Speak With Conviction!

     I've been reading a book called, "He Is Not Silent," by the good Dr. Mohler lately. And yes, for my Southern Seminary friends, I have not yet finished my core reading, I know. It's a good read. While much of it I think I already knew in a lot of ways, there are some gems in it that I thought were more than worth the time. One of the major points of the book is how Dr. Mohler suggests we, as Christians, deal with our post-modern culture. 

   Today, our society, and frankly most of our world, is highly post-modern. Now, I know of many people who claim to be post-modern, and have no idea what it is, so I'll define my terms. Post-modernism is the belief that, well, really anything is right. Truth is entirely relative to the person. What is true for you is not true for me. This is post-modern thought. Thus, anyone who claims, "That may be true for you, but not for me." Is speaking post-modernism.

   Now, I don't want to turn this into a post-modern apologetic, that's not the point of this. If you would like to discuss that, please, by all means, hit me up! Comment! I'll gladly catch up with you. But I believe post-modernism is unbiblical, and the scary part: It is destroying any kind of intelligence, wisdom, and decency we had as a people.

   Post-modernism has allowed us to be lazy. Yes. That's right. Lazy. People who simply think up their own morality, decide what they like is right, period, and then brush off any concerns as, "relative," are being lazy. We as a nation have become stupid. And we're proud of it. Proud of our post-modernism that is so tolerant, so completely submissive, that there's nothing left worth defending. I may highly disagree with many of my Muslim, or atheist, friends, but at least they have the guts to stand up for something! 

    I guess my summary is this: I defy post-modernism, and complete tolerance, because it destroys intelligence, judgment, and courage. 

   We are lazy. Yes, lazy, because we don't take the time to think about what is true. What is real. Or what we stand for. What we believe. Do you take the time to study, to think, about what you are and what you believe in? And what is true? Most don't! Because they simply don't want to put in the effort. It's dangerous and time consuming. Schools don't teach their children to think, and thus, lazy children don't think. Most of my peers, young adults, I talk to (outside of specific circles) can't even tell me they believe ANYTHING AT ALL, or care to! Except in pleasure and thrills and themselves. No wonder our nation is in such a state! No one bothers to think anymore! And thus, we've gradually become more and more stupid, and are glad of it.   

   I fear a great part of this is me ranting at my own generation. The kids raised in public schools who were taught to believe whatever they pleased, if that much, and then pleasure and believe only in their own selves. So I speak largely to people my age. The young adult crowd, the new face of America.

    We are afraid to say anything in our culture that is painful, offensive to anyone at all. No one has the guts now to challenge a culture where saying some hard truth gets you media-slammed, politically-condemned, socially hated, and often, sends you to court. The only thing we are INtolerance of, is intolerance! What ridiculousness! Think about it for a moment! 

   In "He Is Not Silent," Mohler pointed out something I thought was brilliant. Speak with conviction. He says this,

   "Contrasted to this are the words of Martin Lloyd-Jones: 'Any study of church history, and particularly any study of the great periods of revival or reawakening, demonstrates above all else just this one fact; that the Christian church during such periods spoke with authority. The great characteristic of all revivals has been the authority of the preacher." In all true expository preaching, there is a note of authority. This is because the man dares to speak on behalf of God. He stands in the pulpit as a steward of "the mysteries of God." (1st Cor. 4:1) Declaring the absolute truth of God's Word, proclaiming the power that God, and applying that Word to life. This is, admittedly, an audacious act."

   While I realize most of this is applied specifically to christian preaching, I think the base point is true for anyone! Why do we cower from media, culture, and politicians who speak with double tongues and manipulate our worldviews? Stand up! Speak out for something! Challenge this ridiculously over-tolerant world, and prove that you at least stand up and have courage of SOME kind! 
   
    This is not to say, be arrogant, or stubborn. Be willing to take correction if you're proven wrong, willing to discuss with disagreements, and thus sharpen yourself. But for goodness sake, we have become so stupid as a people, because we don't bother to think and challenge one another anymore! No longer do we teach morality and truth and even worldviews and ideas, because we are afraid to get burned. No longer do we practice discussions and debates with differing ideas from our own, and thus, sharpen all parties involved. We're content with living in a lukewarm, cowering mess that is slowly decaying even further! I would rather stand up for what I believe, and be shot for it tomorrow, and live a life of stupidity and cowering fear. 

   Speak out with conviction. With authority. Whatever you believe is true, say it! Be willing to discuss it, debate it, and correct as necessary, but enough of this sickening fear and deliberate stupidity. Think, study, decide what is true, or what you believe, or what you are and what you stand for, and then, say it! Live it! Do it! 

"'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.'"   -Revelation 3:15-16


~Alex
Phil. 4:13