remember noah and the ark? he was ridiculed, humiliated, and mocked for building a massive boat that would save his family and the animal population inhabiting the world at that time. did he worry about offending anyone? no. he simply did what God commanded him to do. in turn, his entire family was saved and he is an ancestor to everyone on the face of the earth.
skip ahead some years. what about the ancient romans? founders of one of the greatest nations in history. at the start, they cared only for justice, equality, and doing what was right. their nation thrived and reached unparalleled heights for that time in history. political correctness was not an issue. however, much like our nation today, when the decline of morality and the absence of the One True God began to set in, rome met with a tragic ending.
remember martin luther and the 95 theses? he dared to defy the holy roman catholic church by speaking out against their apostasy and destruction of Biblical truths. did he offend people? yes! but now we can all worship freely, in any denomination we choose, because of him and many other men who went against the grain and stood for righteousness.
what about our founding fathers? i can't help but think about how many people they must have offended by deciding to break free from the king of england and his tyranny in order to form a new nation that included liberty and justice for all. they stood for what they knew to be right even though it met with much resistance. lives, fortunes, and reputations were given to begin a nation that would offer hope, and a haven of rest for people around the world. think about how different things would be today if these men and women would have been afraid of offending someone.
yesterday was jackie robinson day. all of the major league baseball players around the country wore the number 42 in honor of his life and legacy. think about the hardship and persecution he endured for refusing to worry about offending anyone or "stepping on anyone's toes", and becoming the first african american man to play major league baseball on a previously all white team. where has that courage gone?
why are we scared to speak our minds? why are we afraid to stand up for what is right? will we be ridiculed? probably. will we be persecuted? more than likely. is it worth the costs? absolutely. heroes have become scarce in our world today. most prefer to cower in the corner, hoping to be inconspicuous and to blend in with the crowd. i prefer to stand out. to stand up for what i believe in and for what i know to be the truth. there are absolutes. there are black and white areas. "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. " may we never lose sight of these principles and never forget the blood that was shed for the enactment of these truths. do not let your voice be taken away. make them hear you.
“It can not be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!”-Patrick Henry
song of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn_iz8z2AGw&feature=related
Wow!!! What a well thought out post. I agree with every word. I think your generation is more conservative than mine and I love that! Eyes are starting to open....
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