Over the years I have gotten on the nerves of multiple people, in some high and low places. It was my honor and privilege to do so, but it was probably not my intent. I’m not that brazen. I’ve upset employers, politicians, friends and family. I’m no respecter of persons when it comes to being annoying. Today will be no different, consider yourself warned if per chance you don’t like a biblical opinion.
City and country living is not even apples and oranges, I feel it’s a better comparison to call us “store bought” and “homegrown.” For certain there are country people in the city and visa versa. But for the sake of today’s conversation let’s just talk about a biblical viewpoint of the world we live in. For one, I know my neighbors in a 20 mile radius, a city dweller probably doesn’t know too many of their neighbors in the same building or on the same street. But times they are changing. Over the past decade, many, many people have discovered the advantages to living in an area such as Calhoun County, West Virginia and have moved in our direction. Our taxes are a fraction of what you’d pay in the city, crime rates are far lower, the air is clean and while shopping and restaurant options are few, Walmart delivers every day and it’s an hour drive to other options. But as we slowly progress in both city and country the option of faithful living, while still an option, is refused and the Ozzie and Harriet world that I grew up in between Braxton and Calhoun Counties is on the decline and almost non existent.
This past Christmas our illustrious City Leaders put atop our city building “green alien inflatable Christmas decorations.” My stomach turned over and I was physically sick. It very much depicted where we’ve gone as a Nation, and although it was quite a drive, we managed to bring it back to the country.
This conversation is not about whether you believe in extraterrestrial beings, it’s whether you believe in the Lord Jesus and His role in a community’s health, both spiritually and secularly.
Not everyone went to church when I was a child, but church was certainly community central. If you didn’t get there early, you didn’t get your favorite pew or parking spot and what the preacher thought of you actually mattered. Your church affiliation was often listed on a job interview because the morality of a person mattered to employers. Now employers are just grateful if someone can pass a drug test and not have a felony on their record.
I’ve thought much about this as Calhoun County, West Virginia has faced multiple crisis’ of late. How did we get here?
- A City Government that truly is alien and non-communicable .
- Politicians that speak out of both sides of their mouths.
- Citizens who do not care that their government is going to Hell in a hand basket because they refuse to interact with them, question them or take part in the government.
- A school system that is allowed to educate , (or not educate) your children without anyone questioning them as to what’s happening in school houses 8 hours a day at the expense of our children’s psychological, moral and educational decline.
- A State Government that is nothing more than a pat on the back system for buddies, without any work ethics.
- Public utilities that are permitted and encouraged to lie at the expense of the citizens health and to cover up their inept abilities.
I could have gone deeper, but you can certainly see where my mind is at this morning. What got me here was the book of Acts, chapter 16. The Apostle Paul and Silas were thrown into jail because they preached the truth and upset the powers that be. They extricated a demon out of a young lady who made money for a heathen leader and when she couldn’t help them any more, he told the magistrates, “Something has to be done with these people.” Of course that is the bible according to Shari, not the KJV version. Three things I learned from this story and I suggest you read Acts 16 to make sure I align with God’s word.
- Holding people accountable to the truth will cost you.
- It may cost you financially, or it may, like the Apostle Paul cost you personally, physically and certainly take its toll on you. Paul and Silas were thrown into jail because they stopped the money train for a community leader. Don’t think that it’s not a possibility here if you step on the wrong toes. It probably won’t be jail, but it may cost you your job, opportunity, or your health from stress.
- Holding yourself accountable as well as your leaders is necessary.
- When Paul and Silas were thrown into jail, into the dark inner court, placed into stocks and chains, their reaction was to sing the praises of God! The inmates heard then and were encouraged. But as an earthquake came and broke them free Paul yells to a concerned guard, in the bible according to Shari, “Don’t stress! We’re still here.” Paul and Silas could have left, but they didn’t because they held them selves accountable both to God and the laws of a government that often forsook them. The end result is the Philippian Jailer and others were saved. Glory to God, that we should get that message! But what struck me as the funniest part was, they scared the leaders, who told the jailer to set them free. But when the jailer tried, Paul said no. The leaders had made them a public example when they jailed them, but now they wanted to release them in private. Ha! Paul said it’s not going to happen. “They have beaten us openly unconcerned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privilily? Nay verily, let them come themselves and fetch us out.” (Verse 16:37) And so it was. Paul held them to the same standards that he was held. Boy Oh boy is there a message in that!
- Hold on to each other.
- Being a part of a community is survival. It’s why I belong to a church but I also am aware that I personally am the church. Christ lives in me and I am to represent Him until His return.
- There was a meeting a few years ago when a leader was offended because he thought I was judging his faith. I truly wasn’t, but I was holding him accountable to the decisions he made, while being a Christian. I don’t believe you can separate the two. Whether you’re making a decision for your family or your employment, it should align with the bible. If it doesn’t you should question your relationship with God, or whether you’re where God wants you to be.
It doesn’t matter if it’s Grantsville, West Virginia, population <500 or New York City, population <8.58 million>. God is still God and every person will stand accountable before God. But in the meantime, whether you are a Christian or not, if you want the place you live in to be a good and moral standard, should you not hold your leaders to the same?
