He is a wonderful man. A soldier that has seen the realities of war, he has retained a zest for life. He dedicates himself to a higher purpose, that of serving his country. He is intelligent and capable.
And yet, my heart is broken for him. He isn't saved. He believes he grew up in a Christian home because he went to church occasionally. He is a natural leader, a decorated officer, a husband, and loving father. He is financially stable, and takes great security in that. And yet, he chooses to form his beliefs on current cultural norms.
I was awakened the other day during a family gathering to the polar opposite differences in worldviews between Christians and non-Christians. I know they are there. I know how large the divide, and how it continues to grow increasingly larger. And yet, to hear the words voiced by a loved one, I can only be grieved.ligious man."
It saddens me. The crushing of Christian rights, to him, seems as if every situation presented to him, "Couldn't be the whole story." In his mind, the Christian facing undue persecution for standing by his beliefs, "must have done something wrong."
When told about Pastors facing jail time for preaching a Biblical view of marriage and family from the pulpit, he felt the pastor must have done more than just preach something that offended someone. After all, that Pastor has free speech. He thought that, again, there must be more to the stories of Christian business owners being fined for not wanting to violate their beliefs in their businesses, whether it was concerning gay rights or the abortion pill mandate.
To him, it is inconceivable that the country he serves would violate the Constitutional rights that he fights to protect. He knows that he fights to protect rights, even the rights of those with whom he disagrees.
He has served overseas, in countries where people don't have freedom of religion. He sees religion as a detriment, a cause of much fighting. He thinks American Christians don't understand true persecution, and "make mountains out of molehills."
Do we? By standing up for Constitutional rights, by fighting laws and policies that violate our beliefs, are we hurting our witness? Are we seen as troublemakers?
I believe we must fight for our rights. They will be taken away if we don't. But I also believe that God has a plan that may entail circumstances happening that are not just uncomfortable, but possibly dangerous. Persecution of Christians happens all over the world. In persecution, the Gospel spreads. It isn't silenced or stopped by persecution. The Gospel grows, causing more souls to come to Christ. Those opposing Christians should learn this undeniable historical fact. Oppressing and persecuting Christians often backfires.
There is a HUGE gap in understanding and worldviews between Christians and non-Christians. Even Christians tend to vary their doctrinal beliefs between denominations. Christians need to understand that culture over the last fifty years has so drastically changed, we are no longer dealing with a society that holds a Biblical worldview. When we speak, we make no sense to them.
The early church dealt with this. When preaching to the Jews, the early apostles used the Old Testament books, all that existed at the time, to show Christ. That didn't exactly work with most of the Romans and Greeks. They didn't have the same foundation. It was nonsense to them. So, when preaching Christ to the Gentiles, the teaching was not the same. The message, Christ is Savior, was the same, but the presentation was different.
I have a problem with Christians that get all up in arms about their rights every time a situation occurs that seems unjust, but that's the only time we ring out our voice. If all we ever heard from someone was angry words, complaining, and fighting, we would not think too highly of that person.
Christians, WALK YOUR TALK! We have the right as Americans to stand for our beliefs. But we must live them too. I'm not talking about perfection or a set of legalistic rules, but about living daily as Ambassadors for Christ, the Living God!
We aren't meant to fit in with culture, and yet we don't look much different than any other special interest group out there in the world. To my family member, we are no different than the groups we oppose. He doesn't see is as different because, outside of our very vocal views, we live the same as others.
What if he saw kindness and generosity? What if he saw kindness and generosity to those we oppose? What dies the Bible say about how Christians should treat our enemies? What if he saw joy and peace instead of anger and constant retaliation?
Should we fight for our rights? Yes, but how we fight should be the same as those that oppose us. In this bullying, winner take all, crush the enemy culture, Christians living the Word is powerful. Pray for those that persecute you, even if you do have to make a stand. Be respectful. Let the hateful, vile-filled, venomous words that are publicly aimed at you not be countered with equal words of hate. Instead, refuse to sink to that level. If your life is lived for Christ, it will already be a witness to others. Those spewing venom will be shown to be the bullies they are. It's a hollow victory to crush those that have shown themselves honorable and caring.
Understand that our lives won't make sense to non-Christians. It doesn't make sense to forgive your enemies. It doesn't make sense to give generously when the economy is down. But that's okay. We don't have to make sense. It's okay for us to be a bit of a mystery.
And stop trying to fit in to win souls! Be separate and holy doesn't mean conforming to culture in an attempt to win souls. Is God so weak that we must compromise who we are, fit in with the unsaved, blend in, in the hopes that we will win them to Christ?
Conforming makes us fit in, but God created us to stand out. Why does my family member not see anything in us that he wants? Because we have tried to look liked the rest of the world.
Daniel prayed anyway, before being thrown into the lions den, as he always did. Practically, that means that if we pray for meals at home, we can pray in a restaurant. We can pray at the office, even if on our own. We can pray at the lunchroom table. How much opposition would there be to prayer if the Christians politely and respectfully just prayed anyway? If we stopped worrying what those around us might think, let God handle the opposition, and just have thanks to our Lord; do we believe He isn't a strong enough God to honor that?
I don't want to have my way. I'm humbled. I want to show Christ in my life. I want to stand strong, but be honorable and Christ-like in the process. I want to be able to say, in God times and bad, that Christ was with me. I want Him to be proud of my actions, not ashamed of my pride.
Is He not God? Is He surprised by the direction our country is headed? If He surprised by the immorality that is defended and seen as a right? Will all our trekking, arguing, complaining, and bitterness change even one heart? Will anyone be won to the Lord when we appear to use the same tactics and methods as those that oppose us?
I an praying fervently for my lost loved ones. I'm wondering how to be a blessing to them. I'm wondering what my example should be, and if I should really consider my attitude in some areas. How about you?
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