I realize that I haven’t written anything for quite some time. As I reflect upon the why’s, I realize that it isn’t so much due to the fact that I haven’t got anything to say – rather, I think it stems from the fact that to say anything with any sort of depth to it seems offensive – at least to some.
Do you want to offend others? Do you want to live at odds with others? Is there something that I can say that might help others see the truth – or at least search for it? I don’t know. I can’t imagine that anyone wants to live in a constant state of conflict. I doubt that any of us feels good about having others berate us or wrongly accuse us. And yet, should we, as Christ-followers – not just by label only – but actual all-in-Christ-followers stay silent so as to avoid opposition? Does our silence or lack of opposition really lead us to submission of the mob or what is not true?
I am not talking about us attacking people. I am not talking about us ditching our filters (if we ever had them) and exchanging them for verbal dumping. I am talking about using critical thinking. I am talking about looking into history, and especially into the Word of God, and using those tools to dissect the message of the mob. Is the narrative true, or does it simply sound good on the surface? Am I making my decisions based on emotions and media, or am I making decisions based upon investing thought and time into digging deeper through investigations?
Recently I listened to a podcast where Christian artist Matthew West was being defended for his song and video called “Modest is Hottest,” which is a parody about a father looking out for his daughter’s safety and protection. Believe it or not, he was attacked not only by those outside the church as well as those within it. Why? Well, his message doesn’t align with the message of the mob. He was encouraging purity. Culture wants no part of that as they scream a message of free sexuality and you do you. He was speaking to finding the beauty inside and letting that be what attracts people to you. Culture hates that message. Insides don’t matter. Just the external. Paternal protection isn’t cool. It’s sexist. Wait, what? Sadly, I am just scratching the surface here…
In the podcast, I did hear something that struck a chord with me. It went something like this: “At some point, you and I will have to make a choice about where we will stand, or who we are going to stand with. Will it be the mob? Or will we stand with Jesus? It cannot be both. So which will you choose?”
Have you ever thought about how mobs work? Have you ever realized how challenging it can be to be willing to take a stand for truth and righteousness – especially when it appears or feels as if we are being asked to do so alone? Jesus does. He’s been there. More than once, actually. It is recorded that he faced an angry mob in his hometown of Nazareth – and they were ready to push him off a cliff. Remember? But God had not planned for Jesus to leave us at that point or in that way. And again, Jesus faces the mob as he is hours away from crucifixion. Jesus could have caved to the mob and what they wanted him to do. But he didn’t. Instead, he stayed true to God the Father and his Word. He went forth boldly and willingly and it cost him his life.
You and I have it so much easier, don’t we? We won’t ever face the mob alone. In fact, we are never alone as believers in Christ. We have God taking up residence within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. We are empowered by Him to do what we could NEVER do on our own. We have the knowledge that this isn’t all there is. This life is but a temporary home for us – not our permanent dwelling place.
As you and I face the mob and get preached at regarding a loud narrative that on the surface seems to be good, let me ask you to dig deeper. Ask the question how does this align with God’s Word? Not the parts of God’s Word I like – but all of it. You see, for some of us, we have decided not to read God’s Word but to depend on others to tell us what it says. That’s a bit dangerous. If I don’t know what’s there, I can easily go against it. If I rely on another person, I am placing my trust in the fact that they won’t steer me wrong based upon their own preferences and bias. Personally, I have read God’s Word. I study God’s Word. Not parts of it – all of it. Here’s what I have learned: I don’t always understand why God does all that he does. I don’t always like the things that God says. It’s not because God is wrong, though. Let me be clear. God is holy and always good. It’s not about him, it’s about me and my limited understanding. With that said, however, I do believe with all my heart that God continues to transform us and mold us into the men and women that he designed us to be. God’s revealing truths are done over time through a relationship with Him and time invested in Him. The greater my obedience and trust, the more He reveals.
If I am not careful, I will go on and on, which is not my intention for today. Instead, I leave you with a challenge: Who are you going to stand with? The mob, or Jesus?
It sounds like a question asked straight out of the Old Testament book of Joshua chapter 24. “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Make a choice. Take up the sword of the spirit – which is the Word of God, and stand firm.
Blessings.