Take A Stand

No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.  (2 Timothy 2:4, NIV 1984). 

My Musings – As seen on the Facebook.  “Some people probably think we should keep our mouths shut about politics. Let me tell you something. If Christians do not take a stand against this evilness going on right now and speak up we ain’t gonna have an America!”  Quote was shared, but I could not find any attribution.

This is one of those “quotes” that we read and nearly automatically think, “you got that right.”  And maybe I ought to keep my mouth shut, but here’s my take.  I love my country.  I love it more for what it used to be than what it is becoming.  I know this is not true for everyone.  We need to make it right for them as best we can, without making it wrong for others.  And just because I love it more for what it used to be does not mean that what it was is everything it should be. But as President Kennedy once said: “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” 

When it comes to Christians  accepting our “own responsibility for the future,” for taking “a stand against the evilness going on,” I can give no better advice than this — “my dear brothers [and sisters], stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV 1984).  I am not saying that we should remain quiet on political or social issues.  But the stand we take on these things often are in vain.  And if they cause us to take our eye off the ball, if they cause to give ourselves less than “fully to the work of the Lord,” it is more than in vain.  It is counter-productive.

Jesus gave us our prime (of first importance) directive (official or authoritative instruction). “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:18–20, NIV 1984).  For “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV 1984). 

To the extent we become too entangled in “civilian affairs,” we run the danger of merely “tilting [jousting] at windmills.” If not fighting imaginary enemies, then attacking the symptoms of a fallen world rather than prescribing the cure — the Gospel of Christ.  “For what I received [directive] I passed on to you as of first importance [prime]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, NIV 1984). 

My Advice – Which kingdom are you taking a stand for?  Where is your primary citizenship? I think Satan would like nothing more that splitting or re-directing our devotion.  The solution to the ills of our country, of our world, is not political.  For our “struggle is not against flesh and blood.”  In order to for us to take “our stand against the devil’s schemes” requires more than political strategies.  That is the way the world wages war. “For though we live in the world, we [must] not wage war as the world does.” (2 Corinthians 10:3, NIV 1984).  Let’s not fall for Satan’s diversionary tactics.  Do not let him “move [us]” off the front line — carrying the Gospel to the nation[s].

We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations

We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
that shall turn their hearts to the right,
a story of truth and mercy,
a story of peace and light,
a story of peace and light.

We’ve a song to be sung to the nations,
that shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
a song that shall conquer evil
and shatter the spear and sword,
and shatter the spear and sword.

We’ve a message to give to the nations,
that the Lord who reigneth above
hath sent us his Son to save us,
and show us that God is love,
and show us that God is love.

We’ve a Savior to show to the nations,
who the path of sorrow hath trod,
that all of the world’s great peoples
might come to the truth of God,
might come to the truth of God.

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning to noonday bright;
and Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
the kingdom of love and light.

— H. Ernest Nichol

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing