Showing Up

By David Bragg

    Canadians were mad! The price of gas had surged in Montreal and it looked like the high prices would last all summer. People were going to demand change. As outrage grew it became clear that a time and place need to be set to stage a protest.
    Organizers took to the internet and a date was set, May 30, 2018, and a place was designated, Marché Central. Protesters were motivated. As interest grew organizers were pleased with the response as 36,000 people expressed an interest in the protest and 5,000 made the commitment to attend. Police also were motivated to ensure the event was conducted peacefully. Image the relief of the police when, on the morning of the protest, the police outnumbered the protester. No, that is not a typo. One woman showed up (CTV News, Montreal)! The amused cops posed for pictures with the lone protester.
    It is always encouraging to see the brightly burning zeal of those who are obeying the gospel of Christ. Those of us who have been Christians for years can reflect on the time when we became Christians and experience that same determination to be “faithful until death” (Rev. 2:10). But baptism is just the beginning. The real question is, after our baptism, are we willing every day to “show up” as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ?

- David Bragg serves as one of the ministers at the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC and is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.nwchurchofchrist.com/ or his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/