To Proselytize or Not?

The State of Affairs
(Jude 1:18- How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.)
Hi everyone. It's been a tragic couple of weeks. I have struggled with all the depressing news. Starting with Hurricane Laura whose massive destructive force touched down in the southern United States along the gulf coast. At least half a million people had to evacuate their homes. Thank God too, because that decision helped to save their lives. But, how can I begin to discuss the extreme damage that this storm has delivered. Power can not be restored to the area for at least several weeks. Rebuilding the area will be a huge undertaking which will disrupt people's lives and business activities.The aftermath of this storm will surely be felt for a long time to come, financially, spiritually and otherwise.

Then I must note that violent activity is continuing around the United States and many part of the world, seemingly at an unstoppable pace. Mass protests occurred in various European capitals concerning the overreaching and apparently non-debatable governmental policies concerning COVID-19. I saw many videos of peaceable protestors being arrested and fined for simply not wearing a mask. Has life continuing on this planet come down to if we wear masks or not? Study the evidence. It looked more like the Iranian moral police harassing people for not wearing proper Islamic garb.

However, the violent events happeneing in the United States are the worst, and unprecedented in the history of this country. Notably, there was an attempt to disrupt the legitimate political process of the republican national convention when the President of the United States was giving his acceptance speech for the party's nomination. Outside the White House drums and bullhorns tried to drown out the President, or should I say drown out liberty. After the convention, just like I would expect from cowards videos emerged of BLM militants hitting and knocking old men to the ground and doing it from behind (just like someone who fights dirty will do). Check out the videos and you will always see attacks from behind. This is a huge departure from the United States historical code of ethics. It does however resemble the actions at the beginnings of every major totalitarian regime takeover.

I listened to videos with all matter of profanities and threats to kill people uttered. A mob surrounded United States senator Rand Paul and his wife. Had it not been for the bravery of four police officers, Rand Paul and his wife might be hospitalized or even dead. This after a crazed liberal neighbor attacked him and caused him to loose a piece of his lung. I hear totalitarianism calling, will the United States open the door? Ding dong.
(1 Timothy 1:9- We realize that the law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers.)

I see videos of intimidating confrontations occurring in restaurants, supermarkets and on roadways. Not for nothing, as we say in New York, haven't you noticed how many of the victims are senior citizens? We all know the story of the seventy-something year old retired police officer who was murdered as he tried to protect his friends business in Minneapolis. Another elder protecting his pizza parlor was brutalized. This bespeaks depravity of the highest realm. As does hurting children, another vulnerable population that have been victimized during this new civil war. What does this tell you about the spiritual health of the United States? We may or may not feel safe from these occurrences but, I think that we are at a juncture as Christians. What do we think about it and what are we going to do about it?

Then there is the bombshell revelations about Jerry and Becki Falwell Jr's sexual debauchery. Jerry and Becki Falwell let down their family, friends and the entire Christian community. They had the privilege and responsibility of being at the helm of a Christian university. Their political activities even put them into the position of being the face of Christianity to many atheists. What did they do with that? What are we doing with our platform?

I have been asked by many disillusioned friends what I think that the Christian community know about this scandal and when? Did they purposely close their eyes to these goings-on because Jerry Falwell Jr succeeded in making Liberty University a billion dollar baby? Some Christians would resent these questions. I do not. It is important for me as a believer to stand up for what is right and in the midst of doing that there is always opportunity to point people to Jesus and to salvation. Not a phony-baloney faith full of platitudes and enabling protocol. Jesus was not one to enable or cover-up wrong-doing and neither should we. Do you as a Christian believe that being a believer means that if you saw evidence of Jerry Falwell's malfeasance that you should not judge hence let's drop it or, do you think merely talking about this represents gossip? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, than how can we ever determine if a problem exists or nip a problem in the bud? How can we pray effectively? Plus, remember telling the truth doesn't equal judging someone.

Spiritual Answers
(1 John 4:1)- Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.)
One thing that really stung me the past couple of weeks was the awareness that everywhere that I went in Westchester, there were people publically practicing yoga. The lawn of the venerable and historic Lyndhurst Manor is a gathering place. The beach by Rye playland is doing it too. In all the most beautiful waterfront parks in Westchester County they are doing yoga. These are spiritual answers that people are choosing as they face anxiety and depression. Even BLM represents spiritual answers to what people consider uncertainty in their lives. (Matthew 6:33- but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.)

What if we Christians had as large a presence as antifa or BLM in our cities? What would bringing the light of Jesus into those situations mean? What if every Christian wore a face mask or a tee shirt with a bible verse on it? What if instead of seeing yoga disciples at the beaches, and on the great lawns around Westchester County, New York we saw Christians praising, baptizing or teaching the Bible? What about in your community? I started to wonder where did I see a visible presence of Christians engaged in the front lines of the battles that we are now facing?

I don't mean to say there is no presence, because I know that Christians are working in food pantries, and helping to console Hurricane Laura victims right at this very moment and doing countless other acts of service. But, have we largely acquiesced to the belief that we should do many of these acts of service without acknowledging our faith in Jesus Christ, without praying or showing any public demonstration of our faith and Savior?

To Proslytize or Not?
(1 Corinthians 1:17- For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.)
I received a flyer on my front porch asking me to join Black Lives Matters. It had all the earmarkings of a spiritual solution to all the problems of mankind. It's answers suggested that if I did not join them that I am essentially damned to hell. The local ads for meditation suggest similar redemption if I just follow the way of their practice. My question to you is: Has the Christian community been majorly sidelined? Have we forgotten our first love Jesus and our desire to bring others to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you lost your fervor? Are you afraid?

This week I had several discussions with Christians who had either lost their fervor, or were afraid. One such couple were hold up in their mansion and living in fear of catching Covid. Their money afforded them the ability to live completely isolated from society while they pay others to do their errands. What of the risk they might be adding to others lives? No mention of that.

As I caught up with them I found them hunkered down until, as they explained to me, the virus reaches some acceptable level and a vaccine is in place. I am sorry to say this Christian woman is struggling with panic attacks. She can not handle any of this. She is watching church live-streamed into her home even as 80 year old people are sitting in the church pews. She is effectively sidelined as is my friend Harris.* Harris has had a number of health challenges this past year and has grown despondent. He used to teach bible studies from his home and at church. Even as I tried to encourage him, I noticed he has no desire to even open up his bible.

Life gets very real sometimes. Has there ever been a guarantee of things going our way? Yet, we are entreated by our Heavenly Father to run this race that we call life and to live for Him. We have to line up our lives with the message of the gospel and help others to have their own blessed assurance. We need to make sure that everything that we do is in Jesus' name. We have to be very vocal about it before we loose our ability to enjoy our freedom of faith or our relevancy.
(2 Timothy 4:5- But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy Ministry.)