Tuesday, July 26, 2005
WHERE IS THE LOVE?
In order to influence policy in today's world, we must, as Christians lay down several ground rules.
First, our actions should differ from rather than mimic those of our adversaries.
Second, our actions cannot be chosen from the vast arena of politically acceptable choices, but must be limited to those choices which are both politically viable as well as acceptable within the realm of Christianity.
Third, since Christianity has accepted so many of our adversaries' actions and merely repackaged them with a new message, we must further limit ourselves to choices which are not only acceptable within the church community, but which are carefully screened to allow only those remaining few which show love. We must never forget that Jesus said that people would know we were his disciples by our love, not by our political activism or zeal.
II Chronicles 7:14 states:
If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will heal their land.
It does not say;
If my people, which are called by my name shall paint picket signs and march, and seek media time, and turn others from their wicked ways. . .
The second verse is intended to contrast today's behavior in the name of God with His commands to His people who wish to see revival. When I see people screaming epithets like "Baby Killer" and "Murderer" to those entering an abortion clinic I ask myself, "Where is the love?" Can there really be such a thing as "Militant Christianity?" I think not. We don't have the luxury of Jesus standing near to correct our mistakes of zeal as He did when He replaced the ear of the soldier that Peter cut off. Where is the love? If love is not evident- not just the love for the unborn, but love for the killers of the unborn- if love is not evident- not just given lip service, but evident- if love is not evident, the cause of Christianity is not advanced. And if the cause of Christianity is not advanced, the cause of God's enemies is.
There is no such thing as "Militant Christianity." There is, for me at least, far too much similarity between the angry abortion protester marching in self-righteousness outside a clinic and the Pharisee praying on the corner "God, I thank you that I am not like that man, a poor sinner."
Whenever Jesus ministered to someone, he was first moved with compassion. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he wept with his family. Before we impact abortion as a church, we must have compassion for those involved in the industry. If Jesus were alive (in bodily form) today, I think the abortionist would stand a better chance of His company than many who think they are His soldiers. Think of the outcry- Jesus dining with an abortionist. After that, He probably couldn't get a guest spot on most Christian talk-radio shows.
So what do we do? How do we handle ourselves to impact this horror? First, we pray. Well, actually we pray second. First, and here's where many a battle's been lost, we humble ourselves. I see very little humility in most "Christian" protests, I also see very little impact from them. We seek God's face and turn from OUR wicked ways. Then, GOD heals the land.
Let me be a little more specific. There's an old saying, "win a friend to win a soul." How many of you are too proud to befriend the abortionist or the nurse who works in the clinic? If you felt your life was in jeopardy (as many abortionists do, with seemingly more and more justification) would you listen to the arguments of those by whom you felt threatened? Think of the mental image you have in your mind of an abortionist. That is probably the same negative image they have of you. Actually their image of you is probably worse considering the constant reinforcement it receives from willing media.
So then, is protesting wrong? Possibly not, if the signs and method are strictly watched. But, is it effective? No, not if your goal is to end abortion or to help reconcile sinners to God. However careful and prudent many pro-life demonstrations have been, it can hardly be argued that ultimately some protests were born in self-righteous arrogance that allowed the gestation of anger and frustration that eventually led to the killings at several clinics. Zealots looked for a political messiah in Jesus' time, and they miss His message today. I fear they may well cry out, "Lord, Lord look at the things I have done in your name" only to be told to depart because He never knew them.
Is violence in the name of Christ ever justified? It grieves me that this question even has to be addressed. Jesus said "a house divided against itself cannot stand" and "Beelzebub cannot drive out Beelzebub." Sin cannot drive out sin. There must be no equivocation, no hesitation or hint of tolerance on this issue, no rejection of violence with a stated understanding for the reasoning that "drove" the offender to his crime, no winking as we condemn the act, violence is never an acceptable way to represent Jesus on Earth.
Show people the love that God has shown you by loving you when you were still in your sin. Go then into the world and preach the gospel. Make friends, make disciples, make peace. ¶ 9:28 PM
In order to influence policy in today's world, we must, as Christians lay down several ground rules.
