Things I wish I could say...
I wish Christians would be just as passionate in fighting
for currently-existing traditional/biblical marriages as they are in opposing
the legality of gay unions. I support traditional/biblical marriage, and am
confessionally Baptist (both the 1689 Confession 25.1 and the Baptist Faith
& Message 2000 art. 18). But don’t lose sight of marriage in fighting for
marriage. Pray for the married couples in your congregations. Men, hold men
accountable for being bullies, jerks, absent, unloving, adulterers, etc. Women,
hold women accountable for bad-mouthing their husbands to others (or the
children), never being content, thinking happiness (which they think God wants
for them at any cost) is with another man, etc. Churches, hold members accountable for unrepentant sin in marriage. Couples, seek help sooner rather than later. Provide examples of a loving
marriage by being open about your love for each other. I’ve heard complaints
over the years that this couple or that couple was a little too affectionate in
worship (“he was playing with her hair,” “they sure were snuggled up,” “they
were just distracting”). Wish I could’ve seen it. I’m personally distracted by
couples who grow in bitterness the longer they’re married. Show off your love
for each other – we desperately need those role models, Church! I am my brother
and sister’s keeper. I will fight for your marriage with you. I will rejoice
with you, and be broken-hearted with you. I am passionate about it.
I wish Christians would be just as excited about “Jesus
Christ, Who having not seen you love...yet believing, you rejoice with joy
inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:7,8) as they are pissed off at the
bogeymen on the political stage. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
most of the political stuff we throw out there is “preaching to the choir,” and
will not do a single blasted thing to change anyone’s mind about how they’ll
vote. Both sides have their witty little sayings that make the other side look
small and stupid. The argument "you're a total idiot" never convinced anyone. Promote
Jesus. We could do with a little more apostle Paul (“I determined to know
nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” 1 Corinthians 2:2)
and a lot less...well, you know (I’m not even going to talking about the
theological compromise we’re willing to engage in to be on the same side politically).
I’m politically conservative (not a compromiser or moderate). I vote. I pay attention to what’s going on and
stay informed. I get frustrated by injustice and game-playing. I truly admire and support my dear brothers and sisters who are fighting the fight at considerable personal sacrifice. But I also try
to maintain relationships with liberals because I care more about their eternal
fate than anything else, and making fun of how stupid and logically
inconsistent they are doesn’t serve that care for them.
Along that same trajectory, I wish Christians would talk
more about Jesus than Israel .
I support Israel .
I dig Netanyahu. But those two things have nothing to do with religion, faith,
or theology (though I recently saw someone use one's attitude toward the State of Israel as a test of Christian orthodoxy...something utterly alien to all of Church history!). Without Christ, the citizen of Israel will “be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His
power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). So will the prime minister (and I’m thankful he
was re-elected). He’s not my hero or my hope. He’s a part of “my heart’s desire
and prayer to God for Israel
is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1). Because apart from faith in Jesus
Christ they’re not, even if we agree politically.
I remember a professor in my first semester of college
saying, “if you want to know what’s most important to a person, listen to what
they talk about the most.” I have never forgotten that (though I’ve forgotten a
lot else about college). I would love to hear Christians talk about the glories
of Christ, salvation through Him alone, and the display of Christ’s love for
His Church in Christian marriages. Yes, and be engaged to see a biblical
Christian ethic brought to bear on legislation, leadership, and justice in our
country and in the world...but that should be the fruit, not the root. And it
ought to be done in a way always glorifies and rejoices in the root, Jesus
Christ. Where is your joy, hope, glory, peace, passion, life? Please, oh please, let it be in Jesus Christ alone, and, I beg you, let that become what you talk about the most!
Wish I could say that. And I love you more than I can say,
so I just did.
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