We live in a society that has lost its grip on reality. No longer are discussions based on facts, but on hyperbole. People have given up their ability to debate philosophies and logic in favor of quick insults and sarcasm.
We live in a society where it's considered a more serious crime to murder someone who is of a different ethnic background, faith, or sexual preference than it would be to murder someone randomly. We call it a "hate crime."
Now, I've faced hate in my life. I've been on both ends of the hate spectrum. I can sincerely say that I have never hated someone because of their ethnicity, economic status, or sexual preference. When I've hated, it was in response to specific acts perpetrated against me or those for whom I hold great affection. Thankfully, though, I've experienced the grace and mercy of God in my life and I no longer hate.
In today's society, though, mere disagreement is considered equivalent to hate. Let's use a recent example from the realm of current events:
“I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say ‘we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage’ and I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about.” – Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-Fil-A
Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-Fil-A voiced his personal religious belief. It is a belief that coincides with traditional Christian beliefs. In his quote, does he ever say that he hates homosexuals? Does he ever say that they are less valuable as human beings? Does he ever say he desires their destruction?
No.
He said that his business was founded on biblical principles, and that the traditional family dynamic is a part of that foundation. He clearly shows his traditional Christian leanings in his statements. But he never speaks hate. He speaks his religious convictions, but he never speaks with hatred of someone who disagrees with him.
Yet, he's been called a bigot, a fascist (obviously by people who don't know the meaning of the word), a hate-monger, and many other things not suitable for a Christian to repeat. Simply because he disagrees.
He disagrees with those who are constantly reminding us to be tolerant of opposing viewpoints.
And they've tried to destroy him. (Actually, it's very possible that the stress of this very public kerfuffle led directly to the sudden heart attack of Chick-Fil-A's Vice President of Public Relations, Don Perry.)
Tolerant of them, isn't it?
I think back with a chuckle to the time I posted an image of Ronald Reagan online. I was quickly referred to as a racist, even though I had made no comments, whatsoever, about anyone's ethnicity. I had simply expressed my admiration for Ronald Reagan.
If I quote a scripture that seems to convict someone of activities in which they choose to participate, I'm called judgmental.
I find it fascinating that, in the absence of facts or a strong logical argument, many people resort to name-calling and insults. We've become conditioned to fear certain labels more than anything else. We fear being labeled a racist, a homophobe, intolerant, or judgmental. It's really an interesting phenomenon.
I googled "racism." Now, if you use Wikipedia as your source for anything of substance, you need your head examined. However, I found their opening paragraph interesting:
Racism is generally defined as actions, practices, or beliefs that reflect the racial worldview: the ideology that humans are divided into separate and exclusive biological entities called "races". This ideology entails the belief that members of a race share a set of characteristic traits, abilities, or qualities, that traits of personality, intellect, morality, and other cultural behavioral characteristics are inherited, and that this inheritance means that races can be ranked as innately superior or inferior to others.
Dictionary.com similarly defines racism as:
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Let me take a moment to evaluate myself. Do I believe that people of any ethnic background are innately superior or have a right to rule others? No. Do I believe that people of varying ethnic backgrounds are innately more or less intelligent, moral, or carry specific personality traits based solely on their ethnicity? No. Do I refuse to tolerate someone of a different ethnic background? No.
I just posted a picture of a man I admired. Guess I'm OK.
Do you realize that a phobia is defined as a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it? Notice that it doesn't say "a disagreement with a specific object, activity, or situation." It says an "irrational fear."
I submit to you today that simply because I disagree with homosexuality does not make me homophobic. I don't fear homosexuality. I see it as the sin that the Bible says it is. I have no fear of homosexual activity. I disagree with it. Therefore, the term "homophobe" is inaccurate and demonstrates the user's ignorance of the subject.
Is it hateful to disagree with someone? No. I don't hate homosexuals. Their sinful choices are called an abomination in the sight of God, yet He extends His grace and mercy toward them. God doesn't hate homosexuals, and neither do I. I have acquaintances and relatives who live a homosexual lifestyle. They know my stand on the issue, yet they will each--if they're honest--tell you that I have always treated them with respect and compassion. Telling someone they are violating the tenets of scripture is not hateful, it's helpful. We are called to "speak the Truth in love." Telling someone that homosexual activity is sinful and destructive is no different than telling someone that using heroin is sinful and destructive.
