Sam's Boldness and How We Should Represent Christ

For some time now, I have been thinking about Sam’s book of pictures that we took to him on the first trip over there. It had photos of Carrie and I. It had a little story about us going on a plane and bringing him back to America. And maybe most importantly to Sam at least, it contained pictures of the cats. Apparently at some point between the time that we left Sam at the orphanage and brought him to America, some older boys took his book and hid it from him. They ripped pages out of it, and finally they throw it in the trash.

We really did not know what happened to it until Sam told Carrie all of this one night while she was putting him to bed. I cannot help to think about how that little photo book represented a promise of a new life to Sam. I cannot help to draw a comparison, because I love a good comparison. Sam’s photo book represented to Sam a chance for a new life just like the Bible promises to anyone who believes. The comparison fails in the sense that Sam is flawed, and we as his parents are blemished and have and will continue to be imperfect parents. The Bible, on the other hand, promises are perfect and the only ones screwing them up are us.

Why am I writing about all of this? Because as we (and I study more intensely) study Acts in youth group we are seeing the first Christians. And we are seeing the first Christians being persecuted for their belief. Our teacher, Chris White, said this past week that if we are really living boldly for Christ that we should expect to be persecuted. One of the questions, I was suppose to ask the guys in my small group was have they ever been persecuted for their faith? Most had no answer and the best answer I could come up with is that I had a job interview stop because I talked about doing charity for church. I really wish I could have thought of Sam and his persecution. I bet he was bold in his faith and his book that we were going to come and get him and bring him back to America. I bet he was even a little boastful. I am not saying that we should taunt non-believers with, “I am going to heaven and you are going to hell.” But we should be boastful in the since that what Christ has done and continues to do for us all. As a result of Sam’s faith and boldness, he was persecuted. How can a 4 year old boy who only met us for 8 hours have some much faith in us? He had enough faith to be bold and in turn be physically and emotionally persecuted.

Where is my boldness? Where is our boldness as Christians in a Christian nation? I hope Sam never looses his boldness and his ability to stand up for what he believes in.