Lately, I have been reading articles and watching the news and noticing that there is a trend going on. I don't know if you have noticed it or not. You may even be experiencing it at work or in your own community. Last night I read an article about ABC wanting to pilot a show called, "Good Christian B****es." It is a show about women in the church and their depiction. It is similar to "Desperate Housewives" in a whole other form. When the periodical "Christianity Today" was contacted about how offensive the name and content of the show was to them, they chose not to fall for the trap. But someone did say in the same article, "I would highly doubt that you would see a show titled, "Good Muslim B****es" or "Good Jewish B****es." Why is it okay for Christians to be bashed and depicted in such a manner. I am not naive to think that we are perfect or gossip-free. I have been in ministry long enough to know that we struggle with the same issues as the rest of the world. We are not exempt from idle talk and being hurtful. We struggle just the same. We are being depicted this way to be silenced and to discredit us to the world. There are some of you out there that are not allowed to wear your crosses around your neck at the office, or even have a scripture at your desk. Some of you can access pornography but not a christian site at the work place. Why is it that we are so quiet? There are people dying in Egypt and the Congo, all over the world for the right to worship God. Christians are being martyred for their faith and beliefs and we are here sitting back allowing the government and employers and corporations to take away our rights, our freedom of expression of worship. Is it because we are too comfortable? Is it that we are afraid? Afraid of being taken to court or losing a job? Or do we really believe what they are telling us? That we may offend someone because of the t-shirt we are wearing or because we pray "in Jesus name?"
While on vacation in Florida last summer, we saw a very muslim man wearing the long beard, head-gear and a t-shirt that said, "That's right, I am a Mulsim." I think he gets the idea of freedom to express his beliefs here in America. But would we wear a t-shirt that said, "That's right, I am a Christian?" I dare say, I would and I will. Teachers are afraid to lose their jobs just for putting a manger scene out. But Halloween is celebrated BIG time in our schools, with teachers and principals dressing up like witches and the like. That is offensive to me and yet I am to be quiet and not express that. No way. As a teacher's assistant, I put up a small manger scene for my students and waited for someone to say something...no one did. The menorah was up, and the Kwanza pictures were up, but no manger scene, no Christmas tree. When the children asked what my manger was, I shared that I believe that Jesus came to earth as a baby to save us from our sins. And shared how I celebrated Christmas and why. When I asked them the reason for Christmas, only one child out of 27 said, Jesus. Some of our American children couldn't even pronounce the name of Jesus. I was shocked and afraid for them and our country. This was a class of 1st graders. They knew all about the Jonas Brothers and High School Musical and about boyfriends and girlfriends. But they did not know a thing about faith. They didn't even have the foundation. We allowed prayer and God to be removed from our schools and our public places. We have allowed others, government or not to dictate to us what we should say, where we should say it, and when. We need to stop sleeping and dozing off. We need to stop thinking that "it will never happen here." It slowly is.
We need to start a movement of believers. Believers that are not afraid to vote on principal. Believers that are not afraid to show their love and devotion to God and to others. We recoil so easily and yet we have supernatural strength. We have the backing of God himself. Will it be easy? Probably not. Don't be easily intimidated. We are not to be rude or hurtful in our quest. We are to love like Jesus loved. But we are to be strong and assertive when it comes to someone trying to take away our voice, our right to worship and our right to express our faith.
I don't want to receive phone calls asking to be bailed out of jail for singing "Amazing Grace" in Walmart...LOL. You guys need to use wisdom and discernment. Extend grace and be kind. But again, don't waver and don't recoil. If we stand together, united, praying, loving people and not judging them, but really praying and loving them. If we are assertive in maintaining our right to worship God and being able to say the name Jesus, then our voice will be heard loud and clear. Begin where you are at. It is time.
While on vacation in Florida last summer, we saw a very muslim man wearing the long beard, head-gear and a t-shirt that said, "That's right, I am a Mulsim." I think he gets the idea of freedom to express his beliefs here in America. But would we wear a t-shirt that said, "That's right, I am a Christian?" I dare say, I would and I will. Teachers are afraid to lose their jobs just for putting a manger scene out. But Halloween is celebrated BIG time in our schools, with teachers and principals dressing up like witches and the like. That is offensive to me and yet I am to be quiet and not express that. No way. As a teacher's assistant, I put up a small manger scene for my students and waited for someone to say something...no one did. The menorah was up, and the Kwanza pictures were up, but no manger scene, no Christmas tree. When the children asked what my manger was, I shared that I believe that Jesus came to earth as a baby to save us from our sins. And shared how I celebrated Christmas and why. When I asked them the reason for Christmas, only one child out of 27 said, Jesus. Some of our American children couldn't even pronounce the name of Jesus. I was shocked and afraid for them and our country. This was a class of 1st graders. They knew all about the Jonas Brothers and High School Musical and about boyfriends and girlfriends. But they did not know a thing about faith. They didn't even have the foundation. We allowed prayer and God to be removed from our schools and our public places. We have allowed others, government or not to dictate to us what we should say, where we should say it, and when. We need to stop sleeping and dozing off. We need to stop thinking that "it will never happen here." It slowly is.
We need to start a movement of believers. Believers that are not afraid to vote on principal. Believers that are not afraid to show their love and devotion to God and to others. We recoil so easily and yet we have supernatural strength. We have the backing of God himself. Will it be easy? Probably not. Don't be easily intimidated. We are not to be rude or hurtful in our quest. We are to love like Jesus loved. But we are to be strong and assertive when it comes to someone trying to take away our voice, our right to worship and our right to express our faith.
I don't want to receive phone calls asking to be bailed out of jail for singing "Amazing Grace" in Walmart...LOL. You guys need to use wisdom and discernment. Extend grace and be kind. But again, don't waver and don't recoil. If we stand together, united, praying, loving people and not judging them, but really praying and loving them. If we are assertive in maintaining our right to worship God and being able to say the name Jesus, then our voice will be heard loud and clear. Begin where you are at. It is time.
AMEN!
ReplyDeleteI am old enough to have lived through the many years of the subtle ways that our culture has been gradually trying to change and remove our Christian Heritage and faith....we must remain vigilant, awake and strong yet kind like you said...Great post, you are a Culture Warrior in my book!
ReplyDeleteMargie
I stumbled across your blog while I was researching Trinity Church and I'm so glad I did. I too am saddened by the subtle ways our country has learned how to stifle Christians. I don't like how the media seems to only talk about the Christian extremists, like the Koran burning Pastor in Florida or abortion clinic bombers or soldier funeral protesters. It makes non-Christians think that all Christians are like that. I actually have "friends" who I have known for many years that have distanced themselves from me ever since I started speaking out for Jesus. And I bet it's because they think I'm a narrow-minded, judgmental, hypocrite because that's what the media has taught them about Christians. I really hope they don't air that show, "Good Christian B*****s". Thank you for sharing this with us. You're an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThank you, JE...you are right on about how we are viewed. it is up to us to love people and stop the media by being a voice and presence in our society, communities and world. The show I spoke about has decided to change it's title to "Good Christian Belles." This is a big deal...
ReplyDelete