Stand with me?

There are stories that touch the heart, stories that all too often represent humanity. No matter how old these stories are- the characters and moments live on in today's world and culture.

I know I made a couple Les Miserables posts on here, but was encouraged by a friend to post this. It deals directly with religion today, and the barricades.

The barricades? you may be thinking- what do revolutions have to do with anything?

Well, they have to do with alot- which you will discover in this short discourse by yours truly.

Well, let me explain the revolution in Les Mis. It is not the French Revolution, but a small revolt years later.

The Revolutionaries are a small group of idealistic college students, let me introduce you to them?

Enjolras- the leader of the revolt, he is honorable, has a sense of justice, is very idealistic and trusting- believing the people will rise.

Combeferre- Enjolras' right hand man, practical, logical and prefers a peaceful route but joins the barricades.

Courfeyrac- the friendly, welcoming one

Joly- the hypocondriac with a sense of humor

Lesgle- the unlucky one who is always happy

Feuilly- the creative, hard-working one with a heart for Poland. (he is a worker, not a student though)

Jehan- the poet, who writes lovely verses.

Bahorel- the fighter who is angry at the false doctrine the church is teaching.



Grantaire- the skeptic, does not believe in anything- but it drawn to Enjolras' light


Now- not a revolutionary but Marius- a friend of the group who lands up falling in love with Cosette.






These young activists in the movie verse of Les Miserables burst into song "Do you Hear the People Sing?" in an attempt to get the people to join them- the people rise and join in the singing, everything seems triumphant, Enjolras is confident, will this feeling stay forever?


No.




The barricades went up, but as soon as the army came- the people retreated into their homes. Enjolras and the revolutionaries, with help of a few others attempt to hold off the coming enemy. The revolutionaries did not get enough people who truly believed to the point they would lay down their lives.


All too often humans get caught up in the moment and "sing along" so to put it, but do not believe the words they are saying. They just are there for the fun, but forget about it the next morning.
Much like the citizens of Paris in Les Miserables.


The song is reprised in the heaven scene with different new lyrics

What kinds of people are we? Do we "feel the spirit" at alter call when the piano is playing in the background, then forget about our "feeling" when the barricades go up?  Are we Enjolras and aren't afraid to express our beliefs to others and act daring about them? or are we the masses of people who just closed the shutters and pretended not to hear the screams of the revolutionaries although they joined in song?

will you be not afraid to say "these are my beliefs" no matter what your beliefs are? 

Whatever religion or creed you hold to, express it from your heart so we know who you truly are- and don't be the people who joined in the song but their hearts weren't there?

This is directed at Christians, but this truth can be applied to anybody- why don't we actually say what we believe instead of becoming the masses that sung but did not believe?

This is my question to you reader- in the words of Enjolras "will you be strong and stand with me?"