Keeping an open mouth.

Recently I was part of a discussion on "keeping an open mind" or "tolerance" or "political correctness." Call it what you want, we've all had the same discussion before, or at least contemplated the issue.

At issue in this particular discussion was whether or not it was ok for people in non-political and non-religious authority to use that authority to discuss those issues.  In my case think teacher or choir director talking about politics or religion.  Obviously the prevailing point of this discussion was that this type of behavior should be considered an "abuse of power."  The prevailing opinion went so far as to say that not only was it unethical for a teacher or choir director in non-religious authority to voice their own opinions and beliefs, but furthermore that even in a church setting--one that is religious by its very nature--it would be inappropriate for a choir director to discuss religion.

Huh?

Rather than discuss how offended I am at this belief or how sad I am that our culture has come to this, I'm now instead going to discuss truth; something that brings me comfort, joy, and peace.

My God has told me to "go into ALL the world and preach the GOOD news" of His coming.  He hasn't placed any limit on where or when I should do that.  He hasn't asked me to weigh the political correctness of the message.  I'm not the Owner or Originator the message; I'm only privileged to be the messenger. In the last verses of Jeremiah 1, God says to me just as He said to the prophet:

"Get up and prepare for action.    Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say.Do not be afraid of them,    or I will make you look foolish in front of them.
 For see, today I have made you strong    like a fortified city that cannot be captured,    like an iron pillar or a bronze wall.You will stand against the whole land—    the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.¹⁹ They will fight you, but they will fail.    For I am with you, and I will take care of you.    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

You see Church, we have NOTHING to fear! He doesn't promise the battle will be easy or even that we'll win it.  But we WILL win the war.

I must admit... I'm pretty bad at being a messenger.  There are plenty of times where God gives me an open door and I give Him a closed mouth in return.  But even in that... when I sincerely admit to Him my fear and my wrongness in not keeping an open mouth, He is so gracious to forgive me!  I love Him for it.

So...if now is the customary time to make resolutions, these are mine:

• To do a better job noticing the open doors God places in front of me and...
• To walk through these doors with an open mouth ready and willing...
• To proclaim His goodness and mercy to anyone who will listen, and even to those who won't.