Manifesto

Dec. 2, 2013
by Bob Farrell

Say It

There's a mess of things wrong in the world

I would find it hard to argue with that

The daily news is like a lesson in fear

A general feeling that we're moving too fast

There's a crime for every second of time

Like a sickness has infected us all

Sadly, those sentiments are as applicable to today's world as to the world of 1985 when I penned them.
And the tendency is to get the Bad News Blues so bad that your whole life speaks from that mindset. The sickness infects you.

I believe we have to make a conscious choice to think different and live different if we're going to fulfill God's purpose for being on this earth.

He gives you the breath of life and He will keep you breathing — right up till the day He has ordained to take you home.

I say that while you're on this earth resolve each and every day to think different and live different in the face of mass-media onslaught.

Resolve to stay positive in the face of overwhelming negativity.

Resolve to live by God's truths and to never be afraid to speak those truths as revealed in Scripture  —  careful to say it in love.

Resolve to live by your own internal Manifesto of personal convictions.

For as long as you remain on earth.

I promise you people will be drawn to His light within you.

Technology was only starting to bloom in '85 when I wrote Manifesto, mostly through what people were calling the 'cable-media-age'. The internet was still almost ten years away, but the 24-hour cable news cycle was well underway and bringing the world international news quicker than ever before.

I know that sounds quaint and provincial to 21st century ears, but at that time it heralded a seismic shift for 'pop culture' (another new term at that time, btw).

And soon the proliferation over television airwaves took on the feel of bombardment: B-52's dropping thousands upon thousands of bad-news-bombs all over the populace worldwide.

As I mentioned in the opening installment of My Manifesto Mondays, the Farrell & Farrell song Manifesto was my way of making a declaration to the entire planet. A personal creed to live by, stand upon, and shout out.

And no doubt, a personal observation concerning the bombardment of all that bad news. The daily news was then, and is still, a lesson in fear — crimes for every second of time — ceaseless waves of senseless violence — desperate cries of victims — a crippling sickness that has infected the entire human race.

We never have to go looking too hard

To find a good supply of sins to renounce

No problem finding something else to shock, repulse, and traumatize your already fractured heart, mind, and psyche — the flow of filth and fright is truly perpetual.

But in the face of all that scary reality of 1985's world, what I was sure of then, and what I am more-than-ever sure of today — is this:

But I choose to find the silver-lining behind those clouds

There's a choice we have to make every single day.

But is there better news for us to announce?

One's life can consist in throwing stones at the darkness and cursing it — or one can choose to live a different way.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.

If God did not have a purpose and plan for each one of us living on this infected planet, then surely at the very nanosecond that we surrender our lives to Him and pray to receive His Son into our hearts, in His mercy He would transport us instantly to His heaven — He would not leave us here in a realm that is only getting worse and worse — not better and better.

He does have a plan.

For every wrong there is an opposite right

And there's redemption for the guiltiest soul

And I choose to spend my time promoting the Lord of Light

His plan is not for you to only curse the darkness, but point to the Light: Jesus.

I refuse to dwell on the evil

Choose to impart His love: preach Jesus and Him crucified to as many as have ears to hear.

I have cast my lot with the righteous

If you have made the most crucial decision you will ever make in this life — where you will spend eternity —by casting your lot with countless other believers in Jesus as Lord, then make another choice. Choose to lead people into His Light.

I will live the words of the Master

When in doubt as to how to comport yourself, live as He did. Copy His actions. Let Him breathe the breath of life into every sinew of your being, so as to truly reflect His Spirit in the life you have left to you on our planet.

And, please hear me on this: I am NOT saying that you ignore sin. You must speak your convictions  —  to recognize and speak out against evil.

I will take my stand

This is my manifesto — my manifesto

Truly the most outspoken and fearless of all preachers was the Lord Jesus Christ. He consistently imparted the Truth. He went out in search, not for the ninety and nine of the flock, but for the one lost sheep. And His message was never-ever stopped short of telling the whole truth — even if it cut through a person like a double-edged sword: going in and coming out.

If you, for example, are convinced and convicted that abortion is murder of the unborn, DO NOT stifle your conviction—have the courage to speak out.

If you believe our culture, including God's 21st century church, is being lied-to and lulled into accepting same-sex marriage and homosexuality as inevitable trends of modern man, but are in reality clearly defined precepts, covenants, and mandates of life outlined in the Old and New Testaments: that man and woman were created different and that marriage is ordained to mean one man with one woman for life.

If that is your conviction I am saying do not stay silent. Don't be intimidated and cowered into the corner or by any government or organization seeking to shut you up or coerce you in the name of political correctness.

Always bear this in mind: to Jesus some things are worth dying for. He proved that when He went to His death willingly for the sins of the entire world.

If you want your life to have meaning and value, just decide to take your stand. Say the things you're meant to say — and say them in love. Hate the sin — not the sinner (who is in reality every one of us).

And if you're looking for YourOwnManifesto, let me suggest that you simply adopt His:

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but that through Him the world might be saved.





(lyrics from "Manifesto" by Bob Farrell and Michael Demus, circa 1985)