Monthly Archives: December 2018

Will Christians ever stop making excuses?

A Facebook friend of mine recently posted this article.  After quickly glancing through it, I had to disagree almost in its entirety.  Here is what I wrote in my friend’s comment section:
“Clint, I have to disagree with this article, almost in its entirety. Why? I’ve been thinking about this same thing for decades and have come to vastly different conclusions.
 
“First, there are unfounded suppositions in this article. For example, in the beginning of the piece he (the author) seems to make the argument that parents with large families (eight or nine kids) don’t have time or the energy to be ‘activists.’
 
“While this may be true, what Christians today have eight or nine kids? Precious few, as all will acknowledge. If Christians have just as many children, on average, as their lost counterparts who are activists, this theory falls flat.
 
“I could go on, but this is a FB post so one must be brief. My take is this: Christians have lost the culture war because we are disobedient to the Lord who commanded us to be ‘salt and light’ to a dying world. 1 John 2:15 reads, ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world…’ We Christians LOVE the world: our money, our comforts, traveling, watching t.v. and sports programs, endlessly decorating our homes, our pets, etc. We are not activists because we are so worldly minded we are no heavenly good.
 
“Certainly there is always a faithful remnant among Christians who do all they can do be the required ‘salt and light.’ I have lived virtually my entire life striving to be a good, bold and public witness for the Lord and I will testify from personal, decades long experience that the vast majority of Christians REFUSE to get off their couches and fight our cultural battles. We are far too busy enjoying ‘the good life.’
 
“But I will agree with the author in this respect: ‘The traditionalists and conservatives have been thoroughly beaten in the war for the culture. For the most part, we never even showed up.’ And why didn’t we show up, because we all have such huge families that we are simply too busy to get involved in the things that matter?
 
“Certainly not; this is simply a poor attempt at a failed excuse. We have lost the cultural war because we were outfought, simple as that. We were, and are, lazy to a fault. Christians will never win this war because we have become so sinful and disobedient to our Lord that He has given us almost completely over to our enemies. And it is only a matter of time before the tiny amount of light Christians still have in this culture will soon be completely extinguished…and we have only ourselves to blame.”
Harsh, I understand, but I cannot bring myself to change a single word; in fact, I could write volumes more on why every single problem we face in America today is, in my opinion, the direct cause of America’s Christians.
I do not believe there is a country in existence today that is as wicked as the United States of America.  Allow me to cite just two examples:
First, what country on Earth murders more unborn children than the USA via our liberal “abortion on demand” policy?  Probably none other than perhaps China.  But each country will be judged on the “light” that has been given it, and no one can say that China has had more “gospel light” poured out upon them as America has been blessed with.  No comparison.
Does China sell their aborted babies parts like Planned Parenthood has, making an entire industry out of such a grisly trade?  I’m not certain, but again, China has not been blessed with the revelation of God’s grace like America has; we have sinned to a much greater degree than China has due to our rejection of this abundant revelation so graciously poured out amongst us.
My second example:  Drag Queen Story Hour.  Have you heard of this unthinkable abomination that is right now going on across the United States?   Briefly, Drag Queen Story Hour is an organized group of homosexual/transgendered men dressed up in garish “drag” who then read “queer” stories to preschoolers.  You can’t make this up.  Here is photographic proof:
In a just world, it would only take one time for something this disgusting to occur in a nation before the outrage of the citizenry would insure it would never happen twice.  But not in apostate America where even this act of open child abuse is revered by who knows how many members in this sick, perverted and twisted society.
What other country allows these kinds of perversions to happen?  Russia?  China?  ISIS held countries?  I don’t think so; only in the “good ole’ USA” is such degeneracy allowed and even applauded.
These are only a few reasons why I believe it is the direct result of Christian America as to why our country has sunk into such deep and irreversible depravity.   The very salt and light that was once the defining characteristic of America has become utterly worthless, good for nothing.
And perhaps the most frightening aspect of the salt losing its preserving effect on a society comes from these additional words from Jesus:
“But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”  Matthew 15:13b-15 (NIV)
America is in such deep and irretrievable trouble that few understand the complete calamity we face as a nation.  May God have mercy on us…we will certainly need it.

“First They Came” Poem

“First They Came” with respect to Martin Niemoller

by Roy E. Spears © 2018

First they came for the Christian bakers, and I did not speak out—

because I was not a Christian baker.

Then they came for the Christian florists and photographers, and I did not speak out—

because I was not a Christian florist or photographer.

Then they came for the Christians who opposed same-sex marriage, and I did not speak out—

because I was not married.

Then they came for the Christians who believed that “God created them male and female,” and I did not speak out—

because by now I was becoming afraid.

