SAT7

Discerning What Is Best
With Dr Rex Rogers

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Details: Written by Rex M. Rogers; Published: 15 November 2022

Is meeting someone’s physical needs or spiritual needs more important? And which approach really makes a difference in a troubled world?

Hi, I’m Rex Rogers and this is episode #54 of Discerning What Is Best, a podcast applying unchanging biblical principles in a rapidly changing world, and a Christian worldview to current issues and everyday life.

The ministry with which I serve, SAT-7, works to share the gospel and Christian teaching with people throughout the Middle East and North Africa region.

SAT-7 does this 24/7, presenting God’s Word and Christian hope via un-censorable satellite television broadcasts and now also online video on demand.

Yet with that, I find it interesting that when people, including Christian radio staff who interview me, become aware of serious crises in the region – which is nearly every week – they ask, “What is SAT-7 doing?” Emphasis on the word “doing.”

What they mean—whether they realize it—or what they are implying, is that physical or humanitarian needs require a direct physical response. Providing food, clothing, housing. I’ll call this, Feeding the body.

This need and opportunity for direct physical response could develop in the wake of war, growing food insecurity, poverty, or serious spin offs of social unrest…

There is, of course, nothing wrong with, and in fact a lot right with, responding to physical or humanitarian needs by, so to speak, feeding the body. To love your neighbor as yourself you can do no less than respond to people’s physical or humanitarian needs.

Some Christian nonprofit organizations and NGOs are exclusively dedicated to direct physical or material responses to people’s physical and humanitarian needs. This is a good thing.

But, while providing people with physical help, like food and clothing, even money, is good, even commanded of believers, still, providing for physical or humanitarian needs with material goods is not all they need and tends to address only immediate circumstances.

This is not a criticism of organizations or people who work to feed the body. It’s just an observation about the total picture.

The question remains, have we helped them in the long term?

Since SAT-7 is a broadcast and media ministry, it is not typically and regularly working on ground with material resources. So in some people’s minds, SAT-7 is apparently not “doing” anything. But then again, SAT-7 is “doing” something every day. It’s feeding the soul. It is broadcasting the gospel, the most powerful transformative message in the world.

Sharing Christ with needy people—including those in the midst of crises—then seeing dramatic spiritual change in their lives, allows us to witness how spiritual transformation changes how people think and act, often affecting their personal opportunities and condition.

My friend Tom Atema, observed, “Jesus knows that he can make a person's life better, and then they will become better at life. They will, as they mature, have an inward want to to make their life better - and they do. It’s one evidence that a person has accepted Jesus as Savior and is growing in this relationship. New believers gain dignity and self-respect. They become image bearers of Jesus in their everyday life. Before long, they take themselves off the aid given and provide for themselves.”

It seems to me that some Christians don’t really have the confidence or deep-down belief that their faith can change the world. They seem to be looking for something else, some other solution to address the intractable social problems confronting us.

If so, in my view, they are missing the point that they already have the answer. They are God’s ambassadors of reconciliation. And they must have the understanding and the confidence to acknowledge that no other values or approaches or philosophies offer the power of new creation that is in the gospel:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here,” (2 Cor. 5:17).

As the late British theologian John Stott once put it: “Evangelism is the major instrument of social change. For the Gospel changes people and changed people can change society.”

We know God’s Word makes a difference because we can see some changes with our eyes. We experience the fulfilment of his promises.

We know God’s Word makes a difference because he promised this in his Word: Scripture says, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Is. 55:11).

So, “What is SAT-7 doing?” Well, it is sharing with desperate people the one and best solution to every and all problems, every and all challenges, which is to say, SAT-7 is pointing people with a relational, sin-problem dilemma to the one relationship that resolves their dilemma, salvation in Christ.

Well, we’ll see you again soon. This podcast is about Discerning What Is Best. If you find this thought-provoking and helpful, follow us on your favorite podcast platform. Download an episode for your friends. For more Christian commentary, check my website, r-e-x-m as in Martin, that’s rexmrogers.com.

And remember, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm.

