IF
YOU SEE SOMETHING…SAY SOMETHING!
In July, 2010, the USA Department of
Homeland Security activated a “program to raise public awareness of indicators
of terrorism and violent crime and to emphasize the importance of reporting
suspicious activity to the proper state and local law enforcement authorities.” www.dhs.gov
Its well-known campaign slogan is “If You See Something, Say Something.” According to I Corinthians 15:46, the “natural”
often precedes the “spiritual.” First
natural, then spiritual. In that light, I recently reread the Department of
Homeland Security slogan and reconsidered its meaning.
While I stand in agreement with the
urgings of government officials for our citizens to be vigilant and ready to
report potential indicators of trouble or terror, I see a new and deeper significance
for their adopted slogan. Consider
this. All too often, Christians can become
somewhat intimated (terrorized, if you will) by the vocal and outlandish demands
of the world system. At times, in our
efforts to be politically correct and to blend with our culture and society, we
allow our mouths to be muzzled and truths to be muted. However, the Word of God directs us to act in
a diametrically opposite manner: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” (Psalm
107:2)
Light shines best and brightest in
darkness, and Jesus Christ declares us to be brilliant beacons of truth. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”
(Matthew 5:14) The Apostle Paul advised
the Church of Corinth, “If the good news we preach is hidden, it is hidden to
those who are lost in sin.” (II Corinthians 4:3, NLV)
So believer…if you see
something…say something.
This does not imply that the Body of
Christ is to become judge and jury for other people, in a misguided effort to
proactively purge our world of sin and shame.
Indeed, that is the task of The Holy Spirit. (John 16:7-11) In the final analysis, judgment belongs to
God, whom Paul describes as “the righteous judge.” (II Timothy 4:8) But believers are called to be “witnesses”
of/by/for “the way, the truth, and the life.” (Acts 1:8 – John 14:6) Therefore, let us do so with conviction, character,
consistency and courage. (Acts
4:31) Because the early Christian Church
did so, their resultant impact and their enemies’ testimonies were powerful and
unequivocal. Unbelievers referred to
them as “these that have turned the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6)
So believer…if you see
something…say something.
This spiritual slogan also pertains
to our grateful recognition of the manifold blessings of God. Sincere acts of praise always invoke the presence
of Almighty God; our praise invites Him into every setting and situation. If a word, if you can see something significant
that GOD has done for you – and we know you have since we know what He does – say something! The simple truth is that our praise
terrorizes our spiritual enemies.
Praise even has the capacity to
paralyze our natural enemies. I heard a
powerful testimony from one of the senior church mothers. While headed toward the subway one night, she
was jostled by a teenage boy who demanded that she surrender her purse. This wise mother complied with the wishes of her
would-be burglar. But as she removed the
purse from her shoulder and extended it to him, she began to cry out “Thank You, Jesus!” and to speak loudly in
her heavenly language. The young man immediately
dropped her purse and fled the scene in a panic. For just as there is a promised power in our witness, there is an absolute
authority that is released in our praise!
So believer…if you see
something…say something.
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