Here’s what drives me crazy about what’s happening in Indiana. It’s a smoke screen. It isn’t real.
I know that will come off as disrespectful to people with skin in the Indiana game but seriously, it’s a child playing with a bullhorn convincing people there’s a genuine authority barking orders.
It’s true that the earthly rights of freedom of religion and freedom of speech are rapidly eroding in America. It’s true that that’s a dangerous trend for all Americans. It’s also true that discrimination is wrong and too often misguided believers have vilified certain types of sins over others.
But, the grandstanding, the bill passing, the boycotts, and the drama are just that – theater – all of it – with a script created in smoky backrooms where evil functions in the dark, convincing us the solution is cake.
As real as this world is, it’s not as real as the kingdom of God. Here is the greater truth in all this for every Jesus follower: Our rights we gave up to Christ at the cross and our freedom doesn’t come from the Supreme Court but from Christ. Period.
Think about it. Jesus could have taken the Romans. Jesus had a world of backers – scores of angels at His command and Zealots with swords. The rights of His people were severely compromised when He arrived on the planet and fixing that was within His power. But Jesus never let anyone else decide His agenda. As heavy as Rome’s boot was that fell on His people, it was not as real a danger as the one from which He came to save them.
Jesus kept His eye on the Kingdom of God, not the agenda of this world.
Our local radio personality kept asking today (sarcastically), “What would Jesus do in Indiana?” I don’t have to speak for Jesus because He spoke for Himself in Matthew 5:38-41
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”
In other words, we should love the world the way Wesley loved Buttercup.
In The Princess Bride, the beautiful Buttercup relishes bossing Wesley, the farm boy. Every time she gives him a command, he responds, “As you wish.” In his heart, whenever he says those words, what he means is “I love you.”
Wesley loved with a persistent, enduring love and, as we all know, love wins out.
Every time the world says, “Take your light somewhere else. We don’t need it here.” What if we answer, “As you wish?”
We still travel in the light. We still live free. Our rights are secure in Christ. The world, however, ends up swallowed by darkness. At some point, some people will seek the light.
Truth cannot be legislated away. God’s love cannot be outlawed. Light cannot be murdered – permanently. It will rise.
I know what Jesus would not do. Jesus would never let the crowds, or Rome, or His enemies, or Satan run His agenda. He took His instructions day-by-day, moment-by-moment, from His Father God. When the world told Him to climb up on the cross and die, He replied, “As you wish.”
And freed us all.
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A long time ago,I agreed to go to a movie with my brother and sister.I wanted to see something that was a sweet comedy.However,my siblings wanted to see movie called,’Silence of the Lambs’.I looked it up and didn’t want to see it after I found out what it was about.Well,I gave in even after that still small Voice beckoned me not to.Not 10 minutes into the film,my heart raced and the conviction I felt at being in THAT theater literally picked me up and I whispered to my siblings,”I have to go,I can’t watch this.”And I left.The Holy Spirit is so powerful.It speaks to one person while the person sitting right next to them hears nothing.My point? Each Christian must listen to the Holy Spirit.The LORD is testing us to see if we are obeying whatever He asks of us.Sometimes….it may be not baking that cake or allowing two people to stay at your bed and breakfast.Standing alone in ones conviction.
What a powerful reminder, Lori!
All the posturing and grand standing reminds me of, “You’re not the boss of me”. I know who holds tomorrow and I know how he’s instructed me to live. “Love your lord with all your heart, soul and mind. Then love your neighbor as yourself.”
I want to listen to who’s the boss of me. 🙂
I have to think about this one Lori. I think I get what you’re trying to say. Yes, we certainly don’t want to return evil for evil by doing the same name calling and accusing that the other side does. Yes, what is happening in Indiana was conceived in dark places, by dark men and women controlled by even darker spiritual forces. Yes, this world is not our home and we need to keep our eyes on the work Christ has done in us and our ultimate reward.
But this is where I have a hard time…I am a former practicing lesbian. I know the ultimate agenda is to make it so that, even in our churches, you cannot speak against homosexuality — calling it sinful and quoting scriptures that those that practice it will be condemned. I know that a lot of practicing homosexuals don’t ascribe to this radicalism that is occurring in Indiana, but are just as afraid to speak out. No, we don’t want to lower ourselves to level the radicals have gone, but we MUST stand against those who are trying to take away our right to take a moral stand. Not just the every-man, every-woman sitting in the pew, but especially our most prominent religious leaders must publicly draw the line in the sand.
