I am just not getting it. Scrolls, angels and plagues. Blood, beasts and judgement. I do not want to appear sacrilegious or blasphemous, but so much of Revelation is lost on me. The upside to this is that it has caused me to rely solely on the Holy Spirit's leading rather than on my own wisdom to glean relevance out of this section of readings.
On two separate occasions, John calls for "patient endurance" on the part of believers. Revelation 13:10;14:12 In Revelation, believers must endure plagues, beasts, the dragon and death. For most Christians in America, our patient endurance will be tested through taunts of classmates, exclusions from after-work happy hours and not getting that promotion because we were not willing to cut ethical corners.
But I wonder how much more persecution would we go through if we took a more vocal stand against the wrongs in the workplace, in school and the church. What if we called out a brother in Christ when he told the off-color joke? Would I be the object of a more public ridicule if I told a doubles partner that using the Lord's name in vain really bothered me? If a boss consistently "stole" from corporate by falsifying time sheets, do we take a stand that might cost a job?
Maybe our lack of persecution in America has less to do with the Constitution and more do to with our milk-toast Christianity. I don't like the mirror I am looking into right now.
The other side of the coin is that we can come across judgmental. Where is the line? How do we speak out for what is right without seeming judgmental or self-righteous? Hmmm. . .
But one thing I know, if we decide to take a stand, we had better make sure we are walking the walk.
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