For What It's Worth

When you think of groups in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the term "one-hit wonder" is not what comes to mind. For the sixties group Buffalo Springfield, however, that is indeed the case. Their 1966 hit "For What It's Worth", written by Stephen Stills, is the only song ever to hit the top 40 charts. This group was only together for just over two years, released three albums, and served as the springboard for such talent as Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Jim Messina. Strangely enough, the title is nowhere to be found in the song's lyrics!

Originally written as a statement referring to conflict between protestors and police on the Sunset Strip in 1966, the words of this classic song reverberate rather tellingly today. Stills wrote:

There's battle lines being drawn

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong

Young people speaking their minds

Getting so much resistance from behind

Does this strike a chord? Sound remarkably like political events of today? Listen a little further and you hear:

I think it's time we stop, hey

What's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

Look around you. What is going down these days? Not only political upheaval and massive changes, but take a good look at our society as a whole. It amazes me that the greater majority of Americans profess a belief in Jesus, and yet cannot proclaim that in a public venue because the minority that disagree are so blatantly vocal about it. Because it offended one person, high school football teams and graduation ceremonies have had to stop prayers. What about the 99% of people that it didn't offend? If you disagree with my right to pray in a public place, don't listen. If I disagree with what's on tv, I don't push for a ban of all television shows ... I simply turn it off. What do we have to do to get our rights as Christians back? How do we turn this vocal minority off??

Everybody needs to look what's "going down" in our society. Quite simply, we are! The majority has been silent for far too long, and has managed to let the very vocal minority change the way we do things. I do not intend in any way to offend, however, my opinion is simply that ... my opinion. You may or may not agree, and you are entitled to that. You are not, however, entitled to tell me what I can and cannot believe, think, or say. If I choose to pray and it offends you, don't listen. If I profess a belief different from your own, that is my right. If you don't like the fact that this is a Christian nation, you are certainly entitled to leave and live elsewhere. I think we need to stand up and be heard!! For what it's worth, that's what I believe.

God, today is a time of struggle and change. Help to keep me strong in my faith, and unwavering in my beliefs. Give me the strength and the words that I need to spread the message as far as I possibly can!

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 NIV