Fidelity Month

Hot take?

I won’t lie: I have been tired of Pride Month for a couple of months already. As one source put it (I forget who said it originally), Pride Month is the new Christmas: it starts earlier and earlier, and all the businesses are in on it.

Unlike Christmas, though, the majority who celebrate it tend to demonize those who don’t.

Yes, some Christmas celebrants do that, and we have seen the Conservative backlash against the “War on Christmas”. But they are focusing on the wrong war, especially with the irony of the Conservative focus on freedom of speech (and personal choice).

Conversely, there are some Pride people who follow a more “live and let live” approach.

With Pride Month (which started in earnest with the Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light fiasco), the focus has always been “let us celebrate ourselves” as opposed to celebrating the birth of Christ. Yes, Christmas has largely become about getting what we want, but these two seasons started from polar opposite positions.

This is why I was happy to hear about a new option:

Fidelity Month

Prof. Robert George of Princeton University suggested that, rather than combating darkness, we focus on lighting candles.

As the name suggests, we focus on remaining faithful (Latin: fidelis) to the core values of commitment to God, spouses (one man and one woman), family (traditional nuclear family), community, and nation.

It’s not a radical idea. It used to be the basis for most people, especially in the West. Yet, even conservative people and groups are willing to compromise on some of these, often simply to refute and reject “the other side” or in a twist of libertarianism.

This is in fact biblical.

Look at Ephesians 5-6, 1 Peter 2-3, and many other passages that could be pulled up.

I say we start doing likewise, actually go out of our way to promote biblical values.

Like we should be doing.

VerseD: Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 18:21, ESV

God created with His words, and He saves us by The Word. We can destroy a person with uncaring, unthinking words, but we can also help the depressed and hopeless with compassionate, careful words. Trust the Holy Spirit to give power and wisdom to our speech for good and life.

VerseD: Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Isaiah 43:2, ESV

God literally did these things for His People throughout history, yet, through the Holy Spirit, we know that God’s Son has saved us from the fires of damnation and chaotic sea of humanity. When this life seems un-navigable, He grants us peace and grace.

VerseD: John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13, ESV

The Father sent the Son to show Hisblove by dying for our forgiveness and restoration. They sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to love others the same way.

VerseD: Acts 4:31

And when they had prayed earnestly, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with confidence.

Acts 4:31, LSB

Our God calls us to Himself, and He sent the Holy Spirit to empower and embolden us to share the gospel of Christ.

This Sunday at Church: Pray for your non-Christian Neighbors

Just last night, I was thinking about our neighbors whom I pray for. When they moved in, the husband/dad would get drunk and scream and threaten his family. Last night, though, I heard how a daughter (3) can soften a heart, as he spoke tenderly and even told her he wants to be a better man for her.

I have not heard yelling for a while.

Let us pray for the unsaved.

Daniel

This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Pray for your non-Christian Neighbors. This is to balance a previous Sunday post “Thank the Lord if you have Christian Neighbors.” If they don’t know Christ then we should be concern for their spiritual well being, and want them to be saved. […]

This Sunday at Church: Pray for your non-Christian Neighbors

VerseD: Matthew 28:19

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Matthew 28:19, ESV

We have been commissioned by our Savior to share God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of our Father in heaven.

VerseD: Ephesians 6:18

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints

Ephesians 6:18, ESV

In Christ, we are united with all other believers by the Holy Spirit, so ket us pray for each other regularly, especially those under persecution and oppression.

VerseD: John 16:13

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 16:13, ESV

When we are found in Christ, we have access to all the wisdom and truth of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

VerseD: Colossians 3:12

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience

Colossians 3:12, ESV

As Christ dwells in us by the Holy Spirit, we see God’s compassion, kindness, humility, and patient love flow through us.