The State of The Union Arrest

Recently, I received an email entitled “Get on the band wagon” in which a message forwarded countless times was urging Christians to get involved and unite against an organization trying to stop Christian broadcasts on all public airwaves. The message claimed that some organization (which went unnamed) had been granted Federal Hearing and would “pave the way” to ban the reading of scripture (piously called “of our Lord and Savior”) from all public airwaves. And to stop this action, everyone who received the email was urged to add their name to the list of names and forward the message to as many friends as possible. A friend of mine, one who has recently grown cold to the theology of evangelicals and Baptists, responded to me by saying four simple words:

"This is not true".

After I sent the email, I later rethought the e-mail’s legitimacy. The sender had started the query God-knows-where, and even if there was a shred of truth in the document, what possible effect could an email petition have on stopping a powerful organization from having federal hearing? None, I deemed. Later, rethinking my decision, I kicked myself for giving in to this propaganda.

Now, it’s no secret that our country’s morals are and have been under attack for some time. More and more each day the powers of this country lean anti-Christian. I suppose that the slow decay of morals in this country is inevitable. And we can do nothing to stop it. Even if we could, the use of email petition is so unofficial; its profit is little to those in positions of power.

As a naïve individual, I’m apt to believe any fancified notion that flies my general direction. If the ACLU is the equivalent to the beast with “sharp, pointy fangs”, I wonder what action from myself would be the equivalent to the HOLY HAND GRENADE OF ANTIOCH? A suggestion on my part is for us as Christians to first set an example for the unbelieving world through our lives, holy and sanctified by God. It is only then that we can stand up for Christian values and freedoms of the Church. For who are we to support a set of values that we as Christians don’t even follow?

If you are asking what I mean by these kinds of Christians, look at the divorce rate of Christians, the acceptance of homosexuals in leadership positions in churches, the shunning of sinners from the church, the love of sin. In many ways, Christians are setting a bad example, and the standards they try to impose on others are standards they refuse to live themselves. I know in some ways there are many Christians who don’t exhibit these characteristics, and I praise their zeal for God. Perhaps it is the reputation of a few who ruin it for many.

Or the reputation of many who make it exceedingly difficult for few. Despite the reputation of anyone, I know for certain that it is our responsibility first to live holy lives, then try to change the world.

But as we search for our paths in life, for search we must, let us hope that our lives work out in such a way to accomplish something, to have worth and value. Let us hope that our dreams don't come crashing down, as has happened to some we know. Let us hope we get things right the first time through and avoid the pits and valleys of life. For, isn't that all we have to hope for?

Or should we hope for those pits and valleys, learn to stand through the hard times and press on to the goal set before us? Do we abandon all dreams and goals in utter realization of our futility and meaningless existence before God? For, what dreams and goals are more honorable than a life solely lived for God and God alone? A hermit in some faraway monastery has certainly accomplished more in his lifetime than a 21st Century Schizoid Man.

But then again, we may try to search after the path which aligns with God's perfect will, “propelling all who are worthy along the path of salvation”. For, salvation is indeed a process, is it not? Are we not constantly getting saved from our old selves to find life anew in a waking and fire-breathed concept of God? How do we know where the next foot will fall? It's as if we claim determinism as a safety net to keep us from going astray, as a sort of excuse for not following God as closely as we ought. In my life I've learned a few things. One of them is: you must work hard and strive for those things that mean the most to you. But it seems those things are the hardest to strive after. Home lives, our relationships with our parents, siblings, our jobs, our study skills in school, our studying of the scriptures, applying for scholarships and application to schools, in my case, these are the things which are the most difficult. What are yours? I daresay they are things most important to you, even if you believe it or not.

So my conclusion is this: we have a holy calling from God. We will be held accountable for how we live our lives, not with respect to our actions, but our motives. Did we seek after God in our lives? Or did we sit around looking after our own desires all the while thinking we would be sanctified by God's determinate will? My friends, perhaps there is a determinate will of God, argue what you may, but effort, hard work, striving must be put out on our part for any salvation to exist. A longing, a thirst for God. Not striving in the sense that we're trying to please God, but just as if you're striving to become a better son, a better brother, a more acquainted friend. If this effort does not exist, then who are you to call yourself “saved”? For one who is saved cannot live continually in sin. But I do not condemn any who read this. More than anything, I am wanting us to more closely examine our lives, for me to examine my life, and live in such a way that will be pleasing and honorable to God. And in my case, trudging through the depths of sin is not striving to get closer to God.

I want lastly to urge us as friends to adopt more mannerisms of love, acceptance, and a longing to edify others. For Christianity is not about debating who's right and who's wrong, but accepting and loving a burdened soul.