Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

September 23, 2017

I listened to what our president said last night in Alabama, and while I can appreciate his candor, this has been weighing on my heart all day.

This country's flag does not give meaning to its people. The people of this country give meaning to that flag. Our soldiers have fought and continue to fight so that we can have freedoms in this country.  

It's not peaceful protests by American citizens that make this country a hostile place, rather it's divisive rhetoric from those with influence who were elected to lead this great nation. I don’t understand why anyone would rather place their faith in something inanimate, like the flag, than in the living hearts of men and women that made and continue to make this country great. 

It hurts my heart to see those who profess to be a Christian, do so much to hurt and divide us. The Bible says you can tell a tree by the fruit that it produces. Where is the fruit? Now, perhaps more than ever, we need to produce a bounty of Christian love and faith, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and peace.

The narrative should not be on whether or not it’s offensive to kneel during the national anthem. That’s fake news. The real question should center around why NFL athletes protest during the national anthem, and those issues need to continue to be addressed and fixed. It’s certainly more American to protest than to advocate for the suppression of protests. 

Finally, if anyone continues to think that we are just athletes and nothing more, please wake up. We have a platform of influence and a responsibility that comes with that influence to try to do what we believe is right. To try to discredit and suppress that influence whenever it fits someone’s agenda, is wrong.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5