Yet, in our morally relativistic society, disagreement equals hate.
There is a segment of society that revels in using these terms as ammunition. It's a form of emotional extortion, really. They silence their opposition by threatening to brand them with a scarlet letter. You disagree with President Obama? You must be a racist! You oppose homosexual marriage? You're a homophobe! You disagree with different lifestyles and philosophies? You're an intolerant bigot! You take the Bible literally and call Christians to live by that standard? You're judgmental!
Probably the most quoted--wrongly--scripture by non-believers and followers of aberrant doctrines while calling themselves Christians is from Matthew 7:
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite!
The quoters of this scripture use this to justify their claims that the "Bible thumper" is judgmental and intolerant. They wag their finger in your face and warn you that you're treading dangerous ground when you point to scripture and say "this is what the Word says. Here's how your behavior doesn't line up with that Word." It's the spiritual version of
"racist, bigot, homophobe, etc."
What these people nearly always do is omit the next part of verse five.
First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
You see, Jesus did not tell His followers to ignore the sin in the lives of those around them. He did not tell us it is wrong to hold up the light of scripture and cast that light upon the actions of those who call themselves Christ Followers. He said, "
First, remove the plank from your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
This insistence on throwing the "judge not" clause at people is simply a wicked heart's way of avoiding the light of Truth. Can a person be judgmental? Yes. It's wrong. Just as racism is wrong. However, to hold up the Word of Truth to someone and point out how their behavior violates that Word is a service, not a judgment.
If it was wrong to call Christians to account for their behavior, then all of Paul's letters have no place in scripture. Then Jesus was wrong for calling the religious leaders hypocrites. Then it was pointless for the Bible to be written at all, since it is a book of instructions for our lives. Throughout scripture we are instructed to judge our own behavior and, yes, that of others. (Read 1 Timothy 3, where we are instructed on how to choose leaders in the church. We are called to judge them according to their actions.) How can it be wrong to do exactly what God has called us to do? Is God schizophrenic? No.
To judge someone unjustly is wrong. To write them off as a soul unworthy of being reached and unworthy of salvage is wrong. To take someone who claims to follow Christ but lives in contradiction to His Word, show them that Word and call them to accountability for their actions is called
discipleship.
We live in an "anything goes" society, and the church has adopted this same philosophy. You can teach anything you want in most churches and be accepted. Look at false teachers like Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen and other charlatans. They have huge followings because they make their listeners feel good about themselves, but never call them to a true biblical holiness. They're frauds, and will be held to some very high standards by God, Himself. We have the IHOP movement and the Emergent Church movement that reduces God to a touchy-feely "big papa in the sky" rather than a Holy and Just God who expects His children to be Holy and Just. These are dangerous movements and dangerous people who are destroying lives. Their followers are deceived by their flashy shows and the emotional outpouring at their concerts and gatherings.
Well, "anything" does
not go. We simply need more followers of Christ to be more interested in what the Bible says than what they feel. We need to stop looking at worship as an "experience" and look at it as service to our Creator. We need to present ourselves a
"living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God." That means setting aside our selfish desires, styles, and practices and doing what He commands.
So, you can call me a racist because I don't approve of our current President. You can call me a homophobe because I disagree with the sinful lifestyle of homosexuality. You can call me intolerant because I believe in right and wrong. You can even call me judgmental because I point to scripture and display ways in which a so-called Christian wanders from it. Simple fact is, you'd be wrong on all counts. These are merely inflammatory terms designed to silence your opposition, usually because your opposition is making a solid point and you have no ground upon which to stand.
The Truth will always prevail. The Truth will always shine gloriously upon the ruins of the world's lies. You cannot silence it. You cannot intimidate it. You should embrace it. It will make you free.
It's hard for me to put into words the feeling I experienced as she appeared that day. Her beautiful white dress, her amazing eyes, her flawless complexion... these things were obvious to everyone. However, something deeper was striking me. This wonderful young woman who has such a wonderful mind and heart had chosen to spend the rest of her life with me. Me! There are no words for that realization. It was overwhelming.
