Finding your voice in the cold culture

October 16, 8:00 AMDenver Evangelical ExaminerRichard Beattie

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Denver Evangelical Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

visit http://www.envoytown.com

    In these days of economic turmoil it is difficult to find a voice who is willing to be honest about what is going on. I would like to submit to my readers that the evangelical voice should be one to speak truth and enable the culture to see the big picture to our "correction." As we soon enter the Liturgical season of Advent in a few weeks I think it is proper to "unwrap" a few gifts that God may want us to open pre-season.

    While many outside the Evangelical relational lifestyle are invited to come in from the cold culture, political agendas are what keeps them out in the cold, fighting on the wrong side of the culture war.  To the evangelicals in the room who know that God gave them a voice and a message to deliver it can be frustrating to deliver the message while being under attack. I have news for you (and since I am a reporter "news" is a good thing.) Jesus told us this would happen. The wisdom of this age is foolishness but it does not stop the voicing of Biblical Truth in this wilderness of darkness.

    Personally and professionally many of us are hurting and are looking to give up, or give in. You hear people saying that "there is no room for religious talk" in the issues of our day. They cite the separation of church and state but miss the point of the "Freedom of expression," in the mix. Well most of us know that is a distraction wanting us to pull out because the voice of the righteous is being heard over the shrill. The caveat there is that the "shrill" are still God's children and they need to hear His healing message . They are prisoners of the culture war, and we have to do our best to rescue them.

    It is October now and the believe it or not there are Christmas displays showing up in some stores and towns. There are forecasts regarding Christmas sales and retail revenue. We read, see, and smell it too early and the message is loud and clear. The culture's god is alive and well at Christmas. That is only half-true, the culture's god is dead filled with helium in a weather balloon above the skies of rural Colorado while the search goes on for a child who hid in an attic. That is a humorous twist to the self-serving, self-promoting, foolishness of man. It is an early Christmas gift to find that a little boy who search and rescue looked for a dead body was safe at home hiding in a garage attic.

    A Pastor in Colorado is doing a series on the Gospel of Luke. A few weeks ago he gave a message on finding a voice. He related the story of Zechariah who with the news of his elderly wife's pregnancy with John the Baptist, did not believe the miracle.  Zechariah was silenced and could not speak until after the baby was born. Because of disbelief God took Zechariah's voice away. At the same time a virgin named Mary, a lowly youth was told that she would give birth to the Savior, the Messiah. She believed and found her voice in the most beautifully written song in the Bible. "My soul glorifies the Lord, my Spirit rejoices in my Savior." She predicts her own future when she sings "From now on all generations will call me blessed." We have an opportunity to prepare for the way of the Lord. While the world is watching we can be a voice for the truth that is marching on with or without us. We can choose to correct our economic waywardness, rise to the challenge at present and ahead, and watch lives changed in The process.

For more info: Richard@envoytown.com. Listen Saturday night on KGFT.com in Colorado Springs for a new show with  host Josh Weidmann. It is Honest to God Radio and its produced by Envoy Creative Media, Inc.