Start Defending God!

  “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” Those are the iconic words from the 1976 film Network.  In an impassioned diatribe, a TV anchor galvanized the nation, convincing his viewers to shout out of their windows "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" 

I am waiting for God to open up a window in the sky and to shout those words down to us.  Until then, the time for backlash is long overdue. We must start speaking up.
          I’m not referring to the issues of the day, where opinions ignite arguments.  I am talking about making a powerful statement that will catch people off guard and let the world know that we love God and aren’t going to take it anymore.

Consider, if instead of just standing there as if we had ears full of mashed potatoes when we hear God's name in vain, we respond by praising God.  Each and every time.  No more wincing inside every time we hear someone put “damn” after God or hear our Savior’s name, Jesus Christ, spit out as if it were chewing tobacco.  Our  Creator deserves utmost respect and we can give it to him.

If someone insulted us, we would immediately speak up.  That is why it is rare for someone to insult another to his or her face.   They might cowardly talk behind people’s back, but they don’t do it to a person’s face because they fear the response.  We should start making people fear the response they will get when they disrespect God around us.

We can react with a sign of the cross or praise to counter blasphemy such as:

* Praise the name of the Lord!

* Praise Jesus, Bless His Name.

* Lord Have Mercy on Us.

* Blessed be the Name of the Lord.        

By doing so, we will send this message to others:

* I love God.

* I will not tolerate you disrespecting him.

* You shall not break the Second Commandment in my presence.

* I will make reparation on the spot if you profane God.

* I am not ashamed to stand up for God here on earth, because I do not want him to be ashamed of me in heaven.

* Jesus Christ is Lord, not a swear word.

* I am mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore! 

Christians are called to praise God and show him reverence and obedience. Would you stand silently by if someone else you loved was spoken of disrespectfully?   If we stop tolerating it, more people will stop doing it.  And maybe through our example or sharing this post, others will also stop turning a deaf ear to the disrespect.  After all, you don’t hear the name of Allah being used that way.   It's time to say "Enough!" Stand up for God.  He deserves it. 
Here is a prayer in reparation for blasphemies against the name of God.  It is  part of the Roman Catholic devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus and appears in the book “The Golden Arrow”, the autobiography of Sr. Marie of St Peter.  It was given to this Carmelite nun of Tours in 1843 as a reparation for blasphemy. "This Golden Arrow will wound My Heart delightfully," He said, "and heal the wounds inflicted by blasphemy.")

May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable,
most incomprehensible and ineffable Name of God
be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored
and glorified in Heaven, on earth,
and under the earth,
by all the creatures of God,
and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Amen.

Imprimatur - T. J. Toolen, Archbishop of Mobile-Birm.

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For more inspiration, check out Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families. Your children will laugh while learning big spiritual lessons with Dear God, I Don't Get It! and Dear God, You Can't Be Serious. 

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