I had a conversation with a friend last night. And it got me to thinking.
I am very passionate about what I believe. I am passionate about being a good wife and a good mother, so that's why I have a channel that has different topics like raising kids, being a good wife, being a good mother, homeschooling, etc. I am passionate about playing the piano. That's why I am trying to pass on my knowledge to the next generation, especially in the area of church music. I am very passionate about my church, my church family, and those that I love. That's why I will be in church every time the doors are open, I will pray for you, and many of my friendships will last until death.
In the last couple of months, we have seen unprecedented action taken by our government. And I have been a voice against it, since day one. I have come across very passionate about it, and if you agree with my position, then you have appreciated it. If you don't agree with my position, then I have annoyed you. I know many people are just sick of it already, and wish I would shut up. But I can't, and I won't.
I grew up reading and hearing about Daniel. Daniel took a stand "against" his evil government, when they were telling him to do something that wasn't "immoral or wicked", it just went against what he knew was right. "Just stop praying," they said. "That's all. Stop praying." Instead of stopping, finding some place in secret to pray, or quietly going about his day, Daniel continued to pray as he had- in plain sight of the ones commanding him to stop. For this, he faced death. For praying!!! Yet it was a battle he picked, and a hill he was ready to die on. Our government hasn't told us to do anything immoral, but they are keeping us from doing what's right. Assembling together. Soulwinning. Fellowshipping with likeminded believers. Can you imagine the thousands across the nation that haven't heard the gospel the last couple of months because the government told us we couldn't go preach, and we had to stay home? Let that sink in a little bit.
I grew up reading and hearing about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They went "against" their evil government when it told them to worship the image. Now, this was wrong, and it went against what God had commanded them, "Thou shalt have none other gods before me." They knew it was wrong, and they decided it was a battle they were going to fight. They stood up against their wicked government- three men in a sea of thousands upon thousands that were bowing, and they were thrown into the fiery furnace for their stand. Now, we don't have a huge image that we are being commanded to bow before today, but our gods in America are different. What are some of these gods? Money. Health. Life. The government has used one of the biggest ones to keep us compliant. "This disease can kill you! Stay home!" I have seen it commented everywhere- "It's better to stay healthy and lose everything, than to die." No, it's not! There are some things worth fighting for, and I believe basic human rights are among the list. Daniel didn't have the attitude of, "It's better to be safe, than to die." Neither did the three men I mentioned above. They knew that some things were worth dying for. And I agree.
When the government kills thousands upon thousands of babies a year, we live under a wicked government. When they declare certain sins as completely moral and acceptable, we live under a wicked government. When they tell us we can't move around freely, we have to stay sheltered, we can't have church, we can't go tell others how to go to heaven, and they start handing out punishments for those very things, we live under a wicked government. In I Timothy, it tells us to pray for our leaders- For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. When we live under a wicked government, we won't be able to live a quiet and peaceable life. And when they start taking away the godly and honest things from Christians, it's time for us to let our voices be heard.
I have been told, "God is in control. This is something that is out of our control, so we need to just go along with it." I completely disagree. Not with the God is in control part, but with the going along with it part. Did Daniel have that mindset? NO. Did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have that mindset? NO. All through the Bible, we see people taking stands against evil government. The midwives when Pharaoh told them to kill the Israelite babies. Daniel. Esther. The three men in the fiery furnace. Elijah. Moses. Naboth with his vineyard. Nathan withstood David to the face when he had done evil.
I grew up with the stories, and they are engrained in my heart. I have always wanted to be a "Daniel". I remember praying for opportunities where I could show my faith. That passion is in my heart, and it's what's driven me to be a better Christian, a better mom, a better wife, a better soulwinner.
We are now in the midst of one of the biggest government takeovers in history. They have shut down churches. They have told us to stay home. They restrict travel. NOW is the time when Christians need to let their voices be heard. Have they done anything wrong or immoral? Not in this exact situation, but they are keeping us from doing that which is good. And right. And also, they are keeping us from doing what the Bible has commanded. Meeting together. Going into the world and giving the gospel. At the beginning of this, pastors just didn't know. Did they need to watch for the safety of their flock? So they played it safe, and sometimes, you need to show caution. But as the weeks go by, and the data comes out, the evidence is right there. We were lied to. The projections were wrong. This is not going to kill millions and millions of people. They shut down America and took away Constitutional rights for an illness akin to the seasonal flu. I am not making light of even one death that has happened because of Covid. I don't think it is a hoax, and I know people are dying from it. However, death has always been around, and will always be around. Our Constitutional and God given rights don't need to be suspended every time there is a new virus or flu going around. Physicians and those working in the medical field are realizing this, and they are speaking out. Don't you think it's time the Christians joined them? And this is just my belief, but even if the threat of this illness was what they said, do we still let that stop us from doing what we know is right and good? Daniel knew the price of praying. His life. So did the three men thrown into the furnace. Yet they stood unwavering in the face of opposition. For me, church is essential, and if I get a virus while doing what I know God wants me to do, then it was worth it.
I know many of you are rolling your eyes as you read this. But for me, words are all I have to fight this battle. And so I will. Because I am passionate about it, and I believe it's worth fighting for. Words are powerful. Words have a way of changing someone's mind, and viewpoint. If words weren't important, why would I go out and show people how to be saved, using my words, and God's Words? Why would I believe in the power of preaching? Words are a powerful tool. So, until more people rise up and say, "Enough is enough", and more Christians wake up, I will continue to write and plead my cause.
THIS is our time to be a Daniel. It's our time to shine in a world gone mad. It's our time to make a difference when everyone just seems to be going along with the status quo. It's our time to speak against the tyranny of the government. I am not ready to give up on America yet. People that I love still need the gospel. I am not ready to let it all burn. Yes, God is in control, but God also needs his people to take action. The key is having balance. Knowing when this is something out of your control, and knowing when it's time to stand. This isn't something out of our control. We still have God given rights that many law enforcement officers are upholding throughout the land. We still have the ability to stand against this, to let our voices be heard. We still have the ability to open our churches and stand on our Biblical and Constitutional rights. Having church isn't a right given to us by our government. It's something that God told us to do. If it was a governmental right, then people wouldn't be meeting in private in countries where the government has outlawed it. If we open our churches and get arrested, so be it. That didn't phase Daniel. And it sure doesn't phase me.
For such a time as this.