Brave - And My Stand on Moral Issues

This weekend, at Vineyard Community Church, we started a series entitled, "Brave".  It pulls from scripture in the book of Daniel.  We were challenged to be brave in productive ways - not just loud and obnoxious.  A few of you have scratched your heads wondering why in the world I don't take a stronger stand on some of the issues of the day when it comes to politics.  Today, I will attempt to address that as simply and succinctly as I am able.

God has given humanity freedom of choice.  Yes, there are temporal and eternal consequences for these choices, but they are ours to make.  Thankfully, we serve a God who chases us down and provides us the ability to choose Him.  I won't take a lot of time to debate the sovereignty of God - heck, theologians smarter than I have debated these things for generations.  My point is, if God has chosen to give humans freedom of choice, I need to consider the merit in that approach.  Therefore, from a governmental view, I am okay with there being more legal leeway than I am personally comfortable with.

However, please do not mistake my allowance for legality as advice for behavior.  God allows us freedom of choice but He is very clear about the way we should go when we seek His voice/advice in matters.  I strive to follow that pattern.  There is freedom for your choice, but please know that if you come to me, I will voice/advise you in what I believe to be the way of Life.

I have become a bit adverse to debating the issues of the day.  I understand that there is a place for that and, if God ever calls me into politics, I will do my best to enter those debates with wisdom and an educated, prayerful opinion.  I my mind, there is one ultimate question that surpasses them all, "Am I willing to die to myself?"

Personally, I want to be able to answer that question with a resounding, "Yes!"  But most days I cannot.  I want to live.  I want health and comfort while I live. I want friends and social acceptance.  I want bread and ice cream.  :-)  But I know that Jesus said that followers must be willing to "take up your cross" to follow Him.  It is a question I struggle with.  One that I must choose my answer to every single day (and sometimes moment to moment!) It is part of why I love the OT promise that God's mercies are new every morning.  I need them to be!

But what if . . . what if we, as followers of Jesus chose to answer that question with a, "Yes".  How would our lives look different?  Would our responses look different when personally confronted with the tough questions of this generation (or of those past)?  I believe it would. Willingness (or lack there-of) to die to my own desires flavors everything I do.

I almost kept going on that train of though.  I considered giving examples, etc.  But no.  I want you to have those conversations within yourself, with God, and with others.

One last thought.  Maybe we are the light of the world (and the salt!) because our lives bring light, influence, and flavor to the world - not because we have a mag light that can be used to beat others into submission.  I am called to spread the Good News that God is with us.  In following Jesus, I choose to do my best to live in a way that allows the Light and Salt of God to shine through me.  That happens best when I choose to lay down my life . . . my pride . . . my selfish ambition. . . my rights.

I can't do this without you, God.  Be my strength, my hope, my guide, my love.