Then they came for the Christian students, and I did not speak out—

because I was no longer a student.

Then they came for the Christian pastors, and I still did not speak out—

because I was not a pastor.

Then they came for all the Christians, and I did not speak out—

because I was now terrified.

Then they came for me—but there was no one left to speak for me.

Advice for Christians who share their faith in public

Conventional financial advice for those individuals with an abundance of financial resources is that they have three people on their financial team:  an experienced and knowledgeable banker, an attorney who is an expert in financial legal affairs and documents, and a savvy CPA (Certified Public Accountant).  Each of these professionals brings separate and vitally needed information and protection that will ensure one’s hard-earned wealth is not foolishly squandered away in frivolous, unwise or even illegal means.

The Bible tacitly teaches this in Proverbs 11:14:  “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (NASB)

Christian evangelists, open-air preachers, and other believers who witness in the public areas of the United States also need an experienced team of experts on their side; one of the most helpful and needed are attorneys: those who practice civil law and those who practice criminal law.

But both civil and criminal lawyers should be experts in First Amendment law because this area is a vast and complicated one, much like the rest of the law.  I have found that even among practicing civil lawyers, few are trained and have extensive experience in dealing with the intricacies and nuances of free speech rights.

I cannot overstate the importance of having both types of attorneys on board for your evangelistic efforts.  From my experience, and any honest attorney will agree, a civil attorney is not well versed in criminal law and a criminal attorney is not well versed in civil law.  Neither law specialists, whether they are criminal or civil, have much desire in taking on cases not in their speciality because they understand how much knowledge and experience is required to be an expert in each.

In my almost 40 years of street evangelism, and particularly since I began open-air preaching approximately 25 years ago, I have been in countless situations where the police have been called due to our evangelistic efforts.  For example, the most common interaction with the police has been over the issue of using amplification while preaching outdoors.  Of all the issues facing evangelists, this rates at the top for police involvement due to complaints from the public.

Then there is the often contested issue of whether or not we can hand out Gospel literature in various public venues.  For example, can we hand out tracts in an event in a typical city or town that has closed off various public streets to host a special event where the public has been invited, say at a large, outdoor street fair?

Or can someone preach directly outside, with or without amplification, at a Jehovah’s Witness Convention hosted by a city’s public conference center?  Does the fact that the JW’s rented the arena preclude someone from witnessing on the convention’s grounds?

These few examples are rarely cut and dry.  In fact, each separate event you wish to witness and evangelize at usually brings a host of unique circumstances and legalities that require legal experts to scrutinize to determine whether or not the particular form of evangelism you wish to do is allowed by that city’s statutes.

Even this presents another unique and challenging situation.  Take a typical city noise ordinance that, on its face, makes amplification in certain locations in the city illegal.   The city might not have any issue with you for wanting to preach using just your natural voice, but they have a city ordinance that forbids you speaking using amplification.

Is their law constitutional?  Has that law been written specifically targeting the preaching of the Gospel via amplification?  Sometimes the answer is “yes.”  Now, you have a law on the books, enforceable by the police.  What do you do?

These are all reasons why we need to be at least somewhat knowledgeable on first amendment and criminal law.  I have seen over and over again that most Christians are bullied by both the police and the public over their witnessing efforts for the main reason of silencing their public witness.  All kinds of reasons, excuses and quasi-legal arguments are offered, some persuasive and legal and others pure nonsense.  But how do you know?  This is where experienced, knowledgeable attorneys come into play and are an invaluable tool in your evangelism toolbox.  And because Christians have little knowledge in these areas, their default mode is to obey the police and end their outreach at that location, even if they have a first amendment right to be there doing what they are doing.

But attorneys are prohibitively expensive, charging hundreds of dollars an hour for their time in counseling you.  This is why you need to find attorneys who are Christians who will give you advice on a “pro-bono” basis.  In other words, for free.  Ideally, they will understand the need to assist the Body of Christ in these kind of situations without charging them and consider it part of their ministry and service to the Lord to help out a brother and sister in need of their valuable advice.

Let me warn you:  these kind of attorneys are rare.  I have discovered through personal experience time and again that even attorneys who drop hints they are Christians will not spend more than the briefest amount of time with you unless you pay them substantial retainers.

But there are some, albeit few, who wish to serve the Lord by providing expert legal advice for free.  I hope to write more about this in another post, but suffice to say, my desire in writing this is to convince you that the time to look for attorneys is today, before you find yourself in a situation where you might get arrested.

I have a list of law firms I’ve accumulated over the years that might be able to help you.  Please drop me a note in the comments section if you need legal assistance due to your witnessing/evangelistic efforts and I will get in contact with you.  You can also email me at:  adobemastr@gmail.com.