Speak Up And Speak Out In 2019 https://media.townhall.com/townhall/reu/ha/2015/281/060f47dc-896d-40e1-8439-78a8b105ea3a.jpg May I propose a New Year’s resolution for 2019? Let’s determine to speak up and to speak out, to raise our voices with clarity and compassion, to refuse to hold back regardless of cost or consequence. Will you join me? To those of you who are already doing this, I encourage you to continue to stand strong. To those who are not, now is most certainly the time. What are you waiting for? One of the most important principles taught by Jesus was that if we try to save our lives, we lose them. But if we lose our lives for Him – for the gospel – we find them.  To apply this concept to our contemporary situation, if we try to avoid controversy and conflict so as to preserve our presence on social media platforms, we lose our souls in the process. We become compromisers, fearers of man rather than fearers of God. We are no longer guided by conviction; we are guided by convenience. We survive but we do not thrive. If we speak what is right and do what is right and live what is right, we might lose a lot in the process, but we will find our souls. We become alive! We can learn a lesson here from Wang Yi, pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. He was addressing the sinful policies of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is fashioning himself to be the new Mao and is actively persecuting Christians and other minorities.  In a sermon dated September 9, 2018, Pastor Yi said, “President Xi Jinping does not repent he will perish!” Yes, he said, “The government he is leading has sinned greatly against God, for it is persecution the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and if he does not repent, he will perish!” ( Full story below ) https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2019/01/01/speak-up-and-speak-out-in-2019-n2538304