Where are the modern day knights?

This is going to be one of those subjects I was hinting to in my last post. Viewing something through a biblical lens versus a worldly one. So hold on. And by the way, they will probably get tougher as they get posted.

I have a real burr under my saddle about an issue that is driving me nuts. This is directed to Christian men, particularly young Christian men. Here is the question, "What are you thinking?" I have found myself dumbfounded time and time again over the actions of young, so called Christian men. What am I talking about? Let me describe just one scenario.

It's any day of the week. Maybe Joe has asked Mary out to dinner, a movie or whatever. He picks her up by car and off they go into the distance, alone. What is wrong with this picture? As soon as they took off, these two people lost the moral high ground. From this point on it is totally their word against anyone else as to whether or not they did anything more than just go to dinner. Here is my viewpoint. Where are the modern day knights whose calling is to be the protector of a woman's virtue, honor and reputation?! I have no issue with unsaved or non-Christians taking part in this because they don't know better. But as Christians we should know better.

Here are a couple of scriptural references to support my viewpoint. 1 Thess 5:22. "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (KJV) You can see by this verse we are commanded to more than just "not doing something". We are commanded to avoid even the "appearance" of doing something. Do you think two, unmarried people, riding off into the sunset alone avoids that? And what really fries me is that I want to smack that boy upside the head and ask him, "What are you thinking?" "Where is your head?" And finally, "Where is your sense of protecting that young ladies reputation?"

I had this conversation one time with one of these Christian men. It quickly became obvious that I had touched a "third rail" in his life. He became quite defensive. His response was that if someone has such a dirty mind that they go down that road then that is their problem. Is that right? What a great opening for my second scripture reference. Romans 14:21, "It is better to not eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fail."  Or how about this, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." (NIV) Maybe another, 1Cor 8:9, "But take heed lest by any means of this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak." (KJV) 


I am concerned that those of us that claim to be followers of Christ have become too influenced and dumbed down by our culture that we are now totally blind to our own error. Our culture has most definitely raised generations that are very self centered and selfish. When someone says something like "it's their problem" a red flag should raise. Jesus did not teach that's "all about you baby". On the contrary we are to be our brothers' keeper. We have been influenced by culture rather than being culture influence-rs.

We are called to look different than the world. I love how it is said in this verse, 1Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light". (KJV) That's interesting. We are called a "peculiar people". From what I see, most of the time, Christians are working hard not to be peculiar, but to blend in like a chameleon with the world.

The solution? One is to meet Mary at the restaurant or movie. Or do something that may seem old fashioned but works. Double dating with another believing couple and therefore you all become accountable to each other. Those are just a couple of examples. If you get your head in the game I'm sure there are many more.

To show the extent and belief some people have in the concept of avoiding the appearance of evil I want to share a little factoid. All the years of Billy Graham traveling on the road for his crusades he held to a policy. His wife most assuredly was not the road warrior Billy was so often he would be on the road without her. He had this policy, he never slept in a hotel room alone. He always shared the room with one of the men on the crusade. This prevented even an accusation from an opportunity seeking woman to accuse him of a relationship or adulterous affair. It served him well. And protected him. Was it inconvenient? In many ways it definitely was. How many times, after a crusade, he probably would have liked just going back to the room and veg out alone. But you see, Christianity isn't about self. It's about dying to self. How many new believers lead to Christ by Billy would have possibly fallen from the faith upon hearing about impropriety on his part. You see Billy knew there was more at stake than just him being comfortable.

My prayer, quite literally, is "God help us to be that peculiar people. That, rather than the world drawing us toward them, that we draw them toward us and therefore to You. God, please bring revival to your church that we may be awaken from our sleep". Amen.

Love ya'
Steve