How does it feel to be thought of as a 'Religious Zealot?'
Most American Christians would never think of themselves as being a 'zealot,' yet this newly christened title has been given to any church or Christian who dares stand on Biblical, moral ground.It seems all views and lifestyles are to be appreciated, valued and honored; except those which seek to glorify God.
Christians once held a majority in America; when we did not, at least for many years society was sympathetic to our values.
It is hard to criticize family, truth and living clean; at least, that use to be true.
In recent years, Christians have been categorized as hypocrites, mean-spirited, greedy and a thousand other negative words could be inserted here.
The very last word that anyone would ever use to describe a Christian is the word 'love,' and yet, it is love which is the very thing that Jesus said that would cause others to know that we are His and children of God.
Today, Christians are falling into a trap of apathy laid before us by society, the devil, liberals - whoever you want to blame. It doesn't matter because it is a trap that is killing our faith from within.
Many people in society no longer have a moral sense of right and wrong; those that do, are looked on oddly and often, they will compromise.
But I don't understand why one would compromise their personal beliefs or values.
Is a person's individual morality so fragile that it does not matter if they stand by it?
If a person, Christian or otherwise, betrays their own morality, they betray themselves and will eventually, at some point, betray their Lord - many times unaware.
Society's values and morals are ambiguous at best in our age, and this is sad.
Middle Eastern Christians have an advantage over those of us in the West in this regard.
You see, living in a country dominated by Islam, there is a moral standard forced on everyone which must be followed; our freedom is unknown. To our brothers and sisters in that region, they prefer that situation rather than being in the United States with its decadence.
In many Middle Eastern countries, there is no alcohol, no pornography for people to buy or become addicted to, and there is little premarital sex.
Because of this, Christians of that region don't have many of the societal problems we have in America - BUT - love cannot be forced.
If it is forced, then it cannot be love; rather it is assault.
Yes, our morality in society is ambiguous at best but there is still space for the black and white morality and truth of God's Word to surface at the public altar - as long as it is done with sincerity, compassion and in love.
Many Christians go into the public square looking for converts or conquests; some ministers even section off age groups as 'targets.'
Well, I never wanted to shoot a human being, so I just looked at people as people and would advise any Christian to approach non-believers in love and not with an agenda.
You see, most issues and problems in Western society stems from bad moral choices by the individual.
Western governments try to sugar-coat issues, throw money at problems, buy votes with tax dollars, but when our problems are boiled down to its basic root - most of America's problems come from the wrong moral choices of the individual.
It is to these 'bad moral choices' to which the Christian can speak to with God's Truth in His love.
At this moment in America, the hot-button issue has been anointed as 'gay rights.'
I never realized any person had any less civil rights than I did, but I digress.
In this debate, much has been confused; to the point where those holding to traditional values are dubbed 'religious zealots' and people like Bruce Jenner is called heroes.
Neither of these titles are accurate - we are, however, people with opposing views.
The government of the United States does not, generally speaking, restrict the civil rights of its citizens; however, the government does restrict and prohibit behaviors.
In America, we do not legislate our morality; instead, we legislate against immorality.
For example, there is not a law in the world that can make you love your enemies; so, the government passes laws to keep us from killing our enemies.
A Citizen is not prevented from hating, disliking or being mean to another person; but we are prevented from harming them; our beliefs are tolerated while immoral behavior is prohibited.
Christians have listened to the arguments concerning homosexuals desiring to marry for several years; it has been as long as it has been confusing for millions of people.
What many have missed is the fact that marriage is to benefit society; this is done through the structure of the family being the building block for all civil institutions and the rearing of children as good citizens.
The proponents of homosexual marriage never addressed either of these two issues, nor did Christian lawyers battling them, which makes no sense because marriage is not primarily for the individuals within the institution, but rather, its main benefit is for those outside of the marriage itself.
