"And David said, 'What have I done now? Is there not a cause?'"
1 Samuel 17:29
Why is it that we are intimidated to speak up for what we believe to be right? Have you noticed that the world is not afraid to speak up for their agenda? For way too long, whether Christians were the majority or the minority, we have been silent. I read a book years ago by Tom Minnery entitled Why You Can't Stay Silent. It implored believers to quit complaining about the world's agenda while hiding in the shadows. To be effective, we must step into the light and speak the truth in love.
Let me just share one example. Recently I have noticed a pattern in movies that are being produced. Their target is adults from their 20's to 40's. These movies use extremely crude humor and subject matter as the basis for their plot. The lifestyle that they put on display is overtly sinful. Perversion is presented as normal. The name of Jesus Christ (that name which is above every name) is mixed with vile language and cursed numerous times. However, Christians are responding by doing one of two things: 1)not speaking up about its wickedness for fear of seeming narrow minded, or 2)watching the movies and trying to excuse away the filth. As I have seen this pattern in several areas of our society, I have understood David's words in our above passage. If you try to speak up for righteousness, many will try to shout you down. However, let us say as David said, "Is there not a cause?" In Hebrew the idea behind this phrase has to do with speaking up, proclaiming something. David was shocked that he was being criticized for speaking against the enemy of God. He was not being criticized by the pagans on the other side of the valley. He was being criticized by his own brothers. Unfortunately, there are many Christians who had just rather you keep silent and not rock the boat. Whatever their motive may be for this kind of thinking, you cannot be silent. You have a mandate from God to speak the truth in love. Boldly say the truth knowing that the God of Heaven supports you in your very efforts. Anything that violates Scripture is sin and should be called such. We are children of the King; therefore we must speak with the royalty of His Word on our lips.
May you find the boldness to speak the Words of Christ today!
No comments:
Post a Comment