Let Me Hear Your War Cry!

(photo courtesy of kalich.wordpress.com)

Francis Schaeffer, a Presbyterian pastor (1912-1984), is quoted as saying, “In front of every abortion clinic there needs to be a sign that reads, Here by permission of the Church.”

Where is our voice? The idea that our voice is not wanted or needed is a lie of the enemy. And we swallow it hook, line and sinker; keeping our thoughts to ourselves more often than not, so as not to ‘offend’ anyone.

Not to debate statistics, but just pulling some from the internet:

According to ABC News polls, only about 4% of Americans consider themselves to be gay or bisexual, yet their voice is loud!

According to those same polls, about 83% of Americans consider themselves to be Christians, yet this voice is so small, so quiet.

I’m not making a point here regarding who is right or who is wrong, simply that we don’t have to be many to be heard.

We have our own beliefs, each and every one of us, not counting the people who respond, “I don’t know” or “I never really thought about it” to questions of conscience.  (Apparently those people don’t know how to think for themselves.)

But ponder this: what makes those of us with godly values cower in our prayer closets, afraid to be challenged about our beliefs? What makes us keep our opinions to ourselves? What makes us think that no one wants to hear what we have to say?

By keeping our convictions to ourselves, what’s said by the masses goes on record as what the majority of Americans have to say, simply because so many Americans have nothing to say!

Across our nation, we with godly beliefs remain silent, while those with opposing viewpoints decide what our children will be taught in school, from tainted history lessons, to immoral attitudes about sexuality and procreation, to teaching mere theories without providing opposing arguments on those theories.

Why?

Why do we let anyone take from us the rights that we, for so long, have enjoyed in this nation? Be it politicians or school boards, judges or juries.

Why do we look the other way when important decisions are being made that involve depriving us of our rights?

Why do we turn off the news when we hear stories that frighten us?

Why do we toss our hands up in the air and shrug, mumbling something about God having everything under control?

He clearly doesn’t have everything under control if we haven’t submitted ourselves to Him and the guidelines and promises He’s laid out for us in His Word. We’ve chosen to let the world and it’s perversions take control of our how lives will be lived, just as Adam and Eve surrendered control of the Garden of Eden, and this realm, to the beguiling serpent.

We can no longer “pass the buck” and blame someone else, or pretend that if we were Adam or Eve we wouldn’t have bitten that forbidden fruit.

How can we call ourselves children of the Most High God – yet believe that we have no authority at all?

Perhaps we should adorn ourselves with the attire of paupers if that’s how we want to live. Perhaps we should surrender our titles as priests and kings and princes, since the majority of us are choosing to live as peasants.

Where’s our war cry? Where’s our voice?

Let’s hear it!

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” ~ 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)

“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” ~ Revelation 1:6 (KJV)

“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” ~ Revelation 5:10 (KJV)

More Questioning?

How did we get to where we are?

Do I really get to choose what to believe? Or do life’s circumstances dictate what and whom I trust? Does what I was taught is true hold fast all my life? Do events that occur around me or to me shape what I perceive as truth? Do I get to select the path I’ll take in life? What influences my choices?

Of all the minds in the world – you (questions) have to walk into mine.

For me personally, all of creation resounds with a chorus of, “Yes, Helen – there is a God!” I was taught that God is God and that He is good, all the time. But events and circumstances show up on the path I’ve chosen and beg me to question. I question why God does or allows the things that go on around me. I question how His “on time” sometimes appears to be “too late” or “too little”. I question why I question. It seems like it would be simpler to just believe what we’re told. But to some extent, we all question.

When I told my young son, “The iron is hot, don’t touch it,” something in him compelled him to find out for himself. Nope – mom didn’t lie, or was it that he needed to know for himself what hot was, or how it applied to something that was never in the oven? I don’t believe our questions are shallow at all, but actually have layers and layers of investigative efforts behind them. When I told that same son that Crisco is not frosting, again, he had to taste to believe. (By the way, again I was correct.)

Repetition teaches us. When we experience the same outcome over and over again, we begin to trust that it’s the outcome we will always get… until we experience something different. Then we begin to question the outcomes we had up to that point. And rightfully! We begin to investigate what made this outcome different. A chair that’s faithfully held us at the dinner table until now becomes suspect: did it let me down because it wasn’t built correctly twenty years ago or because over time it’s taken a beating and needs repair, or because I’ve gradually gained fifty pounds? (No, a chair did not really collapse beneath me.) Would it be logical to say that the chair never really did support me?

To question, or not to question – this is my question!

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. –Isaiah 1:18 (KJV emphasis mine.)