Will you get out of the boat?

Followers of Jesus who have been placed in the public schools know that succeeding there…and staying employed can be a challenge. As a district employee we are legally a representative of the government and thus must be neutral to religion. In 2022, with so many agendas floating around—Critical Race Theory, Gender Identity Fluidity, LGBTQ+, Cancel Culture, and more—it can be challenging to discern when to speak up and when to be quiet and pray. I am convinced that we must first realize that as the schooling culture reflects a secular culture that runs contrary to a Biblical worldview, we can be in this environment, but not part of it. We need to start thinking of ourselves as missionaries in a foreign culture. We cannot hold the public schools to a standard of Biblical truth, but must be sensitive to how we might allow that truth inside of us to impact the culture.

As missionaries we should not expect the culture to submit to what we know to be truth, but should be so submitted to the Holy Spirit to discern, when and how we should be that bright light in a dark place. It certainly is a risk to challenge the lies that exist in the public sector, but if we are connected to the Lord through the Holy Spirit and discern when the time is right to risk all to speak the truth, it can make all the difference. We must ask whether we are more concerned with pleasing the people around us or pleasing the Lord. We can learn much from Peter when he sees the Lord approaching walking on the water. It was much safer for him to stay in the boat with the others, but he took the risk and stepped out of the safety of the boat.

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him…” (Matthew 14:22-31)

When we know that He has called us to step out of our comfort zone, we need to take the risk and challenge the lies that surround us knowing we can reach out to Him for support just as Peter did when he felt himself sinking in the turbulent sea. We can also follow the example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who came to a point where they knew they had to refuse a directive of their king. To this point they had submitted to government authorities and had risen to positions of power and authority themselves. However, they could not bow to a god other than their God.

Daniel 3:16-18 states, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

You know the end of the story…God did save them, but they took a risk not knowing for sure if He would…they stepped out of the boat of safety to stand up for Truth. What will you do? Are you communicating close enough to the Lord to know when to risk all to step out of your boat?