PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• When it comes to the news, I really like to play ostrich.
Just stick my head in the sand and ignore it.
However, I’m a hypocritical ostrich and will skim news headlines… then ignore them.
I don’t have the energy to invest in it, though I know it’s important.
But this morning, I saw a headline I couldn’t ignore.
California lawmakers have a law on the table that will restrict what Christian pastors and counselors can say, or even what books or literature can be shared.
I have just admitted to being an ostrich so I’m not going to pretend to be fully knowledgeable about this matter but I know enough to say this: if you think for one minute being an American Christian guarantees you freedom of religion or freedom of speech, your head is buried even deeper than mine.
I live in NC, on the other side of the country, but I’m not going to pretend that one state’s laws can’t plant ideas in the heads of my own lawmakers.
We hear of Christians in foreign countries being imprisoned and executed and assume it won’t happen here.
But this proposed law is a first step to removing our Constitutional rights as Christians.
Because a vague generality in this proposed law includes “books.”
It doesn’t specify which titles, but what book is more Christian than our own Holy Bible?!
Don’t think for a moment, if this law passes, that the Bible would be exempt from lawmakers like California Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi who said, “The faith community, like anyone else, needs to evolve with the times.”
Translation: “Anything in the Bible we disagree with needs to go.”
I am absolutely terrified for that man or anyone who thinks they have the authority to re-write God’s Word.
And let’s get away from the law aspect and look at culture.
A Christian baker’s livelihood has been destroyed because he said he didn’t want to bake a cake for a gay wedding.
It has gone all the way to the Supreme Court!
That’s concerning!
Last year, Facebook removed a Christian bloggers post and deactivated her account because she wrote that homosexuality is condemned in the Bible.
They later restored it, but she’s far from the only target.
I’ve been managing social media content and pages for over ten years and I have seen a huge impact in the reach of certain content compared to others.
As a Christian writer, I’ve posted stuff and knew when I posted it, the reach would be minimal.
And I was right.
Facebook denies a bias, but I’ve seen enough to be very mistrustful of that claim.
I say all this to say—we can’t take our faith for granted.
It’s time to stop being passive Christians and become passionate ones who embrace the faith we hold dear!
I admit I’m going to stick my head in the sand over some things, but not this.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
Passiveness and “work enthusiastically” don’t go together.
You work enthusiastically when you’re passionate!
And in James 1:22, it says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
Today, as you pray, give praise to God who is still in control, even when matters like this cause us great concern.
Praise Jesus who gave us warning of what the last days would be like so we can be on guard.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you always be armed and ready, fully equipped in the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Pray for the courage to be a passionate Christian, even when it feels like it’s you against the world.
And thank the Lord that you’re never alone because of Jesus’ promise in Matthew 28:20b, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
One Response
Amen. Satan has tried it all in this country and I believe that persecution-things like this law- will reveal who the true Christians are. We dare not be lackadaisical if we want to endure. Praise God that He is stronger than the forces of evil and that he is always there , fighting for us, when we call on Him and trust Him!