An electrician friend of mine worked on union construction sites for over twenty years. The constant standing on concrete floors and climbing ladders took its physical toll on his body, especially on his back. The back pain forced him to take pain pills so he could work each day. Over-the-counter drugs, such as ibuprofen, no longer deadened his pain. He needed Vicodin or other prescription pain relievers.
One Sunday morning, he attended church with his family. The worship singing lasted longer than usual and since he did not take Vicodin on weekends, hoping to protect his stomach and liver from side affects, his back began acting up. The pain became so excruciating, he sat down on his chair.
A person in the row behind him tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around to look at a lady whom he had never met before.
“Jesus bore your sins on the cross. Can’t you at least honor Him by standing up a few minutes during worship service?” she said, glaring into his eyes.
He nodded his head and stood back up.
Why did my friend stand up?
The lady’s condemnation shamed him into doing it. He knew Romans 8:1 and believed the words to be true, but he could not overcome the power of the lady’s condemnation at that precise moment.
Let’s multiply this one uncomfortable situation by a thousand times. Then add in all of the words spoken by almost every Evangelical preacher, school teacher, historian, government leader, news media expert, military member, patriot, and all of our relatives about the importance of Christians participating in politics.
Now, how willing are we to swim upstream against all of these people’s political beliefs and traditions? Probably not so much.
But let’s be honest, what we have been doing for the last forty years has not worked. Are we going to continue walking down the same road with the same results? Or are we willing to change?
If we do change, will the people tapping on our shoulders still shame us?
(Continued in Part 8)
Larry Who 