SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

   Christians across America have been too silent too long.
   We hide behind computer monitors and television screens, then click to go or turn the channel.
   We are afraid to speak, afraid to do, afraid to exercise our freedom of speech, and perhaps afraid that we will lose friends on Facebook, or on some other social network, where we want to remain popular and liked among the people that know us best.  Therefore we sit on our hands and muzzle our voices---afraid to speak up for that which is right, and afraid to speak against that which is wrong.
   Perhaps we prefer to keep our polished images polished---our shirts starched, our shoes shined, and careful not to play in the dirt.
   Even on Facebook, we like for people to click "like" when we display pictures of our pets, pictures of vacations on sandy beaches, and pictures of ourselves looking at ourselves in mirrors.  But if we dare to speak a word for Christ, or dare to speak a word about crooked politicians, we fear the glares we will receive on the other side of the monitor---thereby choosing to remain politically correct by choosing to remain silent. 
   As Christians, we fear the arrows in our backs if we stand up and stand out for Christ, or to be a voice for that which is right.  This is going to happen, however, from among the people who claim to be our friends, but also from people within our own families. 
   Churches, too, have converted pulpits to political platforms by allowing politicians on the campaign trail to stop by and speak a word for Socialism and other worldly agendas, thus revealing the love of congregations for politicians instead of their love for Christ.  This is an abomination, but we don't seem to mind.  After all, what are people to do after the coffee and doughnuts other than turn the music up loud, stomp and shout?  Since congregations are more concerned about what Washington will do for them instead of God, politicians enter therein to light the fire, to get people moving to ballot boxes to vote for the people responsible for dividing our nation instead of moving them to altars to say, "In God We Trust". 
   Christians across America are among the world's most educated people.  We are also among the world's most informed in current events.  But what do we do with our educations and knowledge of current events?  We remain silent.  We hide behind computer monitors and television screens, afraid to move, afraid to do, afraid to run our fingers across the keyboard because we are afraid of what others will think about us, or because our friends and families on Facebook will not "like" us. 
   Have we forgotten?
   Have we forgotten that on the last day of the Lord's life on earth He had to stand alone?  He had to stand alone because his friends hid their faces. 
   Perhaps we should ask:  where are the Lord's friends on Facebook, or on Twitter, or on iPhones?
   Christians across America have been too silent too long.
   Yes, we are going to get some arrows in our backs if we stand up for Christ.
   Yes, our friends and families will turn their faces against us if we stand up for Christ.
   Yes, our friends on Facebook will unfriend us if we stand up for Christ.
   Yes, people on Twitter will stop tweeting if we stand up for Christ.
   But if we will stand up for Christ, the Lord will stand up with us. 
      "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land."  (2nd Chronicles 7: 14)