Take A Knee

Everyone it seems is talking about NFL players taking a knee during the National Anthem at the start of football games around the United States. Even the President had something to say about it recently.
As a man who served in the United States Army sacrificing much to serve this nation, and serving alongside those who lost their lives in service to this country, I can understand how some view this as a sign of disrespect towards the military, the flag and this country. In fact, in the past, whenever I would attend a sporting event (which hasn’t been many times), I have shed a tear as the National Anthem has been played, remembering those whom I have served with and the many others who gave their lives while serving this country.
However, as someone who has served I understand that the very reason I and so many others have served, currently are serving and for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice of giving their life in service, have done so for the freedom that everyone in this country has.

Freedom..... supposedly we have it in America.
Freedom of speech!
Freedom of religion!
Freedom really isn't freedom if it is only freedom when it lines up with what you believe.
Freedom will vary over time and as leadership in the nation changes.
Freedom that is forever is only found in Jesus the Christ!!
Freedom from the bondage of sin!
Freedom from the wrath of God that abides on all those outside of Christ!
The truth will set you free... !!!
Jesus said' "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life"

You see the freedom we have in this country allows men the freedom to protest peacefully, preach the gospel on the streets, and believe what they choose to believe whether it is right or wrong, true or false, freedom gives us the right to do so.

Colin Kaepernick felt the need to protest peacefully by taking a knee during the Nation Anthem at the start of a football, while others stood for the singing of the Anthem Kaepernick took a knee in protest to what he believes and many others believe they have seen with police injustice in this nation.

Which has caused many people to speak out, the left speaks out in favor of Kaepernick, unfortunately it always seems to be for political gain, and the right standing against Kaepernick, showing their patriotism and also I believe for some in an attempt for political gain as well. 

Regardless of where you come down, either the left or the right, if you are honest, you’d have to admit that racism still exists in this country. And many people may come up with ideas and ways in which they believe we can combat racism, but the truth is racism has been around for a very long time and will not end until Christ returns, because racism is a sin problem and the only way to take a sinner from his sin nature to a new nature is through Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Growing up I played a little football in Junior high and seen a few high school games over the years and numerous pro football games on television as well to know that when another player is hurt or suffered an injury the other players out of respect would take a knee for the injured player.

We need to admit that honestly are nation is hurt and injured in a sense, because of sin, we have roots of slavery in this country and racism still exists today and as I already stated will continue, we as a nation have murdered millions of babies in the womb of their mothers through abortion which as a nation we have made it legal and call it a women’s right to choose if she wants to murder her baby or keep her baby. Homosexuality is becoming more popular through television and movies and more and more are embracing it, and as a nation we legalized same sex “marriage” which is a redefining of what God created as marriage, and now as a nation accept and embrace transgenderism, where the woman of the year award was given to a man who believes he is a woman.

We are living in Romans one.

Romans 1:18-32
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (19) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. (20) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (21) For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools, (23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (24) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, (25) because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (26) For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; (27) and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (28) And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. (29) They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, (30) slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, (31) foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (32) Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

After watching so many people being upset with the NFL players taking a knee, many of which were professing Christians, my wife wrote this:
“Just some thoughts:
I am thankful for the right that we currently have in this country as Americans to stand and speak freely. My husband and many others over the years have served, fought and many have died for that freedom. Today we see those freedoms slipping away day by day. But what is it that is truly worth speaking for?? As so many are upset and riled up about some football players who fail to stand for our Countries National anthem how many of those same people who are upset by this are using our current freedom to stand and speak up for what counts in eternity?
Are you upset by the lost and dying that are on their way to an eternity in hell separated from Christ, are you upset about the millions of babies who have been murdered by abortion in our country and the thousands more who will be murdered tomorrow, are you upset at the state of the church and the easy Christianity that costs you nothing that so many "Christians" ascribe to today? The right to stand and speak and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ is given by no man, and if the freedoms we hold as AMERICANS today are gone tomorrow how many of us will still stand and speak??”

So many professing Christ seem to be more upset over some football players on a Sunday afternoon who take a knee before a game during the National Anthem rather than being upset over the many other issues that as a nation we should be grieved over.
As Kaepernick has been grieved over the racism in this country and what he believes to be injustice by the police he took a knee, what are you willing to take a knee for.
Especially as Christian, are we standing up against the evil of abortion in our day, racism, injustice, watered down false gospels being preached in the name of Christ, are we taking a knee in protest over these evils.

Now please hear me, I am not calling for a social gospel nor do I believe that we should support groups that may stand against some of the things listed above who hold to a anti biblical worldview. My point is as Christians are we really that upset over a football player peacefully protesting over a conviction he has and yet we as Christians aren’t upset with abortion enough to go and stand in front an abortion center to preach the gospel, hold signs and seek to help woman to not murder their babies, are we not that upset to speak out when we see injustice happen in our country.

Are you upset about the protesting at NFL games this past Sunday?
Here's an option for you:
How about going down to your local NFL stadium each week there is a home game and stand outside with signs pointing to Jesus, handing out gospel tracts and preaching the gospel in the open air.
Want to see change in the people of this nation.... starts with a changed heart by grace through faith in Jesus, by which he uses the preaching of the gospel

Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 10:14-17
(14) How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (15) And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” (17) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

So are you willing to take a knee? To take a stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Because here is the thing, every knee will one day bow and confess that Jesus Christ is LORD!

Romans 14:11
for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Philippians 2:10-11
(10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Are you willing to take the gospel to the lost and dying world that they might bow the knee with you in submission to Christ now while we have time? Or are you more upset over NFL players who take a knee during the National Anthem of a football game, which while be entertaining has no eternal value whatsoever.

If you have less concern over the things of God and taking the gospel to those in need than you do over NFL players protesting, what does that say about your Christianity?
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To the Glory of God
by Ricky Gantz