Evil Seldom Travels Alone

I’ve been reading my way through the book of Psalms on my way through the Bible. But lately I have been feeling as if I am living one of David’s Psalms in my own life. I’m not worthy of being recognized with the depth of writing skills that the Lord bestowed upon King David. But my heart, like that of David’s in many of his Psalms is broken. Our community has been broken in literal pieces for a few years. Prior to that it was broken – but more in a wounded and bruised way by the oppression of local leaders. And then I think back to some of the antics of leadership during my own childhood and maybe I just wasn’t conscious of the evil of it because of my age. But now, at the age of 62, I am all too aware of the evil.

It’s not the evil that concerns me as much as the acceptance of it. As the evil consumes our children, with their exposure to the worst of depravity, leadership shrugs it off and tells the people, “There’s nothing we can do, the Government has spoken.” And the child is left to sit in their state of suffering while those in charge continue to sit in their offices, with their name plate on their desk, so very proud of their accomplishments and their titles.

“Oh Shari, you are soooooooo dramatic!”

Is that is what you were thinking? Think again. This is not drama. Drama is an act played out, outside of reality. Believe me when I tell you that what I am dealing with in my mind and heart is reality.

Because some of the community has began to view me as someone willing to expose the truth through the Ridgeview News, they send me information. Information that I do not doubt is truth, but I personally don’t have the evidence to declare it on my media page. So I stay silent. And then I feel the failure in myself against the blood of Jesus, who died for the sins these people are committing. And then Satan plays that card on me, “You’re a sinner too Shari. How dare you call out the sins of another?”

Yes. I am a sinner. So are you. We all are, but does that mean we allow evil to reign?

This is a law of the public schools for which you may not know. And the one that pushed me over the edge on what I was going to sit silent about. In a not so hypothetical situation, a child is exposed to the nudity of another child in a classroom. The teacher is told and the child doing the act is given a stern talking to. The children who viewed the act are told to open their books to page 72 and continue with their lesson. (That is a dramatization but very likely reality.) I’m sure their mind was on their lessons of the day. The parents were never notified that their children were exposed. The children were not counseled as to why this behavior happened or how they should proceed with their very formative years. However, those children did have good relationships with their parents and went home and told them of the antics of their classroom that day. Which is how I entered into this story.

I thought this was an isolated story. Until I heard of another one.

The Board of Education’s reasoning is that we cannot violate the rights of the child who did the act by telling the parents of the children exposed that this even occurred. And the parents are expected to say and do nothing. They are viewed as troublemakers because they love their children and do not want them exposed to the body parts of another person in a classroom.

This morning as I read King David’s cries to God, I cried along with him.

THE CONFUSION

Psalm 71

[1] In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

Confusion is exactly what the world wants. To confuse what is the morally correct action with the legal jargon of a law book and forbid parents to have a say in how their children are taught. This is not an “anti-public school message.” I realize that public school is very often the only option for parents. This is a message for good parents to refuse to allow evil to infiltrate the minds of their children through the public school system. Can it happen, of course. But should it be accepted? What does that teach our children, except that there is nobody standing up for them being violated. And the vile becomes the norm and children learn that wickedness is okay.

THE CAUSE

Psalm 71:2-5 KJV
[2] Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. [3] Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. [4] Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. [5] For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

When King David asked his brothers, who refused to fight Goliath, “Is there not a cause?” It seemed ridiculous to him that the army of Israel was willing to sit down and allow the Philistines to terrorize their community. So little David took his five smooth stones and knocked the head off that giant. And the army of Israel suddenly realized how ignorant they had been when a teenager delivering bread and cheese delivered their Nation. And they lived happily ever after. Of course not. Until Jesus returns, we are in this battle.

When David asked the LORD to cause him to escape, he didn’t expect not to be involved. David knew that he was in the battle with the Lord. That he had to get his stones out of his pocket again.

You may not deal with life from a biblical perspective. That is the only way I know to deal with it since salvation in 1996. And it is what brings me to tears because I have heard far too many Christians say that what is happening in our County is not preventable, and we should keep our mouths shut so that their will not be retaliation upon our families or we won’t lose certain staff. Tell me. Has anything changed since Psalm 71? David had trusted God since his youth, because he was brought up in the teaching and admonition of the Lord from his youth. From my own church’s attendance, I know that most of the children in this community and every other community in the world, are not brought up in the ways of God. But He is still God.

THE ENEMY HAS TAKEN COUNSEL

Psalm 71:6-13 KJV
[6] By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. [7] I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. [8] Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. [9] Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. [10] For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, [11] Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him. [12] O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. [13] Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

Evil seldom travels alone. But Christians shouldn’t be found in their company applauding their actions or saying that it’s acceptable because the end justifies the means. You cannot praise God and evil at the same time. We don’t want anyone to lose their jobs. Not even the evil. And then we wonder why our county is suffering. Goliath was too dumb and proud to see the potential in David. But I’ll give those in positions of authority fight against the truth some credit, they have sought counsel but they still believe that God is not upset with them.

THE ENEMY IS CONFOUNDED

They are frustrated and annoyed that anyone dare question their intent. And they’ll use scripture to validate it. They use their favorite verse.

Matthew 7:1 KJV
Judge not, that ye be not judged.

But let’s look at 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 KJV
[11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [12] For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? [13] But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

While that may read a little King James Version) heavy, Verse 11 is pretty easy, don’t keep company with the wicked. But these are some serious offenses right, not the piddly things inside of our government? What about covetous (the money)? Idolater (keeping up with the Jones’)? Railer (one who scoffs and insults others)?There are mild to major forms of all sin and God says to avoid those who behave in such a manner. And as far as judging them, he asks the question, “Do you not judge them who are within (meaning within the church)?” It’s not talking about putting them on trial, it’s talking about holding the church accountable for its behavior. And yet we don’t. But let most children within the school behave in error and suddenly they’re judged with punishment executed. Yet they see leadership behave in ways that are against everything they’re being told.

I haven’t blogged for a while. I sat as silent as the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. But this morning as I once again wept over the actions of the people in my community that I love, God said speak. And so I did.

If you feel as I do. Join with me in prayer. Pray without ceasing, and stand strong on behalf the children. They deserve better.