May I Put My Head in the Sand?

Many people are drawn to books, movie, etc. about the Amish lifestyle.  I often wonder if it is not so much about their beliefs, but about their simple lifestyle.    As I lingered on face book longer than I needed this morning, I got off with a heaviness I sure didn't wake up with.    Reading things from people in trouble with the government for their small garden to provide their own needs, U.S. navy ships heading to Syria, pornography and child molestation rampant in our children's lives, Christians losing lawsuits for not taking work that goes against their beliefs, violent acts against others from our youth because "they were bored", another person struggling with cancer, a video that went through a day in the life of someone who is surrounded by folks that cannot stop looking at their smart phones, and more.  Yes, there were the beautiful weddings, new baby pictures, and folks toes in the sand who needed a much needed rest.   But I left the computer with that big sigh feeling of hopelessness thinking where in the world is this country headed, how in the world can I protect my children and train them well, and why can't children really be care free children.   Why must they be thrown into adult situations and/or struggles at such a young age?   My initial response is I'd love to ditch face book, quit watching the news, move my family so far out we cannot even get internet access, and lead a quiet life.  Ahhh, I love the idea of being ignorant.

However, that is not what we are called to do as Christians.   We cannot pretend the enemy is asleep, our children are safe, the government will only do what is in our best interest, or that we don't need to be vigilant and fight for our family (especially on our knees).     That draw to the perfect home is probably my heart's longing for heaven where there will be no more tears, no more death, no pain, and no mourning according to Revelation 21:4.    Here on earth we are going to struggle.  Let's face it we have good days, but life is hard.  Ephesians 6:12 states "for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  We can hide our children or we can arm them with Truth.   We can watch the enemy steal, kill, and destroy or maybe we can engage in the battle and help set somebody free from the ensnarement of sin.   Let's arm ourselves with God's Word, and storm the world with love.  According to Matthew 16:18 that as the church, the gates of hell cannot withstand, overcome, conquer or prevail against us.    All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:18).    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31).   It is a difficult, messy, and hard road ahead when we choose to get involved with others.    "But Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope," Hebrews 3:6.   Let's choose to get our heads out of the sand and engage in the culture around us.    Let's share our hope.

You make known to me the path of life; 

in your presence there is fullness of joy; 

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  

Psalms 16:11

"I am so deeply concerned that we should rise and shake off the grave clothes of dead denominational Christianity that lives on a dead tradition and runs like a track with the engine off while the momentum carries it on. I am concerned that we should enter the Christian life that we should be a people indwelt with the Holy Spirit, recognize ourselves as a minority group living in a world that hated our Lord and hates us for our Lord’s sake." - A.W. Tozer