Grotto's event, noting that prayer and action proved decisive in May 2014 when satanists attempted to hold a "Black Mass" at Harvard University.
"Saint Michael won a great victory that day. And God can win again now," wrote TFP Student Action.
The conservative group has a petition form on its website, which quickly surpassed its initial goal of 7,000 signatures and at the time of publication was roughly 9,000 signatures short of its 50,000 signature goal.
'Satanic worship is disturbing, spiritually harmful, and an affront to every Christian.'
"The only purpose of a black mass is to attack God, mock the Catholic Mass, and desecrate the Holy Eucharist," John Horvat II, vice president of TFP Student Action said in a statement. "Satanists typically desecrate a stolen consecrated Host in unspeakable ways. Nothing is more obscene, indecent, and hateful."
TFP Student Action has invited counterprotesters to attend a rosary rally of reparation at the south side of the Kansas state Capitol building at 10:15 a.m. on March 28.
Davidson told Blaze News that praying the rosary outside the satanists' event would be a great response on the part of Catholics, noting that by invoking "the intercession and protection of Our Lady, the satanist event would not happen at all. The satanists would be forced to abandon their event in defeat."
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City noted in a March 14 statement that Archbishop Naumann and the Kansas Catholic Conference are asking the faithful to pray for the conversion of those taking part in this "act of anti-Christian bigotry" and noted that "legal options are being explored.
"Satanic worship is disturbing, spiritually harmful, and an affront to every Christian," said the archdiocese. "Participants may claim that the destructive and offensive acts during a 'black mass' are part of their religious freedom or free speech rights under the First Amendment. However, these rights have limits and do not allow individuals to act in ways that include or incite lawless behavior."
"We are deeply disappointed that such blasphemous acts that are intended to mock Catholic worship, the beliefs of all Christians, and those who believe in the one true God are being allowed on the Kansas statehouse grounds," continued the archdiocese. "We call upon Governor Kelly and the state legislature to disallow this act of blasphemy to take place, which is clearly designed to mock Christianity and be provocative."
'Politicians who align themselves with satanists have no political future.'
In addition to encouraging prayer, the Catholic archdiocese invited the faithful to attend a Mass on Mach 25 where Archbishop Naumann will reconsecrate the state to Jesus as well as to attend a Eucharistic Holy Hour at Assumption Church, just north of the statehouse, on March 28, which will be followed by Mass; to spread Christ's love through acts of charity on March 28, whether through the Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas or other organizations; and to implore Gov. Kelly, the Kansas Senate president, and the Kansas speaker of the state House to cancel the permit for the event.
Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, pledged prayers throughout the remainder of this month for the conversion of the hearts of those who participate in the satanic event.
Stephen Minnis, president of the college, stated, "Pope Francis has reminded the Church that our greatest battle is a spiritual one against evil and said, 'For this spiritual combat, we can count on the powerful weapons that the Lord has given us,' especially the Eucharist and the rosary."
Blaze News reached out to the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas and to the Kansas District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, regarding whether they were similarly taking or recommending action. Neither responded by deadline.
Michael Cassidy, the Christian Navy veteran who toppled a satanic statue at the Iowa Capitol just before Christmas 2023, told Blaze News, "Our ancestors would look in horror at explicitly anti-Christian activities being sanctioned by civil authorities. [The Colombian philosopher Nicolás Gómez] Dávila said, 'The modern world demands that we approve what it should not even dare ask us to tolerate.' Kansas should make it clear that politicians who align themselves with satanists have no political future."
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Scorned By Leftists For Trying To Live A Peaceful Life, Ben From Love Is Blind Is All Of Us
A couple on Love Is Blind shows no matter how much the average person concedes, leftists are never satisfied without total compliance.Satan's target: Confronting the spiritual battle threatening your pastor
Is your pastor biblically unqualified? Then that situation pleases the devil while at the same time displeasing God.
But if your pastor is biblically qualified, then you should know that Satan hates him. Godly, qualified pastors are a particular source of demonic rage.
Ministry is spiritual warfare, and the God-hating devil takes aim at the leaders of Christ’s churches.
Let’s think about a few lines from 1 Timothy 3 that point to the devil’s plans. In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul tells Timothy about the qualifications for church leaders (called “overseers” in 3:1, a term synonymous with “pastors” or “elders”). In 3:6, the leader “must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.” In 3:7, “he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”
In back-to-back verses, Paul mentions the devil, and this observation reminds us that pastoral ministry is spiritual warfare.
According to 1 Timothy 3:6, a pastor must not be a recent convert. A recent convert lacks the maturity and wisdom necessary for pastoral ministry. Moral steadfastness is vital for being qualified for ministry, and such steadfastness becomes evident over time. While a convert may become qualified for ministry at a later time, the timing has not arrived as long as the adjective “recent” still applies.
