this blog
How Can I Be Bold In
My Faith?
Hello friends. It’s time to journey
with me this week and look at how the songs of my youth can help me through my
faith questions. This week I am trying to understand how to be bold in my faith
and what it means to be bold in faith. The world would have me fear even trying
to understand this let alone act on it. To be bold in faith, is in truth a
complete rejection of the way the current culture is trending. However, I am
not afraid. To be bold is to stand firm in faith and to not bend.
My song this week brings me so many
memories. I remember watching this band with my dad, and he buying me a drum
kit, so that I could one day be rock star. We both really enjoyed the music of
The Go-Go’s, that and our affection for the Smokey and the Bandit are some of
my sweetest memories of my biological father, Steve.
This song, “Our Lips Are Sealed”,
is a very fun up-beat song that brings back feelings of happiness, love, summer
fun and just being able to relax and be a child. I honestly think that is what
God wants for us, to have peace in our relationship with him. That said, once
we are saved and a member of Jesus’ family, we are part of the greater “warrior
team” of spreading the Gospel and living a life that resembles that of the core
tenets of faith.
The song was written by Jane Wiedlin, guitarist for The Go-Go’s. The song was inspired by her relationship with a married man, that she needed to keep quiet, as the band was just starting out and they were an all-female band. Their public relations department needed them to appear “available” to attract fans (ie: men) to their shows and to buy their albums and since they were an all-female band, they wanted their image to appear clean with an edge. The song is about keeping secrets and being gossiped about. I think we can all relate to being a secret holder and being a gossip spreader.
“Our Lips Are Sealed” , 1981
Written by Jane Wiedlin and Terry Hall and performed by The
Go-Go’s
Can you hear them?
They talk about us
Telling lies
Well that’s no surprise
Can you see them?
See right through them
They have no shield
NO secrets to reveal
Doesn’t matter what they say
In the jealous games people play
Hey, hey, hey
Our lips are sealed
There’s a weapon
That we must use
In our defense
Si-lence
When you look at them
Look right through them
That’s when they’ll disappear
That’s when we’ll be feared
It doesn’t matter what they say
In the jealous games people play
Hey, hey, hey
Our lips are sealed
Pay no mind to what they say
It doesn’t matter anyway
Hey, hey, hey
Our lips are sealed
Hush, my darling
Don’t you cry
Guardian angel
Forget their lies
Can you hear them?
They talk about us
Telling lies
Well, that’s no surprise
Can you see them?
See right through them
They have no shield
No secrets to reveal
Doesn’t matter what they say
In the jealous games people play
Hey, hey, hey
Our lips are sealed
Pay no mind to what they say
It doesn’t matter anyway
Hey, hey, hey
Our lips are sealed
Our lips are sealed
Today’s
culture demands everyone conforms to the farthest edges (just because), even if
it is by extortion, lies, misrepresentation, smearing, canceling, or
diminishing anyone that stands firm in the truth of their faith. I cannot and
will not speak for anyone else. For me, to be bold in my faith, means I will
stand firm in the core tenets, I will not cower (even if it means I am canceled
or bullied). I will answer any question about being a Christian with an honest
and loving biblical approach.
This was
not what was supposed to be this week’s message. Today I was going to explore a
totally different topic in being bold, but God has weighed on me how displeased
he is. To all the haters out there, no, that does not mean God speaks directly
to me, but he does nudge me. In that nudging he has shown how when we cower in
faith-based questions and accusations, when we seal our lips, when we tell half
the truth, when we choose to hide from a biblical question instead of being
honest, we ARE NOT SOLID IN FAITH. WE ARE MISLEADING. WE ARE ACTING LIKE WE ARE
ASHAMED OF OUR FAITH.
Examples:
1. Christian
Singer - being asked about “is
homosexuality a sin”. The singer didn’t answer the question. The singer did
refer them to the bible, but chose not to answer a biblical question.
2. Top
Hollywood Actor refusing to speak up for self because the actor was so fearful
of the topics thrown their way by the a “multi-lettered group”. Seriously, this
person has been viciously attached online because people assume things about the
actor due to him calling himself (shh! A Christian).
3.
Biblical Study Book authors, have come out publicly for abortion rights. They
have decided that they (humans) can bifurcate the commandment “Thou Shall Not
Kill” and being a Christian. Or Biblical Study Book Teachers and Leaders that denounce
their church (as an whole) instead of just calling out the individuals.
Statements and actions like this cause DIVISION.
4. “Some”
Mega-Church Preachers - (and MANY OTHERS) that cherry pick things out of the
bible to preach a “EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE PERFECT FOR YOU” message.
Seriously have these folks read the bible?
