How Can We Remain Silent?

Have you ever seen the classic Walt Disney movie “Pollyanna,” with the young Haley Mills playing the title role? Polyanna is an orphaned child whose parents were missionaries when they passed away. The young Pollyanna must live with her unmarried, wealthy, and controlling Aunt Polly, with whom she has had no contact until she arrives as the movie begins. Pastor Ford is clearly under the influence of pleasing Aunt Polly by what he does and does not preach.

The need to raise funds for a civic project arose and the other leaders of the town wanted to bring the community together in a fund-raising festival with music, games, food, and fireworks. Aunt Polly rejected the idea outright. She would take care of it, and that was final. When the town leaders pay a visit to Pastor Ford and ask him to encourage people to attend the festival the following Sunday, but he refuses by saying, “Oh no, I never get involved in these things.” To which the men say, on their way out of the Church, “I guess it IS possible to own a Church” (meaning that Aunt Polly “owned” the Pastor too). Gladly, Pastor Ford sees the error of his ways with the help of Pollyanna and speaks up in favor of the festival at the Sunday service. Everyone is surprised and elated, except for Aunt Polly.

Pastor Ford had to make a choice. Today, Pastors face increased pressure to make choices regarding topics far more consequential than a community festival. Traditionally, many have shied away from current issues for fear of appearing to be a political partisan instead of a preacher of the Gospel (and in part to the infamous “Johnson Amendment”). Some of us, not all, have hesitated to address these issues scripturally for fear of losing people who may think differently. Pastor Ford may be a fictional character, but he does reflect the struggle that pastors must deal with in ministry. However, at what point do we stop being shy about addressing the issues of the day – in light of Scripture?

When our state educators want to teach our children to judge people by the color of their skin instead of the “content of their character” (the opposite of that which Dr. M.L. King, Jr. dreamed), how can we stay silent? In Washington State, it is called “Equity,” but we know it to be Critical Race Theory that our Governor has mandated for all teachers and coaches across the state. Our children in public schools will be next.

When the non-profit organization, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), which is given authority over all sports for our public schools, fully expect the local school board to let boys who can say they are girls use the latter’s restroom, locker room and play on their sports team – how can we remain silent? Moreover, when our children – beginning in Kindergarten – are slated to be taught about sexual matters about which they do not have the maturity or life experience to process mentally or personally, how can we stay silent?

When we discover that the Christian heritage of our nation has been virtually erased from the textbooks our children are given in our public schools and universities and replaced with Socialist and Marxist propaganda (which happened some time ago), how can we stay silent? Why have we remained silent for so long? Furthermore, when we see the blatant censoring, silencing, and slandering of conservative voices, news sources, and faith leaders – the ultimate denial of our God-given rights of freedom of speech and religion enshrined in our United States Constitution, how can we stay silent any longer?

America was born on July 4th, 1776, but it required a long “delivery” process that we call the Revolutionary War. Our founding fathers and their generation did much more than speak up; they stood up and laid their lives down for freedom for all men and women. Freedom is costly. Keeping that freedom for the next generation is just as costly.

There can be no denying the many references to the God of the Bible, which permeate all of our nation’s founding documents. Likewise, throughout our nation’s most critical times, our leaders have called upon “we the people” to seek the God whom our founding fathers trusted, and He has answered time and time again. America is great because she was founded upon biblical principles and the belief that “all men (meaning humanity) are created equal.”

In closing, we must not miss this important fact: although the Christian faith, beliefs, principles, and “Book” (Bible) were an overwhelming influence in our nation’s founding, our founding fathers did not make Christianity the required religion. Instead, the founders’ belief in the biblical principles of the Christian faith gave all faiths the freedom to exist together, including the atheist! That fact is one reason America is “exceptional,” and why, as someone said, “To deny our Christian heritage is to deny American history.”

We cannot afford to stay silent any longer – for the sake of our children’s and grandchildren’s generations. May we be willing to “dedicate our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor” for those who do not have a voice but who are depending upon our generation to speak up and stand up where it matters most. Furthermore, as we engage with others over the issues of the day, may we always endeavor to follow Jesus’ command to His disciples in John 15:12, “This is my command, that you love one another as I have loved you.” That is a level of love, compassion, and mercy that is sorely needed now more than ever.