Taking a Stand
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been reading Jesus Freaks by dc Talk and The Voice of The Maryrs.
Today, I read an inspiring story of Valya Vaschenko, a 12 year old girl in the U.S.S.R. who, during the 1960s not only refused to take the oath of the Young Pioneers, but, while the school director began to recite the oath for her, Valya drowned him out by singing a hymn.
The story closed with this:
Again and again, in Russian schools, Christian children would stand up in class to pray out loud and to witness. These children were beaten and forced to leave their families, but others followed their example.
In 1963, prayer was banned in American public schools. What would have happened if American parents had taught their children not to submit to this decision? They would not have been beaten, and their parents would not have ended up in jail as in Russia.
Here in the United States, the First Amendment of our Constitutution guarantees us freedom of speech and freedom of religion. What have we done with that freedom? Must we wait until it is taken away as it was in Communist Russia or other dictatorial societies before we grow bold enough to stand up and proclaime Jesus before others?
There are several stories in this book that focus on the strong faith of the very young. Some of us older folk could take a lesson. And it should encourage us to raise God-fearing children who are not afraid of their faith, but rather celebrate it. That made me think of some lines from an old Keith Green song, Pledge My Head to Heaven, where after he pledges himself and his wife to God and His service, then he pledges his son:
Well I pledge my son to heaven for the gospel
Though he’s kicked and beaten, ridiculed, and scorned.
I will teach him to rejoice and lift a thankful praising voice,
And to be like Him who bore the nails and crown of thorns.
(complete lyrics available here)
Maybe we should stop trying to please the world and start trying to please God. We need to raise our kids to take a stand. I think the best way to teach them is to lead by example.
What will people think when they find out I’m a Jesus Freak?
What will people think when they find out it’s true?
I don’t really care if they label me a Jesus Freak,
There ain’t no denying the truth.-dc Talk, Jesus Freak
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