I recently saw a television interview with a WWII veteran who was weeping over the condition of America and the changes that have been forced upon us without the consent of the American people. Through his tears he proclaimed, “This is not the country we fought for.” Within the same timeframe, I am told of a young woman saying, “Yes ma’am” to the cashier in a local drive-thru window and being rebuked with “How do you know what gender I am?” Of course, the clerk was female. (Mark 10:6: “But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation’”). Next, I am told of a young father “with his family” checking out at a box store and being propositioned by a male store clerk for intimate relations. These were real occurrences that have happened to people I know personally and recently.
I say all this to preface the reality that we have got to get our head out of the sand (i.e., unwilling to recognize or acknowledge a problem or situation); or rather get our head out of the phone. Common sense is defined as “good sense and sound judgment in practical matters;” which has become a dinosaur. Let us not lose this in the training up of our children.
There is an old saying, “Call a spade a spade.” This means to “speak plainly without avoiding unpleasant or embarrassing issues.” John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
Paul says to the Romans:
“With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.”
Romans 9:1-3
To the veteran: “We haven’t thrown in the towel.” To the young girl: “Keep using those manners your parents taught you.” To the young father: “Report him to the manager.” We must choose to confront the craziness with kindness but be transparent and honest. Ephesians 4:32: “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
When we choose to be grieved and saddened over the condition of our culture, we are more effective and surrendered to God’s will in our lives.
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.”
Matthew 5:3-11
The blessings of God far outweigh and outlast the political correctness of this world.
