Irrelevant Majority

I found a stirring speech posted by an old college friend on FaceBook.  Please click on the link to view it.

Unusual Answer from Panelist Receives Standing Ovation at Benghazi Coalition Meeting | CNS News

This was a panel discussion about the government's response to terrorism in the United States.  I loved the speech given by Brigitte Gabriel.  It was a healthy reminder about the events in history.  The student was trying to make the point that the terrorists are but a small percentage of radicals, and not the peaceful majority of Muslims in the world.  Ms. Gabriel pointed out that over and over in history, the peaceful majority were overpowered by the radical minority.  It happened in Germany with the Nazi party.  It happened in Russia.  It happened in China.  It happened in Japan.  It happened right here in the United States.  Even though the majority of the people were peaceful, they were not effective in stopping the radicals from massive killing.  The majority was irrelevant.

Graduation

Graduation.  This is a moment of life that brings many mixed feelings for all involved.  This is the time of transition for the child who finds himself graduated from high school, facing life as an adult.  Kids long for the day they no longer have to go to school.  Life ahead seems golden.  Parents face the challenge of the empty nest.  While facing uncertainty is inevitable, most people look forward to graduation as a sense of completion.  My own son graduated last year from high school and next year, will graduate simultaneously from the local community college and the Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) program at our church, preparing for some type of full-time ministry.

The Last will be First

Bear with me, as this post is going to seem a little narcissistic at first.  

Last night, I was talking with some friends from church about each other's careers, and what each of us do (or did) as a job.  My job came up, and during the course of the conversation, the others became impressed with what I do for a living.  I usually try to make light of this, by saying, "I coordinate the special education programs for the area," or "I work with special education teachers."  In reality, my job could be defined as a CEO of a medium sized corporation.  We employ around 450 teachers, teaching assistants and support staff to serve the needs of around 3,100 students with individualized education programs (IEPs) across 13 school districts in central Illinois.  Our operating budget is around $26,000,000.  

Impressed yet?  You shouldn't be.  I can be replaced.  

You see, lately I am finding that what may be impressive to the world is not impressive to God.  I spent so much time climbing a "corporate ladder" in public education, that I lost sight of what is really important.  

The things that Jesus valued were humility, mercy, and grace.  He was not impressed with successes that society promotes.  He instead noticed the meek and poor.  He noticed the children.  

But many who are greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. (Matthew 19:30)

It seems like Jesus was telling us that God was telling us to "get over ourselves."

So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last. 

(Matthew 20:16 NLT)

Some days I think I will be last in the Kingdom of Heaven.  There are many more worthy in God's eyes to go before me.  That's OK.

It was never about me.

Rebellion or Responsibility?

Luke prepares to fight the evil Emperor 

I know... two posts about Star Wars in a row!  Bear with me.  I'm a huge fan.

This morning in my Bible study, I was struck by some actions taken by disciples after the ascension of Jesus.  In the book of Acts, we read about Peter refusing to obey the commands of religious leaders, and then being thrown in jail.  We are taught as Christians to obey the laws of our land.  When is it ever okay to refuse?  Was Peter wrong to disobey?  Consider the law they disobeyed: they continued to teach in the name of Jesus, even after being warned.

This made me remember about Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  They refused to obey the king's order to worship the gold statue.  They were ordered to go into a fiery furnace as punishment for this disobedience.  But, God protected them.  Why? After all, they broke the law.

The movie series Star Wars portrays many people disobeying the laws set by the evil galactic empire.  When we learn how evil the emperor is, we then acknowledge that the laws set by him were not laws to obey.  We then take the side of the rebels.  When the laws of the government in control contradict the actions of believers to share the gospel and worship the one true God, we have a responsibility to obey our God.  This means we may be disobeying the law(s) of our government.  The Bible warns us that in the end times, we will be martyred for refusing to obey laws that require us to renounce our Lord and savior.

It is important to know our leaders and know the laws they put into action.  We are held responsible for upholding those laws.  Be careful to know who we are voting to put into power.  There may come a time that those in power will seek to limit our ability to proclaim the gospel.  Will we be ready?

"So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.  And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for Him.  With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News." ~2Timothy 1:8 NLT