Self-conceit can grip the heart of a recent convert who is thrust into the responsibilities of pastoral ministry. And then the pastor may “fall into the condemnation of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6). What is the role of the of here? Is this the condemnation which the devil will experience? Or is this some kind of condemnation that the devil gives? We know that the devil will be condemned (Revelation 20:10), but we also know that this pastor is called a “recent convert” — and converts are not condemned to hell.
Probably, then, this “condemnation of the devil” is “condemnation from the devil,” some kind of accusatory and defamatory activity from the devil against the pastor. Why would the devil act against the pastor in accusatory ways? In order to disgrace the pastor. And a recent convert may be especially vulnerable to the snares of pride and conceit.
In 1 Timothy 3:7, the potential pastor must be well thought of by outsiders. This requirement is “so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” Looking at this purpose statement, we can see that “disgrace” is the devil’s snare that’s in view. If people outside the church could make legitimate accusations about a pastor’s character to show that he isn’t above reproach, then this compromised character will lead to the pastor’s disgrace.
The devil wants pastors to be disqualified and disgraced. The pastor lives a public life, so a pastor’s disgrace has public ramifications. We’ve all seen the headlines of ministers who have a moral failing, and the aftermath is brutal. It’s sorrowful for the pastor’s family, for the pastor’s church, and for those beyond the church who become aware of the moral failing.
The devil knows that a disgraced pastor will dishearten people, and discouragement is a vital tool in the enemy’s arsenal. He wants people to think of the gospel as untrue or, at least, as powerless. He wants people to wonder why they should bother with church when church leaders can be untrustworthy or hypocritical.
The devil also knows that a disgraced pastor emboldens the enemies of Christ. Rather than being discouraged, some people seize upon every story of moral failing and leverage it for their own ends. They may want to spread it like wildfire because they love juicy bits of gossip. They may want to stoke suspicion of organized religion. A pastor’s disgrace becomes fuel for devilish ambitions.
Ministry is spiritual warfare, and the God-hating devil takes aim at the leaders of Christ’s churches. The snare of their disgrace has the potential for widespread damage to the churches and lives of Christ’s people. Pray for your pastor, because Satan hates your pastor.
This essay was originally published at Dr. Mitchell Chase's Substack, Biblical Theology.
Meet the coach turning gridiron glory into gospel impact
Sudden darkness hit Ratliff Stadium, home of the Odessa Permian Panthers, the team from “Friday Night Lights.”
With six state championships, Permian has long been a powerhouse in 6A, one of the toughest divisions in the country.
And yet on this November night, the Panthers were losing to the Frenship Tigers, from Wolfforth, Texas, a town without a single state championship to its name.
The underdog had scored two touchdowns in nine seconds, sealing a 44-27 upset.
"They didn’t like that at all," Frenship’s character coach, David Fraze, tells me. "They were so upset, they just turned the lights out." He laughs. "What you see on TV is real. ‘Friday Night Lights’ is a documentary."
He smiles again, thinking back to that underdog night in Odessa.
“Culture is our secret weapon,” he says. “We’re not the fastest or the strongest, but our team speed and team strength is awesome.”
Scoreboard
Fraze and I spoke on a cold February afternoon, both still recovering from the flu. Fraze, an associate professor and Endowed Chair of Youth & Family Ministry at Lubbock Christian University, has been in character coaching — an under-the-radar branch of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes — for 15 years.
It started as a side project while he was with The Hills Church in Dallas. Then the FCA asked him to build it out, shaping the role so it aligned with Title IX compliance and the growing fields of sports psychology and leadership development.
'I’m a child of God, whether I feel like it or not. My lifestyle reflects that truth, whether my feelings agree or not.'
Now, character coaches work with teams across the country, blending faith, discipline, and mentorship.
“We’re everywhere,” Fraze says. “Helping athletes not just physically, but in their mindset, their resilience.”
Fraze, who has a Ph.D. from Fuller Seminary, knows Texas football. He coaches with the Dallas Cowboys Youth Academy. He understands pressure, competition, and the weight of identity that comes with performance.
But more than anything, he knows what happens when that identity isn’t anchored in something real. Three decades working with students, families, and athletes has taught him that.
Practical wisdom
In a world where winning often overshadows personal growth, David Fraze is challenging the status quo with his book, “Practical Wisdom For Families with Athletes: Winning Isn’t the Ultimate Goal.” Co-author Monica Williams, also an associate professor at Lubbock Christian University, has more than 17 years experience mentoring student athletes across Texas and California.
Fraze and Williams argue that the competitive sports arena has lost sight of what truly matters — helping athletes become the best versions of themselves rather than simply chasing victories.
Drawing from decades of experience in coaching, teaching, and mentoring, Fraze and Williams invite parents, coaches, and athletes into an honest conversation about the pressures of modern sports.
“Our book isn’t about creating superstars,” Fraze explains. “It’s about equipping young athletes and their families with the practical wisdom needed to navigate the demanding world of competitive athletics.”
Instead of promising quick fixes, the book offers actionable strategies for finding balance in a high-stakes environment. Each chapter posits new approaches to how athletes can manage the rigorous demands of training, competition, and even the pressures from external influences.
