There are altogether too many people who represent themselves as experts in one or many subjects yet who are not experts at all. They simply say things that others want to hear. Since their audience is already on board with what they have to say, no one will question them no matter how illogical their statements may be. That is, except for those who think differently. Those individuals are ridiculed, made fun of, or simply dismissed as being too dim to understand the wonderful concept that is being put forth.
This is a day when knowledge seems less important. It is, in part, because our schools have focused on social issues instead of teaching students how to think for themselves. Those of us who are older or have been taught by their families the true meanings of right and wrong, seem out of step with the rest of the world.
There are those who are still brave enough to confront false information. I don’t know for how long that will continue. If you step too far out in correcting popular thought, you run the risk of being threatened and having your family hounded or even risk losing your life.
I don’t know how things have gotten so far out of control. I stopped paying attention a few years ago and then, this last year, I opened my eyes up once again. I was shocked to see how rapidly mankind is descending into chaos. How we can applaud the taking of a baby’s life (by its mother) and yet condemn those, because of their religion, that try to help people and raise them from poverty into sustainable life.
Our priorities are skewed. We aren’t truly looking out for one another anymore, that is, if we ever really did so. I think we did. I know that my country went to war to help other countries from being put under the boot of tyranny. The brave soldiers who lost their lives did so to help those who could not help themselves.
Even in our own history, so many young men (and some women) risked their lives to stop slavery. They saw the evil of trying to say that one person can own another and were willing to, and did for many, put their lives on the line.
So, I’m inclined to think that people have, in the past, helped one another and loved those that they didn’t know. They were willing to put their own needs aside and give to those who had even less.
How often does that happen today? There’s at least one individual (on Youtube) who runs around giving money to others. While I applaud the action, the reason behind it is probably not love, it is probably to get “subbies” and “clicks” which means money to the individual. How much, I don’t know. However, it is enough to make me think that their motives are not altruistic.
There are still individuals and churches who do things for others without expecting anything in return. The churches ask their congregants to join in and find the joy of giving (of time and/or resources.) There is so much more joy in giving than in receiving. Though I must admit those who are desperately in need do need to receive more than they give.
I recently talked to someone who told me that they were in too much pain to go out and spend time helping others. I suggested perhaps financial assistance. They told me, rightfully, that because of their physical problems, their finances were tremendously strained. I acknowledged the difficulty of their position and then suggested something that all of us can and should do for others. Pray for them and, if you are able to do so, share with them the love, sacrifice and saving power of Jesus Christ.
There is no reason why we Christ-followers cannot do those things. We are always so hesitant to talk to others and, please, if you say to someone you will pray for them, do it. Don’t talk the talk. You need to walk the walk.
My husband and I find time to pray for people without telling them at all. It isn’t necessary to tell them to hold them up to God and ask him to give them peace, health, even a job. There is no request for something which is good, that God will not listen to. He doesn’t always answer the way we want him to but he does listen and his answer is what is truly needed.
This brings me back to my beginning paragraph. Many Christ-followers are not aware of what the Bible tells us about being a Christian and doing what God has asked us to do. As an overall church, we are lacking in knowledge about the things that we profess to be the greatest and most important part of our lives. Still, many of us hold ourselves out as experts in our religion.
It behooves us to study. We need to read our Bibles. We should find a Bible believing church that truly follows Christ. If we find a problem in our church, take it to the head pastor to solve.
I’ve done so recently. I questioned our pastor (who is Biblical scholar) about a sermon and made a suggestion. I was given an answer of sorts but it may be that I didn’t make clear what my question was really or, perhaps, I need to dwell on his answer and ask God to make it clearer to me. In many ways, it was enough that the pastor did respond and, more importantly, that I got past my reluctance (even some fear) to approach him. In the past, I’ve had the opposite reaction from a pastor of another church.
So, we have to be bolder and, at the same time, we have to become educated in God’s word. The world may consider you ignorant, crazy or stupid. I don’t care what the world thinks about me in this matter. I know that I will one day stand before Jesus on Judgement day. On that day, I don’t want my fear of what others thought of me to have detered me from following Jesus commandment to share his love to others and to spread the good news of salvation throughout the entire world.
2 Timothy 3:10-17
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings — what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.