During the debates and arguments, very few wanted to plainly say that homosexuality is a moral issue; the reason is because Christians don't like to be ridiculed and belittled as 'hate-mongers,' 'ignorant' or the like.
And what has confused many Christians is the fact that we will argue against one while excusing behavior concerning the other.
If modern Christians will open up their eyes and their hearts towards those who are different from ourselves, we may very well be in a position as no other time in history to allow God's love, compassion, mercy, kindness and grace speak to others and help heal wounds as no generation has before.
The traditional 'All or Nothing' attitude of Christianity has to go by the wayside.
Let's be clear, I am not saying our moral truth has changed or Christianity should 'modify' our Lord's commands. I am saying, we need to accept those different from us in grace and compassion, without condoning sin, so that they might be reached with the Gospel.
In the early 1970's, the main moral and societal issue in America was abortion; the Supreme Court would eventually decide in January 1973 to legalize abortion in the United States.
But there is more to this sad, cold January day than just the basic facts.
Few realize that if the leaders of the Abortion groups and the leaders of the Christian Church would have sat down and hammered out an agreement for Congress to legislate which outlined everything that the two sides agreed on with this issue, 97% of all abortions between January 1973 and today would have been avoided.
And do you know what they agreed on in 1973?
Abortion in cases of rape, incest, and in cases where the life of the mother was in danger.
That generation of Christians weren't wrong to oppose abortion; we still aren't today.
That being said, they could have still opposed abortion, stayed true to moral convictions, and saved literally millions upon millions of unborn children.
But they wouldn't even consider anything but full victory or total defeat, and they suffered defeat.
Friends, our Christian absolutes cannot be imposed on those who do not share our Christian beliefs and values.
We must be willing to separate the sin and the sinner; isn't that what God has chosen to do with each person He welcomes into His Kingdom?
In the 1980's, the Christian Church of all denominations and flavors lost millions of people over the issue of homosexuality and HIV/AIDS.
Christians were more known for speaking out against the person dying of this 'new' disease, believing for a short time that the only way to contract the disease was through immoral, personal decisions and actions.
In that era, it was true that the majority of those dying of HIV/AIDS contracted the disease because of homosexual acts.
But it is today unthinkable to imagine a person who would say, 'HIV is God's punishment on those people and I support it!!!'
You see, regardless of how an individual contracted HIV/AIDS, they are still sick and suffering.
And it doesn't matter if it was God's punishment or not; it isn't my punishment and I'm not God. I am, however, called as His child to extend His compassion and grace.
The Gospel presents high ideals and morals with an all-encompassing grace.
It has been very difficult as a Christian to stay faithful to those ideals and morals by the letter of the law while also extending and living in His all-encompassing grace.
Often the Church and even as individual Christians, we will tilt to one side or the other.
We will either lower our morality and Christ's ideal, adjusting His truth downward to rationalize behavior OR we will pull in the boundaries of grace, drawing lines in the sand as we proclaim some sins worse than others.
Unfortunately, Christians are very good at being angry at other people whose sins are different than their own.
Here's a truth - Most Christians do not have one person that they would openly call their friend.....who is a homosexual.
Most Conservative, Evangelical Christians simply do not know how to deal with a person who is gay or bisexual.
Many simply have not been taught as to how to break down the barriers which artificially separate us.
We can maintain our Christian beliefs, stay faithful to our Lord and still cultivate relationships which glorify Him without condoning the sinful lifestyles or behaviors of others.
We can love them in His truth; kindness and grace cost nothing, but means the world to those who are hurting.
If you are wondering how to deal with people who are so vastly different than the people whom they usually interact with on a daily basis, it's fairly easy. All you need to do is remember that they don't need judgment, sneers. or to be looked down upon.
They need you and I to be that representative of God's grace and mercy, because they need a God who offers compassion and hope.
In short, they need the same thing you and I need from God - understanding, love and grace.
As we have been given, so should we give to others.
Until next time, win one for the good guys.
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