Beware of well intentioned dragons!

     Over time dragons have stayed rather static in their description and function.  Puff the Magic Dragon they are not.  Dragons are meant to be menacing, ferocious, intimidating and destructive flying creatures.  They are usually dark in color and personality and are used to reflect the world from which they come.  Many think of dragons from medieval times and forward to today.  The first reference to dragons actually comes from the Bible where Satan is described as a dragon or serpent who roams the earth seeking to devour those who serve Jesus.  Today we have desensitized the dragon to a piece of jewelry, a statue in the corner on a shelf or part of a fiction story dramatized on the big screen.  Today you don't hear about the dragons of society (they are there) or the dragons within our churches.  The title of today's blog comes from the title of a book I read years ago called, "Well Intentioned Dragons."  Like many essential thoughts and actions within the church this topic is rarely addressed.  Politically correctness demands that we not offend anyone.  We, as a church have bowed to pressure and softened the Bible's message in order to placate the fantasy of the majority. 
      Don't believe me?  That's okay, many don't believe and only God will bring about circumstances where they believe.  Take for instance the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, and other beliefs we hold dear.  Here is the fact.  None of them exist.  I know, "what does it hurt for children to believe in them?"  We also believe that it's okay to sin all week, go to confession and then go back to sinning all week.  We believe that sometimes we need to put things before our life in Christ.  Like sports, toys, and putting away our faith when we go to work or are with the boys.  Where did all of this come from?  I suggest that we look at the title again.  There are well intentioned dragons that are in our very midst and THEY ARE BELIEVERS!  We've let prayer and the Bible be taken out of our schools.  We've stood by while others are teaching our children the worlds view of sex education and shirking our responsibilities.  We've sat by the door on Halloween and gave away candy to kids who threaten to "Trick or Treat!" us.  Yet, we are silent.
     Do you know anyone who professes to be a believer and is a gossip?  How about someone who feels it's their responsibility to control and change the direction of the group of believers?  Maybe it's the people who feel tolerance is the best practice a we don't want to offend anyone?  You get the idea.  Christianity has been challenged and is deteriorating for as long as men and women have chosen to not stand for God regardless of the well intentioned dragons.  History tells us that the "fall" occurs from within.   It's when the people are divided and self interests rule that the fabric of our beliefs begins to fray and unravel.  Yet, like a frog in a pot of water, we make no move while the heat is turned up and soon we are just as dead as the frog who has boiled.  What are we to do?  Well, we can do something or nothing.  Those are our choices.  We can no longer blame anyone else, society, church leadership, or another interpretation of what the Bible says.  It's up to us to stand firm on what the Bible says without excuse, without reproach, without apology.  The dragon is still out there going about the earth seeking whom he may devour.  Is the dragon you?  What are your intentions as to what you are going to say when you stand before Christ? 
     "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."