Behind Closed Doors

    The early fathers of the our wonderful country pledged their lives and their sacred honor for the establishment of America. And sure enough it is a well documented fact it cost them their lives, either financially, emotionally, or physically. But it increased their honor. They were willing to step out so that others might live in the freedom and liberty that few enjoy any where else in the world. Since it is the 4th of July I would like to thank them.
      In doing so I am reminded of another set of heroes that I would like to thank and that would be our Christian forefathers. The ones who were not afraid to publicly stand up and let Christ be honored in their daily lives. Something that is not being done in America. American Christians are mostly holed up inside our churches. Something I am sure our forefathers would not find honorable.
     Lets go back to the days of persecution in Rome. There was a time period where if you did not call attention to yourself you could be a Christian. Then there were times when Christians were hunted down and killed. In both cases you kept being a Christian a secret. You did not talk to your neighbor about Christ. You went to Church and kept it all to yourself. You did not dare speak of Jesus in your work place nor did your kids at their school. You learned to fit in, look and act like everyone else. Is this sounding familiar? What practices do we do that is different from the rest of America? I mean publicly? If we put  cameras on a 1000 Christians and a 1000 pagans and let them roll, what difference would the footage show?
    Remember the days when kids would carry around Bibles? I do. I had one kid walk in my class last year carrying  a Bible. He would read it too. Yeah, he was interested in the Bible!! It reminded me of the "Jesus Movement" days. It was cool and acceptable to not only know Jesus but to talk, walk, wear clothing and sing songs about Him publicly. When was the last time you hear the name of Jesus on the lips any public figure? Or better the last time you talked in a public place about Jesus? Its not cool. Its been driven from the public place to the private dens of secret worship.
     Is the church being persecuted? You can boil a frog by slowly turning up the heat. I really don't know if myth Busters have done that one yet. Anyway, Christians have had slow persecution. Persecution heat being turned up slowly for the last forty or so years. We are being boiled and we don't know it.
      If salt losses it savor it is good for nothing but to be thrown under the foot of man and trampled!! Is Christianity being trampled? If it is, it is our fault because we have lost our savor. 
      Lets get back our sacred honor and pledge to come out from hiding. Voicing ones position or physically helping or stopping or stepping aside to help or whatever can lead to breaking out of our prison. Remember we don't think we are imprisoned. Just carry around a Bible one day and see how free you are. 
      A good way to celebrate the fourth is to give honor to the right and privilege we have to worship God. Lets pay honor to our forefathers and worship publicly.