| Good Morning Everyone, Our theme for this month: “Think for yourself” Our Bible verse for today: “Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.” 2 Timothy 4:9 (NIV) Our thought for today: “Don’t be AWOL” The term “silent majority” is normally used to refer to American citizens who, for the most part, remain silent about important issues. It is said that such people actually constitute the majority of the population and if they could just be mobilized, they would be a powerful force that would reign-in the extremists on both ends of the political spectrum. I personally believe the term is accurate and that there is a large middle group of Americans who are reasonable, logical, and willing to work together with others to arrive at fair solutions that benefit everyone. The problem is that to a large degree the silent majority is, well, they’re silent. They’re busy just living decent lives, raising their families, going to work, and doing the things that need to be done, and they’ve surrendered the national stage to the fringe elements on both the right and left. I think that’s true of the U.S. population in general, but it is also true of Christians in particular. Too many of us are silent when we need to be speaking up. Too many of us are unengaged in the issues of our day when we need to be actively involved. There are multiple reasons for the silence, but a big one is that it’s simply easier and safer to remain silent. Many of us just want to be left alone to enjoy our comfortable lives and we’re content to let others address the difficult issues for us. That’s the equivalent of being AWOL (Absent Without Leave). It’s a military term given to a soldier who has deserted his or her post without permission. The reason the person goes AWOL is usually because they would rather be somewhere else doing something else, instead of being where they’re supposed to be, doing the things they’re supposed to be doing. In 2 Timothy 4:9 the Apostle Paul told the story of a man named Demas who was a fellow worker, but who went AWOL when his help was still needed. And why did Demas leave instead of staying and doing what was needed of him? “Because he loved the world”. In other words, he was seeking ease and comfort at the expense of the important ministry work that still needed to be accomplished. Thinking for yourself can be hard work. It certainly requires extra effort, as opposed to simply letting other people tell you what to think. And then, acting on your convictions is harder still. It’s so much easier to let others be the ones to speak up and to take action. I encourage you to not be AWOL. Don’t be part of the silent majority of Christians who are absent when they should be present, and who are quiet when they should speak up. Your voice is needed, and so is your help. God Bless, Pastor Jim |
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