By Bryon Swanson, Editor
So, when I saw footage of Nebraska’s Senator Cavanaugh doing her infamous rant—a chant going from normal speech to a full-blown scream, it was absurd. She was using the “debate” format to scream her transgender political agenda. Not only that, but she wielded the filibuster destructively all session to hold up things like tax relief, school funding, and other much-needed priorities. While I in no way advocate her point or tactics, I have to admit she was passionate and fearless in whatever would come at her because of what she believed.
This leads me to ask, as Christ Followers, do we live with passion and freedom from fear? I think it is getting harder as we look around at the mindboggling changes taking place around us every day. Here is a critical reminder to each of us:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God…(1 Peter 2:9-10a).
I never liked it as a kid when the King James Version said we were “a peculiar people” in verse 9. But that’s what we are more and more here in this world today. We are now known as “peculiar” while the odd things going on around us are known as “normal”.
Our latest research shows that under 20% of the people in the U.S. are Christ Followers. And of those, the vast majority admit they seldom (if ever) help evangelize or disciple anyone at any time.
To stop the vast moral decline going on in the U.S. and to find hope in building a different future for those we love, we have to believe and find new confidence in our calling as God’s chosen people. We are chosen to take a stand, and to “…live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12).
For America to get back on track spiritually, it is going to take each of us doing a better job of evangelizing, discipling, teaching, and extending Jesus to those around us. Today, please take the opportunity to become involved personally. I think there is an easy way to help you practice and build confidence.