Red Shirt Agenda

Rummaging through my previous notes, I found this 9-year old document dated June 10, 2012, which reads:

I can still vividly remember how my college year was filled with endless rationalizations on the government and my school administration then. Life then was “exciting”, as I may say. It is as though I am know-it-all, and I have the notion that the affairs of every person in authority over me are done in connivance with another official. I am always a part of discussions on their alleged hideous anomalies and I am always agitated whenever they will embark on a new project, say agreements with foreign nations or tuition fee increases.

 My life of student activism brought me in front of my schools’ highest officials to discuss a very sensitive provision of the Constitution. It also brought me to the streets of Morayta condemning the incessant increase of tuition fees and commercialization of education.  My ability to write gave me an avenue to be the mouthpiece of those unheard and the eye of those who are blinded by the insensible few. My ultimate innate desire then is to overthrow the wicked government, to turn the societal triangle where the elite is at the top held by the oppressed at the base, upside-down. I am idealistic then. In my own subtle ways, I wanted to lead the change.

 I wanted to change then, and the desire was given birth when I was immersed in the simple life of the masses. Being a Sunday school and community teacher, I saw how unfair life is. The desire is, I believe reasonable. God called us not to neglect the needs of the poor, the widow, the oppressed. But the ways don’t always justify the means. God spoke to me something far too different than what I want to hear and what I am expecting to hear: “It is Mine to avenge”.

 “How come, Lord, that you don’t want me to do the very thing for You?”

 He just allowed me to go through that phase in life to tell me how humanity has gone astray. We people mess up with what we think is unreasonably fair, not knowing that God approves of it. Who wants to be subject to a wicked ruler? No one in his right mind, I believe. But God says to submit to all authorities. Our ultimate accountability is not in the hands of men but on God. It is not our business to dethrone the kings and rulers, but our selfish lifestyle.

 The change I am seeking then can never be found, ironically. It is a chasing after the wind, says King Solomon. Why should I worry about the things of peripheral worth in contrast to the things eternal? This is the very logic laid by Ecclesiastes. And this is the very thing too hard to comprehend for many, including myself, no matter how simple it is.

 My college life is now over, but the learning continues to pour on me. He impresses on me that I just must do what I ought to do, in reverence and awe due Him. This means to submit to any authority over me and be humble to those subject to me. The work of condemning the culprits of society, perpetrators from the government included, is a duty of the Righteous Judge alone, and He shares the task with no one else. “The effect of righteousness is peace”, says the Lord through prophet Isaiah. Assuredly, this peace (of mind or of land) will take its place if we will just refrain from doing the task we’re not asked to do.

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Almost a decade after, and after many books, lessons, and teachings acquired, I think I have to further refine my theology and my position about submission and politics. But I'm just glad to be reminded that at least once in my life, I was once a student activist, now turned 180 degrees towards Christian service.

Hi, I am Marts! I am a writer, and aside from my stint here in read.cash, I also have my own blog - martsvalenzuela.com. I appreciate it if you pay me a visit! I plan on growing my readership as I learn to improve my craft and journey towards my passion to write and publish books that add value to people.