"You're taking this too far..." from Passive to Passion

I was talking to a friend of mine recently discussing the recent ethical problems with our government and its effect on society. He jokingly remarked that I was "taking this too far" and implied that I needed to calm down. After laughing it off we began to talk about how alot of people seriously feel that once you become passionate about the issues of society, especially those dealing with our government, getting too involved is equated with going beyond your bounds. Well the problem with that mentality is that too many sit back and watch situations occur without speaking up and letting their voice be heard. We have to understand that as a people trusting in God, we can effect change in this world. Jesus said it like this in John 17:14-18:

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou has sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

From this passage of scripture, we get the popular phrase "We are in the world, but we're not of the world."
This popular aphorism indicates that though the Christians are not of the world or rather, not controlled or bound to the vices and deviancy of the culture, they still dwell in this "dark" world as lights of a better existence, and as Christians we should be involved in seeing that society discontinues its acts of degradation and decadence. The way to get involved is to speak up and speak against the immorality of society and the unethical abuses from the government and the policies they inflict. Remember we are still dealing with "wickedness in high places". As Christians we can, in addition to prayer and fasting, vote representatives in that share our moral convictions. We can become knowledgable of the issues that affect this country and spread the facts to those who may be otherwise misinformed. This is not a time for passivity!

One definition of being passive is described as "not actively taking part, tending not to participate and usually letting others make decisions."

• No longer can we allow others to tell us how we should think or make decisions for us and our community while we sit in ignorance. Ignorance kills, and we cannot be nonchalant concerning the direction of this nation. Do you not understand that abortion is on the increase and that Planned Parenthood targets minorities? Do you not understand that the LGBT agenda has recently allowed gays to serve openly in the military? Do you not understand that some governmental policies are put in place to make people permanent victims and forever needing "daddy government" to help them out? Its time to wake up, do the research and get involved in the direction of this nation.

Another definition is "tending to submit or obey without arguing or resisting."

• Listen this is not Star Trek Voyager and resistance is not futile! So often we have a "whatever happens happen" mentality and what ends up happening are laws that are passed that goes contrary to the Word of God, or representatives placed in government that hold no moral convictions whatsoever! What's ironic is that people of the non-Christian community doesn't take things lying down. They speak up, and it has cost us dearly. They spoke up and prayer was taken out of schools. They spoke up and the Ten Commandments were removed from courthouses. They spoke up and Christmas is being attacked, even going as far as having business owners remove THEIR Christmans decorations from the store because it "offends" non-Christians. They spoke up and same-sex marriages are taking place.
• Now these are non-Christians, the "uncircumsized"-those that are not in covenant with God, and this is the chaos they are creating. What if the Christians spoke up? What if those that have God backing them up stood up and reminded this nation of its moral accountability to God. What if?! I believe God is yet looking for somebody to speak up! He says its time to "cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgressions, and...their sins, until judgement run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!"

We cannot settle for lethargy and indifference. We must become passionate concerning the moral decay of our nation and do what we can to make a difference. When considering the lassitude that plagues this generation I often recall the passage of Isaiah 51:21-52:1-2 where is says:

Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine: Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou has laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over. Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city...Shake thyself from the dust; arise...loose thyself from the bands of thy neck

Here in this passage of scripture the Israelites had been oppressed and afflicted for long time. Now God is letting them know that he's going to take the anxiety away and place it into the hand or hearts of their tormentors. In this passage we get a visual of their oppressors demanding that they bow down themselves to the ground, an order the Israelites obey. But God calls them out of their position of apathy and commands that they take action and do something about their circumstance. The same applies today. We must put on our strength, trust in God, and do our part in uplifting this society out of depravity and deterioration and into holiness and virtue and if someone tells you "you're taking this too far", tell them "I haven't taken it far enough!" I'm taking this to every ear that will listen, to the voting boothes come election time, and to the very throne of God in prayer. I can't afford to be passive; my passion won't allow it.

Righteousness exalts a nation, and sin is a reproach to any people. Get concerned.