If you missed last week's article I encourage you to read it because this might not make much sense otherwise.
First I want to thank the dozens of people who wrote me with words of encouragement, sharing your own trials, as well as your successes (which unfortunately are few). Almost every one of your responses were very positive, except one and that is OK, because for every one, there are probably at least ten others that wanted to say the same thing.
I respect everyone's opinion and never judge and I expect the same back, this was Christ's guidelines to us.
But one Pastor stated that my article was a "bait-n-switch" with the way the article was written and that it was less than proper and I lowered myself to some level that must be beneath me.
So please give me this opportunity to explain why I wrote what I wrote last week.
First, this wasn't a pity-party for the Christian Security Network or me; as much as I love you folks I am a big boy and don't need any hugs, so I wasn't looking for any sympathy, pats on the back, etc.
Second, yes, I did write the article out of frustration because after doing all this work for about three years now it just hurts to see the same things happening to your churches day after day. My heart breaks every time I see someone hurt, a church that gets burned to the ground, or see a church become the victim of a crime that could have been stopped. I love the church, but am losing respect for leaders that do nothing and let this continue.
Third, the article was to make a statistical point about what "people" see as important. You see typically any article we run, written by me or someone else, will get about 50% of you reading it. If it is slightly above 50% I consider it a success, if is below I know it was a less than popular topic.
So with the number hovering about 50%, I started last week's article rather "dramatic" hitting all the "hot buttons" that I thought would get a reaction and it did. Almost 80% of the people that got the newsletter read the article...or at least until they realized it was a "bait-n-switch".
Although I must say, "bait-n-switch" generally refers to selling you one thing and giving you another. I wasn't selling anything except to make a point that I don't know what it is going to take to wake everyone up.
How far will we let this go in our churches?
This is the United States of America, founded on a Judeo-Christian foundation. People can talk about the separation between church and state, but they are wrong; the church is us, it is every Christian, it is what gives us our freedom to worship our God and proclaim our faith so open.
And I believe an attack on our church is an attack against every believer.
But the problem of doing nothing exists.
I keep going back to James 2:17 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (KJV)
One of our past CSN Advisory Board Members, who is a still a good friend and brother in Christ, wrote:
"Jeff, You read my mind. As a career security professional, I have often offered pro-bono assistance to Christian organizations and individuals. Even in the aftermath of serious incidents very few have taken me up my offers. It fascinates me that non-Christian organizations are willing to pay consulting rates of $150.00 an hour or more, while we literally can't give our services to our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. All we can do is pray, continue in our efforts and remember Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." KJV"
Amen brother.
Many of you shared some very outstanding insights and words of encouragement and I love you all for it, however it is usually the same folks that I have heard from over the years.
It is funny (in an ironic type of way) that with the thousands of people who get this message, I hear from about a dozen of you on a regular basis and if I haven't met you, I feel like I know you. Thanks to Sue S., Ralph H., Scott W., Carla P., Steve R., Lynn B., and James S. for your continued support and for what you are doing to make the Christian community safer and more secure where you live.
I do want to "keep up the good fight", but I can't do it alone and neither can a handful of people. There are over 300,000 Christian churches in the U.S. and thousands are victims every year and I believe this is only the beginning.
And what shall we do?
God bless the fellow believer from the church in Indiana that asked if they could donate money to help the cause, because I know money for anyone is not easy to come by, especially in these hard economic times. The gesture is deeply appreciated.
But this isn't about money, although for some it is who see the weakness of the church as a way for their own gain.
This is about action, not sitting on the sidelines, and is not only about your own church.
I am running out of ideas to get our brothers and sisters in Christ mobilized, to bring about in our church leaders an awareness of the risks, and get them to act, now, rather than after they have a loss.
In the beginning I truly thought it was a financial issue; church leaders would tell me they do not have the money for security. But after nearly three years I have realized that it has nothing to do with money, because as my friend and past Board Member observed above, you can make this free and they still will not act and many of you have echoed the same words to me.
So where do we go? I am still at a loss.
I admire other faiths that seem to rally around each other and speak with almost one voice and not stand idol when they feel there is injustice. I look at groups like the Tea Party, love or hate them, they mobilized and are making a difference.
I wish we could do that in our churches...anyone have Sarah Palin's number? Maybe she can help?
As always, I will continue to pray and ask for your prayers, but I do grow weary and it is not clear to me any more what God wants?
In Christ,
Jeff Hawkins
Executive Director, Bother-in-Christ, Bait & Switch Artist :) |
