THE SECULAR ASSAULT

CHRISTIANS SEEM TO BE FAIR GAME 
We are at a point where Christian beliefs and values are considered fair game for ridicule and criticism from many elements of the secular world.  Much of this trend is agenda driven by the poisonous drivel that is political correctness and socialist ideology. Unfortunately, in many cases instead of confronting the secular world and and it's progressive effort to neutralize faith there seems to be a good deal of apathy.

THE DAILY ASSAULT
We are assaulted daily by a technological stream of drek that has dulled our sensitivity to the immoral, the violent and even the criminal acts in our society.  Not much shocks us anymore. There is a sense of, oh well, nothing I can do about it.  That's where the bad guy is getting a strong foothold.  It's a slow, insidious form of evil creeping into our lives and before we know it, we've gone over to the dark side thinking it's the normal way of life. You can see it in all aspects of daily life.  Schools, books, movies, TV and music for starters.   Then there is Big Brother Government where secularism has become their god of power and greed.  You get to feeling that you are the only one left that cares. 


So, just how do we stomp this beastie back into it's hole so it will wither away? You know very well where to start.   The remedy starts within you, guided by the Holy Spirit.


JUST FOLLOW YOUR ORDERS!
In "The Great Commission", Jesus commanded the disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20) In other words we are to ALL be evangelists!  Now that means different things to different people and different denominations.  


CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS OR EXTREMISTS?
The secular media  portrays evangelists as crazed zealots running around screaming scripture at people and forcing "radical" puritanical life styles on the public.  Now I find those who share their faith by making what is known in the business world as "cold calls" and knocking on doors to share the Word of God well intentioned.  No doubt, they are  walking the walk as they see it.  However, in many cases, in your face evangelism, can be counter productive and in some cases even push people away from coming to know Jesus.


YOU CAN'T FORCE FEED THE GOSPEL!
From my personal experience, in my younger (stupid) days, I lived in an area where I shared a driveway with three other neighbors.  A beautiful spot in the north woods with lots of tall pine trees and a small river running through the front yard.  Occasionally, a man would pull into the driveway, pass the other houses and stop at my door with his young son.  When I opened the door, the young lad would read me scripture and the father would hand me a religious tract and discuss scripture.  I would listen politely and promptly deposit the tract in the garbage can before they had left the driveway.  I often wondered why they would not stop at the neighbors.  I felt I was being force fed scripture even though it was well meant.  I didn't know, at the time, they were fulfilling their obligation to the Lord to "make disciples of all nations." My Christian walk had not really started back then. One day I was in the garage when they pulled into the driveway and headed for my door.  I was working on my motorcycle, with a nice pyramid of empty beer cans near me with what was, I suppose, the worst form of rock music of the  time blasting away.  Needless to say, we did not share anything that day and I never saw them again. Their approach pushed me farther from God. I did not want to be force fed scripture and it also sent me the message that apparently I was no longer the type of person they wanted to share God's word with. I found Christ on my own, after having the seeds planted in my youth by a loving Grandmother who encouraged me to pray, and read the Bible, and The Upper Room.  It didn't take back then but there came a time of searching and it all went back to the example she set for me by planting the seeds of faith.


"PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERYONE.  BUT, TRY NOT TO USE WORDS."
That quote jumped out at me while listening, I believe, to Ravi Zacharias. I didn't hear if it was his quote or if it was from another source but it was powerful. That quote just nails it.  Be a living example by the way you live your life and how you treat and serve those around you!  You will be planting the seeds of the Gospel and gaining the trust of the people you are trying to reach.  Once you gain the trust and confidence in others, the door opens to actually sharing God's word. People will want some of that "living water" that Jesus gives us.  There is no more powerful tool to counter the secular assault  we face everyday than to be a living example of the teaching of Jesus Christ. A big order indeed, and I'm not sure I measure up to it. But, remember, God is there to help us accomplish things we never thought we could do.  And, maybe we just might have to force ourselves out of that cozy, safe little comfort zone.