First, our actions should differ from rather than mimic those of our adversaries.
Second, our actions cannot be chosen from the vast arena of politically acceptable choices, but must be limited to those choices which are both politically viable as well as acceptable within the realm of Christianity.
Third, since Christianity has accepted so many of our adversaries' actions and merely repackaged them with a new message, we must further limit ourselves to choices which are not only acceptable within the church community, but which are carefully screened to allow only those remaining few which show love. We must never forget that Jesus said that people would know we were his disciples by our love, not by our political activism or zeal.
II Chronicles 7:14 states:
If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will heal their land.
It does not say;
If my people, which are called by my name shall paint picket signs and march, and seek media time, and turn others from their wicked ways. . .
The second verse is intended to contrast today's behavior in the name of God with His commands to His people who wish to see revival. When I see people screaming epithets like "Baby Killer" and "Murderer" to those entering an abortion clinic I ask myself, "Where is the love?" Can there really be such a thing as "Militant Christianity?" I think not. We don't have the luxury of Jesus standing near to correct our mistakes of zeal as He did when He replaced the ear of the soldier that Peter cut off. Where is the love? If love is not evident- not just the love for the unborn, but love for the killers of the unborn- if love is not evident- not just given lip service, but evident- if love is not evident, the cause of Christianity is not advanced. And if the cause of Christianity is not advanced, the cause of God's enemies is.
There is no such thing as "Militant Christianity." There is, for me at least, far too much similarity between the angry abortion protester marching in self-righteousness outside a clinic and the Pharisee praying on the corner "God, I thank you that I am not like that man, a poor sinner."
Whenever Jesus ministered to someone, he was first moved with compassion. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he wept with his family. Before we impact abortion as a church, we must have compassion for those involved in the industry. If Jesus were alive (in bodily form) today, I think the abortionist would stand a better chance of His company than many who think they are His soldiers. Think of the outcry- Jesus dining with an abortionist. After that, He probably couldn't get a guest spot on most Christian talk-radio shows.
So what do we do? How do we handle ourselves to impact this horror? First, we pray. Well, actually we pray second. First, and here's where many a battle's been lost, we humble ourselves. I see very little humility in most "Christian" protests, I also see very little impact from them. We seek God's face and turn from OUR wicked ways. Then, GOD heals the land.
Let me be a little more specific. There's an old saying, "win a friend to win a soul." How many of you are too proud to befriend the abortionist or the nurse who works in the clinic? If you felt your life was in jeopardy (as many abortionists do, with seemingly more and more justification) would you listen to the arguments of those by whom you felt threatened? Think of the mental image you have in your mind of an abortionist. That is probably the same negative image they have of you. Actually their image of you is probably worse considering the constant reinforcement it receives from willing media.
So then, is protesting wrong? Possibly not, if the signs and method are strictly watched. But, is it effective? No, not if your goal is to end abortion or to help reconcile sinners to God. However careful and prudent many pro-life demonstrations have been, it can hardly be argued that ultimately some protests were born in self-righteous arrogance that allowed the gestation of anger and frustration that eventually led to the killings at several clinics. Zealots looked for a political messiah in Jesus' time, and they miss His message today. I fear they may well cry out, "Lord, Lord look at the things I have done in your name" only to be told to depart because He never knew them.
Is violence in the name of Christ ever justified? It grieves me that this question even has to be addressed. Jesus said "a house divided against itself cannot stand" and "Beelzebub cannot drive out Beelzebub." Sin cannot drive out sin. There must be no equivocation, no hesitation or hint of tolerance on this issue, no rejection of violence with a stated understanding for the reasoning that "drove" the offender to his crime, no winking as we condemn the act, violence is never an acceptable way to represent Jesus on Earth.
Show people the love that God has shown you by loving you when you were still in your sin. Go then into the world and preach the gospel. Make friends, make disciples, make peace. ¶ 9:28 PM
