O.K…. I have to share something with you. It makes me laugh and humbles me at the same time… Three other friends, James, and I have just been named some of “The Most Dangerous People in America.” I’m serious! I’m still shaking my head… but with a big smile on my face. The title of the magazine says, “They may look like your friends and neighbors, but to the ACLU, they’re some of the… Most Dangerous People in America.”
Wonder how this happened? (So do I!!!) I’ve alluded to it a few times since I started blogging, but here is the whole story in a nutshell: I coordinate a group of parents (called Praying Parents) who pray for our children’s suburbian elementary school. For years, the ACLU has been watching the school, waiting for someone to complain. For years, no one did. Until the 2005-06 school year. Somehow, ONE “annonymous” unhappy family chose to join with the ACLU and sue the school, administrators, and a Christian teacher. In the midst of it, they falsly accused me and Praying Parents of doing things we simply did not do. Seing my name in an ACLU lawsuit was one of the biggest “earthquakes” of my life (so far)!
The school had their lawyers to defend them, but Praying Parents needed a voice. So, The Lord brought The Alliance Defense Fund to us, and called another family to become involved legally. And He helped us battle the ACLU all the way to Federal Court. In the end, the judge somehow rulled both of us as “winners” – a quite confusing judgement to all of us. Of course, the ACLU is claiming full victory, but thanks to the Lord and the ADF, Praying Parents is continuing alive and well.
{Edited years later – the battle didn’t end here, and we were called to join with four other families the following year to continue battling for our Christian children’s free speech in this same school. After a long, drawn-out battle, we did win, and children in public schools are still free to express their faith and to use the words such as “God” and “Prayer” in their publicly displayed work. PTL!}
If you’re truly interested, you can read the article about us and even watch a video of our stories here: The Most Dangerous People in America. (Just remember… the camera adds at least 10 pounds… right???) Edited to add: To see the video, you need to push the “play” button below the screen, and then move the arrow a hair to the right.
You know… it doesn’t take battling the ACLU to be dangerous. It simply takes obedient surrender to the Lord in every little area of our lives. It’s often the “little sins” that hang us up, and keep us from bringing honor and glory to the name of the Lord.
Obedient surrender isn’t easy. But… when we believe that All Mighty God is the biggest, greatest, most Wonderful, All Powerful, All Loving God – more so than any other thing in our lives, we’ll never be satisfied with giving Him anything less. And this, my friends, makes us dangerous to God’s enemies!
I certainly don’t want to promote fear – but here is the truth: In the days ahead, all of those of us who call on God’s name will face an opportunity to stand alone in the crowd, and to stand up for Him. I believe that for some time, God has been drawing a line in the sand. Soon, all over our country, it will be easy to determine those who follow Him from those who do not.
It’s been coming for a long time – to be exact… at least 2000 years. Luke 21: 12-19 sheds some light on this truth, and on how we are to respond.
“But before any of this happens, they’ll arrest you, hunt you down, and drag you to court and jail. It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. You’ll end up on the witness stand, called to testify. Make up your mind right now not to worry about it. I’ll give you the words and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters. (We actually saw this happen in court! Amazing!!!)
“You’ll even be turned in by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. Some of you will be killed. There’s no telling who will hate you because of me. Even so, every detail of your body and soul—even the hairs of your head!—is in my care; nothing of you will be lost. Staying with it—that’s what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry; you’ll be saved.” (The Message)
God is Dangerous to His enemies…and so are we, when we obediently surrender. Be afraid, enemies of God… be very, very afraid… God’s army is rising up… and we’re dangerous!
Question: How has God called you to stand apart from the crowd, and stand up for Him?
