Continuing the dialogue.....
An Enemy Of The People
Dear Friend,
As a theater ministry, Acacia seeks to offer high quality theater, which affords the opportunity to view one's life in relationship to the fullness of God's truth. We pray that our shows offer an occasion for thanksgiving, growth, enjoyment and understanding. Without detracting from the theater experience, which we hope you enjoyed, and obviously without foreknowledge of topics dealt with in the "Talk Back," we would like to continue the dialogue by sharing some of the thoughts that the board of directors discussed after reading this play.
Dr. Thomas Stockman took a stand against the opinion of the majority of the people, even when an enormous amount of pressure was placed on him. He is told, “Let me have a signed statement saying that in your zeal to help the town, you went overboard and exaggerated – put it in any way you like, just so you calm anybody who might feel nervous about the water. If you’ll give me that, you’ve got your job.” But even under threat of losing things very important to him, he still pursues the truth.
Jesus had the same attitude when dealing with the Pharisees and religious leaders of His time. He said to them:
"I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father-- God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.” (John 8:37-43)
This was not very politically correct, but Jesus never gave any consideration to what was politically correct. Rather He only spoke and did those things that were pleasing to His Father. We exhort you to be the same way. Don’t stand with the majority when it is contrary to the will of God and the truth. The phrase ‘What would Jesus do?’ has no deeper meaning.
God has provided us with numerous examples of how to stand in faith for what we believe and there are many heroes of faith to give us inspiration.
Abraham Lincoln said, “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on Earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside me."
The apostle Andrew was threatened with death on the cross if he would not denounce Jesus. He said, “Had I feared the death of the cross, I should not have preached the majesty and glory of the cross of Christ." Andrew hung bound to the cross for three days, preaching and exhorting the people before him, "Remain steadfast in the Word and doctrine you have received, instructing one another, that you may dwell with God in eternity, and receive the fruit of His promises."
Martin Luther said, “Here I stand. I can do no other.”
Thomas More before being beheaded remarked, “The King’s good servant, but God’s First.”
A gunman asked for "those who believe in God" to stand up. Then the killer pointed his gun at Cassie Bernall and asked her the life-or-death question: "Do you believe in Jesus?" After a long hesitation, she looked to the young man, and said: "Yes, I love Jesus". That was the last thing this 17-year-old Christian would ever say. The gunman asked her "Why?" She had no time to answer before she was shot to death.
Paul said of Abraham, “who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." (Romans 4:18)
Mary Stuart proclaimed, “In my end is my beginning.”
From Rudyard Kipling:
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Ephesians 6:13-14
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth.”
Sincerely,
ACACIA THEATRE COMPANY, INC.
Board of Directors
