Disturbing current events struggle through our brains every day now. What is our response? Several writers have already posted their comments online, comments like “Be careful what you say. People might not buy your books.”
Seriously, is that our goal: selling books? SERIOUSLY? Aren’t we Christian writers with the purpose of glorifying God?
Now, on the other hand, must we step into the fray and lead the charge? Maybe. Maybe not. It’s up to God to make our personal paths clear, but this is not the time to cower in the corner, waving signs that cry out, “Book for Sale: $10.00,” while totally ignoring what is going on in the world.
The full poem “First They Came” (by Martin Niemoller) is on the New England Holocaust Memorial in Boston, Massachusetts.
It starts out by stating that the poet didn’t speak out when they came for the socialists because he wasn’t a socialist.
It’s been re-written many times to suit current world events. You can search all of them under the heading “First They Came.”
The question I want to ask you today is this: What do we do with the firsts in our life? Look around. There is always someone in our community who is treated “less than.”
We watch and wait while people gossip, bully, and attack them. Perhaps we are even part of it.
When that person is ostracized, shoved out in one way or another, the next lowest is attacked. But we don’t care because we are safe.
Then one day we look around and those in power are coming after us.
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27 NIV).
May God give us the courage to do what’s right because it is right and not because “they came for us” or that it is “our turn.” Amen.
Brenda J. Wood is a motivational speaker and author.
http://everydaychristian.com
http://heartfeltdevotionals.com
www.facebook.com/brendawoodspeaker