Stand Up

If God sent His Son to save the world from itself… and if He died in order to give life… and if He left creation in our hands to ensure that everything points to Him… then why has this place become rotten with selfishness?  I’m sure we could point fingers and blame everyone else, but what have you done to show someone what living like Christ actually means?  Just telling somebody about Jesus isn’t enough.  You’ve got to live it and get your hands dirty.

Civilization has flourished because of the spread of God’s sacrifice.  The United States of America was founded in order that people could freely worship God and live under His big sky with no condemnation from people just like themselves.  Now… we sit here in our easy chair and shout at the Television when we see children, adults, and leaders being persecuted for wanting to live a righteous life.  We see people just like you and me who are afraid to speak up about morals, ethics, and Christian fundamentals in fear of losing a job, being shunned by their peers, or ridiculed for thier conservative views.

God left it up to us to spread good news, hope, joy, and happiness in Him.  So why are Chrisitians sitting in a dark corner, pointing fingers, and shouting at a TV?  Go do something about it.  Going to church on Sunday and saying amen when the preacher makes a point about living for Jesus… isn’t enough.  Complaining to your small group of friends about how your community is going to hell in a handbasket… is wasted breath.  Faith requires action.  What are you doing about it?

Accepting Christ’s leadership in your life demands a transformation… there is no option.  Being a follower indicates that you are behind something and doing what the leader does.  If you say you follow Jesus… you need to check and see where He goes and what He does.  Doing your own thing and hiding behind the mask of Christianity is in total contradiction to the teaching of Christ.  Being a good person and not talking bad about people hasn’t met the needs of anyone but yourself.

Don’t waste your time protesting and yelling at people… go do something about it.  Making a poster, walking around in a circles and picketing isn’t the answer.  I’m not sure I’ve read the parable about the picket line yet.  Christ walked past the protesters… reached into the heart of the problem and made it personal.

The suggestion here is to Live Bold by standing up and geting busy.  Understand that you can’t earn salvation… you have to accept it.  When you accept Jesus Christ’s leadership in your life, then you are agreeing to follow Him and His ways.  You need to be aware that sitting on that doorstep that Jesus Christ walked over to go to the other side… is just the starting point.  The Messiah left this world in our hands to do what He did.  He didn’t leave it in the hands of evil… but it sure seems we’ve made a valid effort to hand it over.

If Jesus Christ, God the Father, and Holy Spriti didn’t think you could help all of creation point to Him… then He wouldn’t have left it in your hands to carry on.  You say you believe in Jesus Christ… that’s great… but it’s not enough.  Evil believes in Jesus Christ as well.. and shakes at the mere mention of His name.  We are embraced by his arm like a father embraces a son.  We are given the keys to creation to make it right in His eyes… not our own.  We are given the burden to meet the needs of those around us who have been kicked in the teeth by evil and misfortune.  What are you going to do with the day he gave you?  Stand up and follow Him?  Or sit in your chair and yell at the TV?  Your choice.

May you walk in the footprints of Jesus Christ.  Stand up for your faith.  Feed the children, the hungry, and the homeless.  Clothe the poor, the weary, and the downtrodden.  Shelter the rejected, the beaten, and the widows.  The world is tough… it demanded the life of Christ in order to be saved.  Therefore it should demand no less from each of us.

Peace,
Greg Arnold
Acts 4:31

About

Welcome, and thanks for dragging yourself over to Live|Bold! My name is Greg Arnold and I am pumped to see you here. This interactive online community is here to point every man toward the cross. Whether you have been a follower of Christ for ages, or you are just stumbling into this strange new world of faith, we have something of value to offer you. This online e-zine is a cross between a blog, a social network, a resource center, and a pulpit. My hope is to inspire you to live your faith on the outside and be a real man for God. We need you in the fight.