After the September 11 attacks on this country countless law enforcement units were briefed on how to identify terrorists. The police chief of Fort Stockton, Texas, in a public meeting, informed the citizens that there had been an opportunity to apprehend a suspicious person. That
opportu- nity never materialized because the person that could have reported the incident did not want to get involved.
Women are battered every day in domestic violence cases. Yet, many never interfere for not wanting to get involved. Children are sexually and physically abused every day, yet many of these cases go unreported because people just don’t want to get involved. Shoplifters go unpunished because people refuse to turn them in because they don’t want to get involved.
Why this attitude? Maybe the origin of this attitude can be traced to our upbringing. Ever heard an adult say, “Nobody likes a tattletale.” Or, “Who was the snitch?” It seems that we are conditioned at a very young age to mind our own business, even if it means that innocent people will get hurt.
In religion this attitude is very prevalent. Christians often ignore opportunities to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ for fear of getting involved in someone else's business. Some Christians would rather their relatives go to hell than to tell them about the Lord and His plan of salvation. WHY?
Our society dictates what is acceptable behavior and what is not. Discussing religion [and politics] is not
accepta- ble, according to Ann Landers (Southport Sounder, Jan. 6, 2002). Apparently a disgruntled non-Christian was upset that a preacher preached the gospel during a funeral service. Ann Landers, in her infinite wisdom, said, I can understand your resentment. That tasteless and inappropriate attempt to recruit new members to the church was ham-handed and an insult to the bereaved. If the minister, out of a sense of religious duty, thought it was imperative that he try to "save" you, he should have approached you after the service and suggested a private meeting.” (Southport Sounder, Jan. 6, 2002).
May I suggest that our society, including Ann Landers, is dead wrong! The scriptures tell us to preach the gospel in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). This means, “Preach the gospel whether they want to hear it or not.”
Christians, get out there and do your duty, preach the gospel
today!