OR CAN YOU?
Ever had an occasion to chat with someone about issues of vital importance of the Lord? You know--Jesus, Heaven, Hell? Doorways to each and the consequences of opening the wrong door or walking through the right one?
I have. I've danced with Mormons. Jehovah's Witnesses. Atheists. Agnostics. Church of Christ. Catholics. And also fellow Baptists. Oddly enough, the people most difficult to dance with are fellow Baptists. Isn't that odd?
We're all suppose to be listening to the same music, have the same melody, following the same beat, memorized the same lyrics and yet we find ourselves off-pitch and dancing to music with only one harmonious Note of Significance--Jesus is Lord. Heaven is for Sheep and Hell is for Goats.
Wonder why, in light of that harmony, so many folks are falling through cracks in the dancehall floorboards. Wonder why we're always stepping on someone's toes. Wonder why someone's always taking the lead instead of following the lead. Wonder why folks who know how to lead tend to follow a lead.
Wonder why we don't just stand still in our combat boots instead of tap-dancing around to the devil's tunes.
Ephesians 6 says: "Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you will be able to resist and STAND your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to STAND [firmly in your place]. STAND therefore..." {13,14a Amplified. emphasis mine
STAND.
That's it. No dancing in circles or following man's ideas or ideology. Just stand. When the music starts, we stand. When the beat begins, we stand. When the crescendos rise, we stand. When the lyrics challenge and the chorus repeats, we stand. Let the world's bands play on. Let the music change. Let the lyrics be rewritten. Let the drummer's pound a different beat. But let us STAND--on what is necessary, basic, and True.
"And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produce by the GOOD NEWS] of the Gospel of peace."{15. Amplified. emphasis mine
I wonder why we Baptists dance to the devil's tune of discord, division and strife. Why do we bow and bend to his lead and let him trample on our toes. Why do we get caught up in his music and wiggle and giggle to his deceitful lyrics of confusion. Why is his rhythm so much more melodious than the melody of our Savior's voice of gentleness, peace, kindness and love? I wonder.
Perhaps we do need combat boots to dance. To protect us from the slithering snakebites of poisonous egos and pride. The only protection a Christian has is his preparedness--the preparedness of saving faith in the salvation of a risen Lord who sacrificed Himself as the perfect unspotted unblemished Lamb. Who became sin--our sin--to attone for our sin. And should we need a defender of that faith, we have our Sword wielded by the Holy Spirit of God which slices all arguments to slivers with His Word. Oh that we would heed the call to "pray at all times" instead of speaking at all times.
If you wonder where I am in the midst of the frey of controversies within our convention of Baptist believers, you'll find me "standing" in the center of the dancefloor. My eyes are closed to the sway of dancers around me. My ears hear only the sweet melodious lyrics being sung by the Master and my feet tap to the tune of the song of Victory written many years ago. I am no wallflower.
But, whichever ball my Prince invites me to to attend, I won't be wearing glass slippers. Nope. I'm already fitted with a steel-toed pair of boots. selahV [copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]
