Monday, June 23, 2014

Narrow Strait





          A friend of mine recently commented that she was having a difficult time reconciling her Christian faith’s directive to submit to government with the direction America is heading. She’s not alone. I’ve wrestled with this same conflict for months. I believe America is headed for violence. I hear people talk about political polarization as if it were simply a misunderstanding. Liberals and conservatives aren’t speaking different languages; they are from different planets. Early in our history North and South failed to recognize the same alienation and 600,000 men died. Imagine what we can do now that we are no longer using muzzle-loaders.
          The scripture teaches, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty as a cloke of maliciousness, but as servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
          There is no distinction made between a government we agree with and one with which we disagree; nor a distinction between a nation where we have a voice and one in which we do not. The Bible assures us that there are both good and evil kings. However, there is no directive to honor one but not the other. In fact, the opposite may be true. Jesus taught that, “ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain…Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father in heaven…”
          The biblical remedy is to come out from among them and be separate. We must obey the law, but we need not be complicit in sin. We need not support a government that ignores the law that it may chase after corruption. Practically speaking, what can we do?
Be vocal in opposition. Christianity has no “Thumper” clause. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” has no roots in the scripture. Jesus never hesitated to speak because His comments might offend. Warn, without forced compliance; this is as it should be.
Be different from the world. Dare to shun pierced eyelids and tattoos. Have the intestinal fortitude to “hang out” with bible thumpers. Sure, Jesus went to dinner with sinners. However, the conversation around the table was: “Come unto me; go and sin no more; and repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Don’t be afraid to be called a racist, homophobe---testify!
Do you want to strike a blow for Christianity? Start keeping the Sabbath. Go home for dinner after church. Have friends over and talk about the scripture. Meditate on God. Take a nap and actually rest. Keeping your wallet away from Applebee’s and Wal-Mart every Sunday will change the world.
In short, start a revolution of revival and restoration of the beliefs we hold dear. Put on a long-sleeved shirt and tie or a full length skirt and cause a stir among the pierced eyelid crowd. Refuse to get a tattoo. Sing from a songbook. You know; get radical and act like you’re saved.         



  

No comments:

Post a Comment