Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:8-10, “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me His prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
In the Mid-West and throughout the country communities are being attacked by atheist groups because of displays of Christian symbols on public property. My town was hit last Fall. We ended up having to take down a cross which we put up on a hill every Sunday in the summer since the 1960’s. Other communities are being taken to court by these groups because of their Christian displays as well.
Satan is working overtime trying to destroy Christianity. He hasn’t been able to do it for over 2,000 years. What makes him think he can do it now? Atheists have won some of the battles lately, but Jesus Christ has already won the war through His death and resurrection. Satan lost a long time ago, but he hasn’t seemed to realize it yet.
The devil and his minions can attack Christian displays on public property, but they can’t stop us from displays on our private property. We need to be like Paul, unashamed to testify about our Lord and Savior. For example, I have a cross on the rear window of my car and the front window of my home. We can continue to put up Nativity scenes at Christmas. We can do acts of kindness in the name of Christ. The Gospel can be shared with others who want to hear. We can do prayer walks in our neighborhoods and towns.
This is a time for Christian to rise up for Jesus. Even when Paul was a prisoner in Rome he never stopped spreading The Word. We are to be the messengers of God’s grace and love given to us through Jesus Christ.
“Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.” Teresa of Avila (16th century)
We should not be hiding in our corners waiting to see what happens. We’ve been doing that too long. As the women left the tomb that first Easter morning to spread the news that He Is Risen, let us also testify this Good News and not be ashamed of our risen Lord.
Think about these words from a prayer written by St. Patrick of Ireland: “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.”
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