Who Do You Serve?
Where is your faith placed? Is it in man?
History and current events should help you conclude that will never be the best idea.
Or is it in Jesus Christ?
I hope this is your answer.
They say history repeats itself, and in many ways this is true. Unfortunately in the past year, we have seen how our culture thrives and grows on one’s fear. It becomes a monster or a “pandemic” in itself. This is not a new idea. Many major events in history have fed on the fear of the people.
If you do a quick Google search, you will find quite a bit of information on COVID-19 restrictions for churches and places of worship.
Recently, a video surfaced of a pastor in Canada demanding police and health officials remove themselves from his church’s property on Easter. Many religious leaders in the United States, Canada, Chile, and all over the world have been arrested for defying the law.
Bob Russell recently wrote an article entitled, “Obey God, Not Man” (which can be found here) discussing the issue.
While myself, Pastor Russell, nor Pastor Coates are encouraging you to blatantly disregard any law, I am encouraging you to speak out and live for Christ. As Christians, we are commanded Biblically to obey the government (Romans 13:1-2), but greater than this, we are called to obey the Lord (Acts 5:29).
Now, look aside from COVID restrictions, and look deeper into religious persecution, and you will find gruesome and dark situations happening in the world right now.
Most recently, we have learned about the Muslim Uighurs in China and their mistreatment, which has been deemed by the U.S. as a genocide. We also know of the atrocities occurring to Christians in China, India, Syria, Nigeria, and countless other countries because they love Jesus.
When I read stories of these persecutions, I feel guilty.
In college, for my biology degree, I had to take an upper-level evolution course. Thankfully, it did not consist totally of the study of evolution; however, one class session was dedicated to creationism and evolution. Many of my fellow classmates, and even my professor, knew of my beliefs, but during the discussion, I did not engage in the debate. I have made plenty of excuses for myself over the years, citing the personalities of some of my classmates, my own personality, my fellow Christian classmate’s ability to do all the talking, as well as “they already knew my views.” I have asked God for forgiveness on this matter, and know I have received it, but I still feel shame at times when I think about it.
If I could not speak up in a classroom for God, would I be able to do so in a more hostile situation? I pray the outcome would be different now, as I have grown older in age and more mature in my faith. I pray I would stand up for my God because “those who stand for nothing will fall for anything.”
This message is not one of despair, but of hope and to encourage you to be bold. We have hope in our Lord Jesus! This is not a time for pity and cowardice, but the time we stand up for our beliefs and our fellow Christians.
Martin Niemöller, a German Protestant pastor during World War II, and prisoner for seven years in a concentration camp for his opposition to Adolf Hitler, wrote a now well-now poem entitled,
“First They Came . . .”:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Use your voice and your life to show the world whom you serve. Ultimately my life is not defined by man, but by God. I will choose to stand for Him.
Pray for those who are being persecuted, use your voice to help educate others. Live your life in a way where there is no question of whom you serve. Love, pray, serve, and give to show others what your Jesus is about. Love is an action. So start living it out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Whitney can be described by the opening lyrics of a few Tom Petty songs. She's a good girl who grew up in a small Indiana town who loves her mama, Jesus, and America too. She practices medicine as a physician assistant at an urgent care. Whitney is a music enthusiast and leads worship at her church. She has a heart for people, and wants to help young girls and women find their worth in Christ rather than what the world says of them. Whitney loves a good dad joke, the outdoors, spending time with family and friends, Southern manners, working on her fitness, attempting Pinterest crafts, and cheering on Indiana University basketball.