March 5, 2008
Dr. David Hernandez, DBS
It is a mystery to me why there seems to be such a shyness on the part of Christians to stand their ground in dealing with the political correctness gone amuck craziness that permeates our society. There was one man who stood up to be counted. The man I speak about did not rant, he did not rave, and he did not back down from the truth of God’s Word. If you have a minute, I would like to share that story with you and pray it will encourage you to stand firm, stand strong, and stand sturdy in Christ.
One of the great American myths is that we are all a bunch of rugged individualists. We would like to think that, but it simply is not true. There are some exceptions, of course, but for the majority it is not that way at all. Chuck Mcillhenny, pastor of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in the Sunset District of San Francisco for over twenty years, has written a book titled When the Wicked Seize the City. Many expect to find this man in a chrome helmet with loaded weapons all around him and double bars on the door. Here is a man whose home has been fire-bombed, whose bedroom for the children is built like a bunker so his children can survive as he stands actively for Christ. He is now ministering a great deal in hospitals to those dying of AIDS, but standing firm for the truth, that the only hope beyond this life is a faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
He told a wonderful story of how he was sitting, reading the newspaper one day. And there was a council meeting being held the next day in San Francisco, and he thought he would go to the city council and hear this particular issue. It was a homosexual rights issue. He thought, I can’t just sit here and let that pass. He didn’t take anyone with him. He didn’t take any placards. He didn’t march against them, like many of them march against him. It is not uncommon for his services to be interrupted by lesbians and homosexuals. He just went to the city-council meeting.
He sat there and heard the legislation. The council was about to take a vote. The chairman said, “Is there anyone who has anything to say?” He walked to the platform, stated his name, that he was a citizen residing in the Sunset District, San Francisco. “What would you like to say?” He replied, “Well, I would like to say nothing for myself, but I would like to quote three individuals that I have respected for years.” In addition, he read to them from Moses in Leviticus, from one of the psalms by David, and from Paul in Romans 1. He did not preach, did not scream, and did not sermonize-just closed it.
They said, “Wait. Before you sit down, who are those people-Moses and David and Paul?” And someone said, “You are reading from the Bible, aren’t you?” “Yes,” he said, “I am.” And one of the council members then said, “I vote no,” and another and another. And it did not pass. He sat down. That is straight thinking and courage.
One man made a difference because he stood up and with courage and conviction let God’s Word speak for itself. I would encourage you to stand firm, stand strong, and stand sturdy in Christ.
Let me share with you the words of a man named Paul that I have admired for many years. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU AS YOU APPLY THIS TRUTH!