Yes, it is in reality a small group who are vocal and are trying to bully the rest of us into silence. But even a little leak can erode a mighty dike.
I don’t think the florist or the baker or the photographer should just “suck it up” and go ahead an cater the gay wedding. I think each of us needs to make that decision based on to what they feel the Lord is leading them to do. But I don’t think anyone who says “I’m sorry, I can’t do that” should be sued and fined, lose their business, and be branded as a pariah by the “more enlightened”.
I don’t think you’re saying we should just give in and let them have their way; after all, it’s more important to show we’re loving than we’re right. I hope that’s not what you’re saying. It could just be because I’m tired and my head is fuzzy. But if that is what you are alluding to I have to say, “no, that’s not right. This isn’t about politics. This is about faith and our right to exercise it.” We are witnessing the beginnings of an American Kristallnacht; but instead of clubs and rocks and torches they’re using Twitter and Facebook and the Mainstream Media.
I would rather be a Dietrich Bonhoeffer, than a Harry Emerson Fosdick. I MUST be a Bonhoeffer.
Please forgive me if I’ve misunderstood what you’re trying to say. My wish is not to offend.
I absolutely don’t believe we should give up and give in. I think we should NEVER stop speaking out. The REALITY is that NO ONE CAN ACTUALLY SILENCE US but we may have to be willing to pay higher and higher prices to speak out. I knew this even when I was an elementary school child and was told I couldn’t read my Bible in school or pray. I continued to read my Bible in school and to pray in school. Nothing happened to me then except I ceased to be my teachers’ favorite. Now, a consequence may result but we have to be willing to speak no matter what laws are made. If they outlaw speaking the gospel, then we must be willing to be outlaws but taking the energy to fight for our rights saps strength to exercise them.
I’m relieved. Yes, we will pay a HEAVY price for taking a stance. But it’s for the Glory of God and not our own. And I a believe that every time we take a stance it leads someone closer to making a decision for Christ, because someone is going to ask themselves, “what is it about this Jesus that these people are willing to lose everything for?”
Jesus told us to “let your light so shine…” A shining light only has to shine to make darkness flee. Right? As a writer you shine by writing. As a Christian politician speak and stand and shine Jesus. As a soldier reflect Jesus as you fight. What we’ve done is hide our light under a bushel for the sake of keeping the peace. We don’t need to wrestle against flesh and blood…we need to respond to Jesus words “let your light shine” with, “as you wish.”
Hating the sin but loving the sinner is easier said than done, isn’t it? My dear ex sis-in-law turned gay after living with my brother. HIS daughter came out when she was 18. I went to my sis-in-law’s wedding, I really like her ‘wife’. I made it a point to welcome my niece’s girlfriend with open arms. Paul said in I Corinthians 5:9-13 (paraphrased) ‘I told you guys to stay away from people who might sway you back into sin, but I was talking about the people of the CHURCH! If you stay away from all sinners, none will be saved. No, I’m talking about if anyone called a Brother/Sister be involved in immoral behavior, do NOT buddy around with them. In fact, don’t even EAT with them! Put them out! The saints judge the body of Christ, God judges the unbelievers.’ This is a very fine line to walk. My sis-in-law and my niece both know my stance on gay and lesbian lifestyles. I don’t need to beat them over the head with it. The world is looking for love. As the days get shorter, it’s getting harder and harder to find love. What WILL win the unbeliever is being shown the Love of Jesus, not the Church Lady preaching at them 😉
I applaud you, Joyce, for your stand. We can love others without being smudged by their sin. We know satan has deluded us, every one of us, that sin is fun. And it is–for a time. Then it becomes dank and disgusting. Only as we fill ourselves with the love of Jesus will we be able to talk frankly to others who are where we had been, and tell them there’s a better way, and no one knows that better than someone who has been pulled out of the fire by Jesus.
I keep reading over this, thinking it sounds harsh, and I’m not trying to be. I hope you get what I’m trying to say. God bless.