When Salt Loses Its Saltiness

I awoke this morning at 4:22 AM angry. On a Sunday morning no less.

Last night after church, we happened to have dinner with another couple who we have known for years. During our conversations, they shared that their daughter had recently taken an entry-level college english class where the subject for the term was to write in defense of gay marriage. Taking the counter position was not even an option, unless you wanted to flat fail the class. Talk about distortion! This college professor is abusing their authority to jam a semester full of garbage into the minds of a whole class of easily-influenced freshmen. I have been tempted on several occasions to enroll in a college class with the sole intent of being the dissenting voice in the classroom.

I recently began reading David McCullough’s book titled John Adams, a biography of this country’s 2^nd President; what an outstanding book! When I reached the beginning of chapter 2, I was struck with the subtitle quotation from John Adams himself which read,

“We were about one third Tories, and one third timid, and one third true blue.”

He was writing about his colleagues in the Continental Congress which was the governing body of what was to become the United States of America during the Revolutionary War years! Amid his own ranks, one-third remained sympathetic to England, and one-third was indecisive and blown to and fro by the wind. I was shocked…do times never change? Isn’t that exactly where America finds itself right now— a third thinking that they want Socialism, a third who are almost indifferent, and a third who want to stand with the founding principles of the country. Wow. But then a second thought swept through my mind– one third was enough to birth an incredible nation, the likes of which has never been seen on the planet before.

It wasn’t that John Adam’s persuasion was in the majority, out-numbering the rest. No, indeed the true blue patriots were in the minority, not unlike Christians in this country today. Do we need more Christians to join our ranks; of course the answer is yes. But more than that, we need Christians to put on the full-measure of what it means to be a Christian through their deeds and actions rather than just increase the head-count. As it was true in John Adams’ time, as well as in biblical times, the righteousness of a cause and the convictions of its advocates far outweigh the numbers game.

But to do this, we are going to have to become honestly serious about how we live our lives day to day. If our lives look as messed up as everyone else’s in this world (e.g., divorce, disrespectful children, substance abuse, foul talk, laziness, impatience, always worrying, coveting), we will influence absolutely no one. Isn’t it time to once and for all put these worldly trappings away for good?

The recently released movie “Courageous: Honor Begins At Home” captures my thoughts well in this regard when it comes to being a Christian father. If men in America who call themselves Christians would abide by the resolution heralded at the end of this movie, our remnant, our one-third, would change this nation over night. At the end of the movie, the impassioned lead-character challenges all dads to live out the Resolution which I have copied below. May these words start a revolution in our homes and in our lives as we strive with God’s help to be set apart from the world and destined to eternity with Christ in heaven. Dads, please pass the salt.

THE RESOLUTION

I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. —Joshua 24:15