Who Are We? Does others know who we are?
Who are we? Are we a Lion or a Wimp?
A lion’s most common traits are majesty, strength, courage, justice, and military might; commonly rereferred to as “the KING of the beasts,” it is a symbol of Kingly power and might. The lion is also referred to as Jesus, the Lion of Judah who has triumphed. Jesus has triumphed over temptation and sin, over pain and suffering, over fear, over death and even over the Devil himself. Jesus is the Lion who retreats before nothing!
A wimp is a weak and cowardly, unadventurous person who fails to
do something because of fear of others or lack of courage, strength, and justice.
It is said that a wimp is a person who is afraid of his own shadow; one who retreats at the sense of danger, trouble, or hurting someone else’s feelings, even if he knows better.
This is a personal heart to heart message to my fellow Christian friends:
I recently read a survey from the Pew Research Center that says people in Louisiana claim to be Christians – Evangelical Protestant (27%), Catholic (26%), Black Protestant (22%), Mainline Christian (8%), and nothing-in-particular Christian (10%) for a total of 93% Christian in Louisiana. [This could probably be true of Texas, and some other southern states as well].
I wasn’t in the top of my class nor one of the brightest students in my math classes in high school or college, but I think my calculations are close to right – a majority of people in Louisiana claim to be Christian.
Then why do we cower down to five percent of minorities (atheist 2%, agnostic 2% and Muslim 1%)? Why have we stopped using “Merry Christmas.” And are now using the more “politically correct” greeting “Happy Holidays”?
Why have we stopped putting manger scenes on our town squares? Why do we not say, “Thank you and God bless you” with a store clerk or waitress anymore? Why do we not witness our beliefs to people who are evidently not followers of Christ? Who are we? Do we have an identity crisis in this country?
I think the reason, I believe, is that we Christians want to be “good guys,” want to wear the “white hats.” We want to be politically correct.
It is Christian nature to treat people with respect. We want to follow the model given in the Bible: “Be kind and compassionate…”[1] , “Show proper respect to everyone…”[2] Peter also says, “…all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing…”[3]
As a Christian I am bound to be respectful to all people – atheist, agnostic, Muslim, and/or any other person of other religious beliefs. I have some good Jewish friends, some good atheist, and agnostic friends. I love them and respect them for who they are. That is who I am because of whose I am. I am a follower of Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, who I am because of whose I am, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I am bound to acknowledge Him (Jesus Christ) before men (before fellow Christians, atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Jewish and others). Jesus said this himself, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will be disown him before my Father in heaven.”[4]
As a Christian, I love atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Jews, and other people created by my Father in heaven. I respect them because they deserve respect. I am kind and compassionate to them because they deserve kindness and compassion.
However, I am not to disown my own belief in the Lord Jesus Christ just to appease others. I am bound to acknowledge Him before men (atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Jewish) as a witness to my own belief.
By doing so, I am not bringing disrespect to others who believe what I believe. I believe it is time for Christians (93% in Louisiana) to stand up for what we believe in – respectfully, compassionately, and lovingly, but to stand up for Christian principles and Christian customs.
In fact, we have been given a commission (the Great Commission) from the Lord himself, to “Therefore 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, and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”[5]
As a Christian I am to follow the leadings of the One who came to earth, suffered and died for my sins – Jesus Christ. I am not to follow the “political correctness” of a fallen and evil world. When I received Jesus as my Savior and Lord, I made a commitment to Him and to myself to follow His will, as He followed the will of His Father. I made a commitment to say who I am and whose I am from that day forward.
I haven’t always been as diligent as I should have been to keep that commitment, but I believe I have a obligation to the One who saved me to admit that I am whose I am – a Christian.
I will share my testimony with any who will listen, in the kindest and most compassionate way I can; in a most respectful spirit to them, but I must follow the command of my Lord and Savior. I must share with the world who I am and whose I am.
If you are a Christian, by all means let the world know who you are.
Say, “Thank you and God bless you;” say “Merry Christmas” to those you come into contact with. If they don’t like it, they can lump it. God has a way to use our testimony in ways we can never even imagine. Just
stand up for who you are – a child of God. Tell the world about it!
That’s my take on this. Who are we? Let our friends know who we are!
[1] Ephesians 4:32
[2] 1 Peter 2:17
[3] 1 Peter 3:8-9
[4] Matthew 10:32
[5] Matthew 28:19-20