Here are
examples of those being BOLD in faith:
1.
Candace Cameron Bure making a huge move from Hallmark (which recently broke
away from it’s family-oriented movies) and becoming a content developer for GAC
(which has promised to be only family-friend and faith-lead). She has ignored
all the “haters” comments and has proven that you can live a bold faith-filled
life and still do what you love. She hasn’t hesitated to talk about her faith,
her beliefs. She is even helping guide fellow actors (Danica McKellar “Wonder
Years”) into a relationship with Christ. She does it all with grace and love
(spiritual gifts). When asked the questions about homosexuality, abortion, and
other “hot-topic” items, she states “This is what I believe, it’s who I am. I
don’t hate anyone or judge anyone.”
“My
Christian faith is so meaningful to me, and it’s the foundation of who I am. It
always goes before me, and I’ve never been shy to talk about my faith.” Candace
Cameron Bure speaking to Woman’s Day magazine.
2. Mark
Wahlberg. LOL – that’s right I said it. He has turned his entire life around.
Instead of just talking the talk of claiming to be a Christian, he is now
showing us all what it is to be bold when we act on our faith. He is more
mindful of the roles he plays (check out the new movie Father Stu), he has time
reached out and shown humility and grace to fallen actor Mel Gibson, he has a
very biblical approach to how his family operates and he puts Jesus front and
center of his family. He isn’t perfect and his past life is full of flaws (JUST
LIKE ALL OF US) – but he has reformed, refocused on Christ and is now acting
bold in his faith.
“My faith
and my family are the most important things.” Mark Wahlberg speaking to
Relevant magazine.
3. Chip and Joanna Gaines. What could I possibly add to their bold actions. Well they opted to leave a very lucrative deal with HGTV (due to heat that HGTV was getting for the Gaines’ association with their church and their pastor’s position on homosexuality). Instead of adding to HGTV’s hefty profits, when HGTV would not defend them or “decline to comment”, the Gaines informed HGTV that after that season, they were done. The waited a year and a half, introduced their own network, which runs on streaming platform owned and operated by the parent company of HGTV. HGTV attempted to replace the Gaines with another great show Home Town (Ben Napier and Erin Napier). It still is a bit representative of the values that the Gaines stand for, just not as prevalent. Not once during all of this did the Gaines ever stop supporting their church, the pastor or their values. They were bold and stood strong in their faith.
I am not
here to call anyone out, or to say this way of living is better than your way
of living. I am not a Judge. I am here to say AND SAY IT LOUD that the path to
salvation is one way (JESUS) and that path is narrow, winding and sometimes
very lonely. I saw a meme about the right-winged Jesus and left-winged Jesus.
Even though it was meant to divide, it was basically stating truth. If we look
at truth as neither left nor right, we see the entire picture. Yes we need to
minister to the lost. Yes we need to have compassion for the sinners (because
we all are). Yes we are supposed to love our enemies. BUT PLEASE STOP QUOTING
ONLY THIS. Jesus came for all of us. He died for all of us. He sat with the sinners
and told them about grace, love, forgiveness AND WAIT FOR IT…..REPENTANCE. How
are we forgetting to teach this. Jesus said that in order to follow him you
must:
1.
Deny yourself (stop being selfish, stop living for
just yourself);
2.
Take up your cross (are you ready to die for your
faith?);
3. And FOLLOW HIM (he was without sin).
A A note as to my lengthy time away:
I was supposed to post this almost a month ago, and I am
sorry for the late post. Life happened. Nothing I can share right now, just
know that life the past 30 days has been a constant storm of chaos. Also in
that time, there have been some legal decisions that have/will cause another
summer of protest and anger. As a woman, I wish I could stand with the
pro-choicers for “women’s rights”. But I cannot because my first allegiance is
to God, my creator. As a Christian, I am happy someone made a law protecting “babies’
rights”. I could leave it there – but I am not, because our God is merciful God.
Jesus is going to love and forgive a woman (no matter what choice she makes) if
she believes in him, confesses her sins, forgives others and leads a repentant
life.
Me being bold in faith – is me getting real about what is and isn’t acceptable to God and to stop pretending otherwise.
Have a great and blessed week!
Some links for you:
Crisis Pregnancy Center - https://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=31655
Adoptions from the Heart - https://afth.org/pregnant/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Vici&gclid=CjwKCAjwzeqVBhAoEiwAOrEmzTubTKzsV_FB9RPapNgB6m_hRfWfeTKWIC2HKLDWKvCleB4fishMbRoCOWMQAvD_BwE
Christian Counselors – if you need to talk to someone (from
the 757)
Read more about following Jesus:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/following_jesus
Youtube video for the song for this week:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3kQlzOi27M
