04/17/07
Filed under:
General
Posted by:
kim @ 2:20 pm
Let me tell you a historical story. I promise there is a point at the end of this lesson. Thomas Jefferson. He is probably best remembered as the third president of the United States, as the author of the Declaration of Independence. Let me tell you a little more about Thomas. He was a slaveholder. This is not surprising as most of our early presidents were slaveholders. What stands out, to me about Jefferson, is that he privately did not agree with the institution of slavery. Although he did his best to keep his slaves together, refusing to sell them, as most slaveholders did, Jefferson, neither fought to end the institution of slavery, nor did he free his own slaves. He was opposed to the system, but he did nothing to see the system end.
What is the point of this? Where is the spiritual significance? I find Jefferson’s story so intriguing because although he privately despised the system of slavery, he for a number of reasons was unwilling to fight to see the system end. I want to discuss two of those reasons. Concerned for his own profits, he could not risk freeing his own slaves. Doing so would disrupt his economic stance. Second, openly speaking out against the system of slavery and calling others to take a stance as well would put the young nation in jeopardy. You see, America had just gained its freedom from the British, and the issue of slavery threatened to divide the newly united country.
Jefferson, we can see then, was unwilling to stand up. I say this because so many times as Christians we are unwilling to take a stand as well. We, like Jefferson, worry about what others will think, we worry about what others might say, we worry about so many things, and so although we silently might think something is wrong, or something is ungodly, we, like Jefferson, do nothing.
I will say, and I won’t apologize for stepping on toes with this one, that by not saying anything, by not taking a stand, by not risking our reputation, our title, our position in life, we are just as bad as those who see nothing wrong with what they are doing. It does not matter what we internally think if we are not willing to externally voice it. Let me be more specific so I make sense. Jefferson was just as bad as those who saw nothing wrong with slavery. He did not agree with the institution, but by not doing anything, he contributed to the continuation of the institution. This can be applied to us as well. If we know someone is going to the clubs, and internally don’t agree with, but because of fear of being made fun of, don’t say anything, we are just like Jefferson. If we know a choir member is fornicating, but because they control who sings the solos’, don’t say anything then we are just like Jefferson. If we know someone is compromising God’s truth, but because we want a title, don’t say anything, then we are just like Jefferson. Now I realize that there are going to be some people who don’t agree with me but let me continue.
We have to be willing to lose out. We have to be willing to take a stand, no matter what the consequences are. Jefferson, unwilling to risk the state of the nation or his own profits refused to take a stand. What are you not willing to lose? In other words, what is it that is preventing you from taking a stand? If we are truly Christians, if we are truly Disciples of Christ, then we have to be willing to do whatever it takes to make sure His gospel remains pure. God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son. The son he had been praying years for. Abraham was obedient. Taking a stand might result in consequences. You might have been praying for years to be a soloist, but you see that the majority of choir members are clubbing. Taking a stand might mean stepping down from the choir until things change. You might have been praying to get accepted to a certain college, but going there might mean attending a church where the pastor tolerates compromise, taking a stand might mean going to your second choice university. You might have just been asked to be part of a ministry. The person in charge is not living right. Taking a stand might mean risking that title you have. There might be consequences to taking a stand, but you have to be willing to lose it all to see God’s gospel remain pure.
Let me say that there are greater consequences for remaining silent. In 1994 in the country of Rwanda a horrible genocide took place. Over 800,000 people were brutally murdered in this tiny country. The horrible thing is that this could have been avoided. Leading nations knew what was going on, but they did nothing. They remained silent. Fearful about taking a stand. Had they stood up, they might have lost favor among some, but they would have contributed to the saving of 800,000 lives. There was a deadly consequence for reaming silent.
Some people are so concerned about title, position, being liked, being accepted, that they are not willing to take a stand. They don’t want to be uncomfortable. They don’t want to be talked about, made fun, criticized. But I want to encourage you that we have to be willing to take a stand.
Is there anyone willing to stand up for the truth? Is there anyone willing to stand up for godliness? Is there anyone willing to stand up for holiness? Is there anyone willing to stand up and say “we can compromise no longer?” Is there anyone willing to stand up and declare “it is not title that we should seek, it is God we need to be after?” I leave you with this question, is there anyone willing to stand?