8/5/12

“...we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ”

Ephesians 4:14-15

 

   In days gone by, anyone who was timid or fearful was often called a chicken by his peers. To be taunted with a chicken charge was “fight’n words” to tough guys.

 

   There is certainly nothing commendable about being a tough guy, but being a Christian means that we cannot be chicken. But sometimes we chicken out by stopping short of speaking the truth if we think we are going to suffer for speaking up about some “hot button” social topic. The current fire storm over a statement made by Dan Cathy (of Chick-fil-A fame) about same-sex “marriage” is a good example of what I’m talking about. His expressed opinion lit a lot of people’s fuses. Some people are probably wondering why he didn’t just keep his mouth shut and avoid all the controversy?

 

   Anyone who loves the Lord and His way understands the necessity of standing up for truth. The context of Paul’s admontion points to the need for counter-punching the “wiles of error” (v. 14). If Christians do not take a stand for truth, who will? If our lack of conviction or fear of controversy causes us to seal our lips, then we are a chicken of the worst kind.

 

   Is it possible that the rottenness of our nation’s moral fabric is due, at least in part, to a lack of backbone in many so-called Bible believers who had rather eat chicken while cowering to the forces of evil? The cause of truth requires us to do more than eat some chicken; we must also SPEAK the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

 

   Have you ever thought about what the world would be like if the apostles had sealed their lips when threatened by the Jewish leaders (Acts 4:18)? It probably wouldn’t be much different from modern America, given the current proliferation of secular immorality and our disdain for confrontation?

 

   Why are so many afraid to confront the devil’s doctrines? Why are they chicken? Is it a lack of love? Chickens either don’t love the Lord and His word or they don’t love the souls of those who are lost in sin. Satan loves chickens because he knows that his cause will prevail as  long as people refuse to stand up and SPEAK truth with conviction. Don’t be chicken!  kd