Merry Christmas

 J. B. Shurk has an essay at the American Thinker today that seems appropos of Christmas Eve entitled Rebels for Christ. He points out that too often tyrants make unjust laws that we accept because we are afraid. But what we should really do is obey God's laws, which means being a rebel for Christ.

An unjust law is no law at all, and the more that injustice becomes the law of the land, the more likely that chaos comes, too. Why? Because injustice begets more injustice. Most humans have an antenna that can distinguish right from wrong, but most humans also ignore this antenna to their detriment. It is far easier to accept the world as it is — even when it is drenched in depravity — than to rebel against majority opinion. It is far safer to stay silent in the sight of outrageous sin than to stand alone and say, “This is wrong.” As everyday wrongs pile up high, though, human antennae — even ones that have gone unused for too long — begin to twitch uncontrollably. Why are so many people today afflicted by sadness? Because sins are a heavy burden to carry. The mountains of evil rising in our world torment every soul. And only by actively fighting the resulting chaos can we hope to one day find salvation.

That idea — that the struggle against evil is worth any cost — is easier said than done. How can the actions of any one person make any meaningful difference? As Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it seems more logical to ask: how can any person dedicated to making a difference ultimately not succeed? Christ came to Earth to seed a message of hope and redemption and died for our sins. His disciples spread that message across the world, suffering torture and death, so that we might live. Christians have been persecuted, imprisoned, and slaughtered ever since, so that we might be saved. Next to their sacrifices, our hardships pale.

I admit that there is a rebellious streak in me. I am fond of rule-breakers who stand unafraid against evil. Rebellion for rebellion’s sake can be just as detrimental as injustice. Yet rebellion against injustice so that one may remain obedient to God is surely righteous. And when you say it out loud in that way — will you choose man’s laws or God’s? — the answer is obvious. So, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for God’s devout and indefatigable troublemakers.

Shurk writes about some real rebels for Christ who print and smuggle Bibles into countries where it is illegal to have them, where Christianity is illegal as well. These people perform God's work against the most evil of tyrannical laws. He talks about the hair-raising adventures of people who smuggled Bibles into the Soviet Union, who still smuggle them into Red China and various Muslim tyrannies. I have several Bibles to choose from every day, not to mention sites like Bible Hub to read different translations. We have an abundance of riches, but these people have to worship in secret at great risk of life. Sometimes it seems as if these countries are monolithic, but there are a lot of people who believe. They are the cells of yeast that keeps leavening the Bread of Life. No matter what the Evil One tries to do to suppress it, His Word has gone out to all nations and cannot be silenced. Christ has already won, this is just the mop up operation.

You never know when your seemingly mundane words or actions might light a flame of courage in someone else. You do not know how your good example might affect another’s future. So speak bravely and live your life as if curious eyes are constantly watching. Be a person of both gentleness and authority. Be one of God’s valiant ambassadors. Be fearless, while others quiver. Be rebellious against injustice and defiant against evil. And remember this: no matter what tyrant rises or what iniquity spreads, God’s faithful children have nothing to dread.

I have been working very hard to be more trusting, to realize that wherever I am, it is where the Holy Spirit has placed me, and I have a job to do there. I am not called to be an international spy, more power to them though. I often have no idea what I am supposed to do, but one thing I know is that I must attempt to fearlessly tell the truth. One never knows when something one says might inspire another. Please read Shurk's inspiring piece, and please, have a Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Our Savior.