*This podcast blog may be reproduced in whole or in part with a full attribution statement. Contact me or read more commentary on current issues and events at www.rexmrogers.com/, or connect with me at www.linkedin.com/in/rexmrogers.

Details: Written by Rex M. Rogers; Published: 04 November 2020

SAT-7 affirms biblical doctrine and is not affiliated with any denomination.

In its broadcasts, SAT-7 emphasizes the realities and challenges Christians in the Middle East and North Africa share in common. The ministry does not denigrate or attack any other religion but presents the claims of Christ and Christianity, allowing individuals to make their own comparisons and spiritual decisions.

SAT-7 cites two documents to express the ministry’s foundational biblical understanding:

First, the Nicene Creed, one of the oldest and most widely recognized professions of Christian faith, considered perhaps the best description and definition of Christianity ever written.

The second, the Lausanne Covenant, an influential modern statement of Christian faith, including a reaffirmation of the Nicene Creed and an elaboration of fifteen biblical teachings.

SAT-7 shares the Word of God’s presentation of truth, love, hope, and history pointing to the Middle East region as the birthplace of Christianity, and witnesses to the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.

*This blog may be reproduced in whole or in part with a full attribution statement. Contact me or read more commentary on current issues and events at www.rexmrogers.com/, or connect with me at www.linkedin.com/in/rexmrogers.

Details: Written by Rex M. Rogers; Published: 21 October 2020

SAT-7 is non-partisan and nonpolitical.

SAT-7 is not a political organization, does not promote any political policy, party, figure, or ideology, and refrains from political associations.

The ministry focuses upon sharing the Gospel and Christian teaching with all people, including children, in the Middle East and North Africa.

Yet, SAT-7 recognizes that the Word of God speaks to social issues, so the ministry applies a Christian worldview and biblical values to issues like peace, religious freedom, and biblical human rights for women, children and all individuals. SAT-7 rejects religious conflict and promotes justice, education, social and economic development.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Light of the world that transcends all borders, tribes, religions, and ideologies.

This, not politics, is SAT-7’s message of reconciliation and hope.

Details: Written by Rex M. Rogers; Published: 16 October 2020

SAT-7 employs satellite television and social media to broadcast hope in Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish in the Middle East and North Africa. SAT-7 affirms a “culturally sensitive” approach to ministry.

Cultural sensitivity means SAT-7 shares Christian teaching with viewers from diverse cultural, ethnic, political, and religious backgrounds, in a manner that demonstrates understanding, respect, and love.

SAT-7 does not broadcast from other regions using non-Middle Eastern faces or languages. It is based among the people it is serving. SAT-7 produces programming in the Middle East by Middle Easterners for Middle Easterners.

Culturally sensitive ministry broadcasts in a way that enables the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa to hear, understand, and grasp the essentials of the Christian faith for themselves.

SAT-7 is culturally sensitive, building relational bridges, speaking the truth in love.

Details: Written by Rex M. Rogers; Published: 07 October 2020

SAT-7, the largest Christian satellite broadcasting network in the Middle East and North Africa, often speaks of its “holistic” ministry.

Holistic means we believe our Christian faith requires us to actively care for the whole person: spiritual, emotional, physical, intellectual, social.

Yes, SAT-7 regularly shares the Gospel, the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

In addition, SAT-7 works to bless people in their everyday circumstances.

Programs address building marriages, nurturing children, adoption, women’s issues, substance abuse, freedom of religion and human rights, employment training. Other programs address children and youth issues like trauma healing, bullying, dating.

With some 15 million children out of school in the Middle East due to conflict or crisis, SAT-7 ACADEMY produces educational programs offering instruction in English, Arabic, Mathematics, and the Sciences.

Social concern is a means of loving our neighbors and demonstrating the Gospel.

SAT-7’s ministry is holistic, teaching the “whole counsel of God” for the whole person.

Details: Written by Rex M. Rogers; Published: 10 August 2020

Brief audio on the Beirut Blast and SAT-7's initial response. SAT-7 Lebanon studios are just outside the blast radius so spared all but minimal damage. Now broadcasting to grieve together, lament, serve, and provide solace in spiritual truth.