The narrative of “Practical Wisdom” extends beyond sports tactics. It touches on broader life lessons, urging athletic families to embrace rest, reflect on identity, and even re-evaluate the role of competition.
Central to the book’s message is the idea of balance.
“We have an opportunity to reclaim what sports were always meant to be — a joyful journey with friends,” says Fraze.
Meanwhile, Williams emphasizes that the book is a guide for both immediate challenges and long-term growth, offering “ready-to-use suggestions” for balancing athletic ambition with personal well-being.
The weight of performance
Competition is a furnace; it forges character, but it can also aggravate weaknesses.
Pressure defines sports. A missed shot, a fumbled pass, a split-second hesitation: Any one of these can turn a game, a career, even a life upside down.
But Fraze believes Christianity offers a path to relief from that pressure.
“When a player can separate who they are from what they do, they actually become better players,” he says.
He’s seen it firsthand. The athletes who can lay down their performance anxiety, who step onto the field knowing their worth is not tied to the scoreboard, are the ones who thrive.
And the freedom to let it go
“Our identity determines our actions and then our feelings,” Fraze explains. “That’s very biblical.”
It’s a truth that governs sports and life alike. Too often, young athletes build their identity on performance. If they win, they feel valuable; if they lose, they feel worthless. But Fraze believes that’s backward.
“You think about the walk of Christ: I’m a child of God, whether I feel like it or not. My lifestyle reflects that truth, whether my feelings agree or not. That’s love. If I start with my feelings as an athlete — if I don’t feel like playing hard, I won’t. And then I want to claim the identity? It doesn’t work that way.”
Fraze tells the story of a quarterback he coached, a rising star with a Texas Tech scholarship. During a voluntary team testimony night, the young athlete stood before his teammates and said: “Football is too important to us — it’s what we do, but it’s not who we are.”
Youth culture
Fraze is a youth minister by trade. “In the academic world,” he adds, “I also train people to do what I do and teach.”
He’s spent 36 years balancing theory and practice, the tumultuous world of academia and the unpredictable world of teenagers. His title at Lubbock Christian University reads like a legal document — James A. "Buddy" Davidson Charitable Foundation Youth and Family Ministry Endowed Chair — but he still spends Sundays leading a group of freshmen at church. (He complains jokingly that one of them insists on calling him “sir.”)
His doctorate program was a mix of sociology, psychology, theology, and philosophy. “And so we were trained to be ethnographical people. Wherever we go, we take the knowledge and we just walk in the world.”
All of those elements combined result in the freewheeling chaos of youth.
Youth, at its core, is freedom — not the lonely, self-serving kind, but a redemption bound in love, in relationships, in communion. It thrives in teams, in huddles, in the unspoken brotherhood of the locker room. It’s what drives a player to lay down a block for his teammate, what makes a team more than the sum of its win/loss ratio.
To the outside world, youth culture looks messy, unpredictable, irritating. But this is its power. It refuses to be polished, optimized, and repackaged for consumption.
Every new generation gets to formulate its worldview as the rest of us look on, out of bitterness or curiosity or nostalgia, captivated by the authority of youth.
Failure as a gift
“Eventually,” Fraze says, “we all fail to make it to the next level.”
He has seen what happens when identity gets tangled in athletic performance. He points to Michael Phelps — arguably the greatest swimmer in history — who, after winning everything there was to win, found himself lost.
“We develop athletes, but if we don’t connect it to life, they foreclose their human development.”
Failure, Fraze insists, isn’t just inevitable — it’s necessary: “Failure is a gift — it’s the only way to grow.”
He recalls his own daughter, a talented theater performer, who recently went through grueling auditions, only to be told hard truths about her vocal range. One day, she came home in tears. “He just gave you a gift,” Fraze told her. “Either he’s helping you get better, or you’ve just found out what your role is. Either way, you win.”
The same lesson applies to young athletes. Too often, kids don’t get the chance to fail in a healthy way. Parents rush to intervene — switching teams, blaming coaches, throwing money at trainers.
But Fraze sees sports as a tool for something bigger: “The Christian life isn’t about avoiding hell,” Fraze says. “It’s about transformation.”
Close call
Fraze wants athletes to have freedom — the freedom to compete with intensity, without fear, knowing their value isn’t on the line with every game.
“Does God love you? Yes. Does your family love you? Yes. So what happens if you fail? Nothing changes. So go play.”
He laughs, recalling an interaction he just had with his daughter, who walked into his office with a box of donuts.
“It’s Monday,” she said, hopeful.
“I looked at her and said, ‘Get those out of here. I want them, but it’s Monday.’” He grins. “Discipline, man. It matters.”
He pauses. “They’re really good donuts, too. And I just shut my door. I'm so glad we're talking because you've helped me avoid temptation.”
PA Board Of Ed Decision Is Latest Move In National Effort To Diminish Christian Education
Democrats, who have long fought with teachers unions against making school choice more accessible, continue their assault on private education.Today's top stories
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