Graffitti and Vandalism, Symptoms of what lies within

In light of the recent vandalism Flippin First Baptist Church faced, we must realize there is a much greater issue at bay.  There is a problem much deeper and much more vile that we have not acknowledged as of yet.  Many of you will accuse me of over-reacting, thinking way too deep and taking matters much too seriously.  There will be others and probably few who will agree with what I have to say and what I see.  My hope is that many will understand and believe what I am about to share.  My prayer is that the core of our hearts and souls will be struck.  As individuals, families, neighbors, friends, churches and communities we must respond and react with a passion for a better tomorrow.  We must recognize and acknowledge that there is a grave problem, perhaps even a vile monster lying in wait only subdued for now.  Before it is too late, we must act now.  Our desire to act must come from something deep within, not fueled by our emotions, self-motivations or even the pressure from those around us.  For if desires, motivations, convictions and even strength to persevere come from anything less than God, then we will quickly weaken and fail.  If that which is temporary is what fuels us, then we will quickly fade and fail.  If we are fueled by that which is everlasting, then our efforts will be everlasting as well. 

Am I thinking radically? Absolutely I am.  If I never think radically then I will never react radically and I want to be radical in my faith and following of Jesus Christ.  Please don’t confuse my radical thinking with being ridiculous, irrational or even impossible.  It is time to start thinking radically and reacting radically in a responsible way.  Otherwise our tomorrow and our children’s future will be radically ridiculous, radically irrational and radically impossible to live with. 

The graffiti and vandalism we suffered is nothing more than a symptom of what lies beneath the core of society, our country, our community, our families, and our individual selves as well.  If the graffiti and vandalism from this past week was all we had to fear, then sure things will be OK and yes I would be over-reacting.  Truth be known, the issue at hand runs so much deeper.  The symptoms are far greater and far more widespread.  The reason we don’t recognize them is because we have become desensitized as a people.  We make excuses, chose to ignore and accept these symptoms as normal.  Why we even create these problems ourselves in the name of liberalism, relativism, acceptance, tolerance, self-expression, freedom, and whatever politically correct blah blah blahs are out there.   As a youth pastor and a paramedic in our community I have been privy to learn, hear about, witness and experience lies behind these symptoms first hand.  I have been given with the opportunity to see these subdued evils that lay hidden.  These are problems that we want to accept as normal and ok.

Nearly 20 years ago I witnessed and experienced these very same symptoms in my community in south Florida.  I remember having a discussion with my mom sharing with her my thoughts and what I was seeing.  I also remember her also saying to me; “I really do not think it is as bad as you perceive.”  About a year later I moved my family to Arkansas.  After we moved, my parent’s home was broken into three times.  Since then they moved to Georgia because things really were that bad.  I can assure you the place I once lived is now no place to raise your children or even make your home.
If you want to know where we are headed then take a look at the bigger picture that surrounds us. Take a look at the problems our country is facing as a whole.  Read the papers, watch the news and listen to the radical rights like me.  Just make sure they aren’t radically ridiculous and irrational as well. 

I am telling you, that what lies beneath these symptoms is bad.  You will find political corruption, lack of moral and ethical standards, materialistic greed, financial irresponsibility, pride, arrogance, drug and alcohol addictions, liberalistic promotion, perversion, domestic violence.  That is what you find on top.  These things are nothing more than the graffiti on the wall of our country.  Dig deeper and you will discover that our problems don not come from the top, they don’t come from our leaders, nor our local governments.  These problems are not caused by liberal organizations, Hollywood, or even the music industry.  These problems are not caused by you being a victim.  These problems are directly related to you as an individual.  All of what you see is the symptoms of what truly lies within the heart of man. 

The problem is the sin within us.  It is your personal sin that has led your life astray.  As a result our families, our communities and even our country now suffer from these horrific and devastating symptoms.  We now live with corruption, greed, dishonesty, lying, cheating, stealing, insecurity, community violence, domestic abuse and neglect.   Work place violence, school yard shootings, gang wars, and political corruptions have become the norm for our nightly news.   Our homes are wreaking havoc from neglect, brokenness, absence of parenting, lack of nurturing and spiritual failure.   We do not recognize it because we view it just like everything else.  It’s normal, it’s expected, it is just the way we were made and that is just how it is. 

The core of our problem doesn’t come from international wrongs, the white house, the court house, the school house or even your house.  The core of the problem comes from you as an individual because of the sin that lies within.  Everything else is a symptom produced by this sin.  Yes this includes me a Christian, son, brother, husband, father, youth pastor, neighbor, friend, paramedic and whatever else I am. 

Until individuals decide they are sick and tired of where this world is headed and accept the fact the problem begins from within, then nothing will change for the better it will only get worse.  I for one know that I am far from perfect and I accept the fact that I must become a better Christian, better son, better brother, better husband, better father, better youth pastor, better neighbor, better friend, better paramedic, and a better whatever else I am.  Good luck making this world a better place if I can’t even make a better me to begin with.  I also know that I am limited by my fleshly desires, motivations, and abilities.  Because of my limits I know that my chances of making a difference are limited as well.  Therefore I have surrendered my hopes and dreams, my passions and desires, and my strength and motivations to the one true King.  Daily I will choose to surrender my life, take up my cross, and seek His perfect will for me.  If I can get right my life in the LORD, then my life will be used to reach my family, reach my neighbors, reach my community and maybe even reach this world. 

As for me personally, I am sick and tired of sitting back and watching this all happen.  I choose to start with me.  Joshua said it best “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods forefathers served beyond the river, or the gods the Amorites in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15 NIV). 
Let me rephrase what Joshua said; If serving the LORD seems wrong to you, then you choose for yourself how you will continue to live whether it be as you have always known and were taught or by the ways in which our country and community is headed just as it is now.  As for me I choose Jesus.  I choose to serve Him as my LORD.  How about you, what will you choose?

It is funny; I have been accused of a lot of things good and bad.  I have been told that my religious views are wrong and judgmental.  More often than not, I have been praised because of my faith in Jesus Christ.  However even with all the criticisms and persecutions I have faced and received because of my faith, I have never been accused of making this world, this community, or even our church a worse place.  I have been praised and thanked for leading others to a better life, but I have never been accused of making or ruining anyone’s life worse because of Jesus.  Please understand, that what I do and how I do it has nothing to do with me, I all has to do with Jesus, the life He gave me and what He did for me at Calvary.  If anyone deserves praise, it is He.