These days, we have too many distractions in our lives as compared to even a decade-ago. Our days are consumed with getting to work early to beat the traffic, answering our cell phones whenever and wherever we are or feel as though we should have to. Combine this with the need to climb the corporate ladder in a dog-eat-dog world, and it’s easy to see why God takes a back seat in most of our lives; why He is recognized for only one hour every Sunday – at best.
The redemptive effect we should engineer and implement has been legalistically removed from our day-to-day practices and is only getting further from our nation’s roots. Recently on “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley,” David Barton, founder and president of Wallbuilders, gave a presentation on the Constit
ution and Declaration of Independence and its framers. He listed some very interesting statistics; here are a couple of them: of the fifty-six framers of the Constitution, twenty-nine of them had seminary degrees. Additionally, the very first Bible printed in the English language in America was printed in 1782, commissioned by none other than the Congress of the United States. In case you thought you misread that, I’ll repeat it: the very first Bible printed in the English language in America was printed in 1782, commissioned by none other than the Congress of the United States.
These days, even prayer within the walls of our public schools during so much as an extra-curricular activity is an infringement of something against somebody or, a violation of somebody’s something. I recall a story in the news this past September about the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders and how their banners, through which the school’s football team would tear-through, were “offensive” to a fan; banners that contained Scripture. What’s next? Is Tim Tebow, quarterback of Florida University, going to offend an opponent for placing Scripture verses on the sun block below his eyes during a football game? Can we no longer find strength and refuge in the Bible outside of the church or our home?
This is not an attempt to lead troops into battle or make this a call to arms, but Christians have been lying like doormats for far too long. You might be reading this thinking, “Not me! I stood my ground when…” GOOD! That’s what we need to do. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (NIV) Prayerfully seek His lead, and through obedience, follow His will. Jesus didn’t just walk into Jerusalem and think to himself, “What an abomination,” He defended what was holy. Perhaps it is a little easier now to understand how far removed God has become from our society and how far back to Him we have to go. For if the trends have shifted, and that shift is not good as I am purporting, then that implies we can make a positive, lasting change for the good.
The redemptive effect we should engineer and implement has been legalistically removed from our day-to-day practices and is only getting further from our nation’s roots. Recently on “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley,” David Barton, founder and president of Wallbuilders, gave a presentation on the Constit
ution and Declaration of Independence and its framers. He listed some very interesting statistics; here are a couple of them: of the fifty-six framers of the Constitution, twenty-nine of them had seminary degrees. Additionally, the very first Bible printed in the English language in America was printed in 1782, commissioned by none other than the Congress of the United States. In case you thought you misread that, I’ll repeat it: the very first Bible printed in the English language in America was printed in 1782, commissioned by none other than the Congress of the United States.These days, even prayer within the walls of our public schools during so much as an extra-curricular activity is an infringement of something against somebody or, a violation of somebody’s something. I recall a story in the news this past September about the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders and how their banners, through which the school’s football team would tear-through, were “offensive” to a fan; banners that contained Scripture. What’s next? Is Tim Tebow, quarterback of Florida University, going to offend an opponent for placing Scripture verses on the sun block below his eyes during a football game? Can we no longer find strength and refuge in the Bible outside of the church or our home?
This is not an attempt to lead troops into battle or make this a call to arms, but Christians have been lying like doormats for far too long. You might be reading this thinking, “Not me! I stood my ground when…” GOOD! That’s what we need to do. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (NIV) Prayerfully seek His lead, and through obedience, follow His will. Jesus didn’t just walk into Jerusalem and think to himself, “What an abomination,” He defended what was holy. Perhaps it is a little easier now to understand how far removed God has become from our society and how far back to Him we have to go. For if the trends have shifted, and that shift is not good as I am purporting, then that implies we can make a positive, lasting change for the good.
Copyright © Holy Hoosier, 2009
Great post! In todays society Christians are experiencing greater challenges every day. I will say as a youth pastor that I am blessed to be serving in Vigo county. We have Bible clubs in every middle school and high school in the Vigo county school system! God has opened the doors for us to share His truth within our schools!
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