Yesterday, a friend posted one of those postcard-y-looking things on Facebook. It generated a lot of discussion. The reason? This is what it said, "If you have to make a law that hurts a number of people, just to prove your morals or faith, then you have no true morals or faith to prove."
The illogical circuitous language of that post is almost dizzying! What my friend was trying to say is that he believes God has no business in the business of the United States government. He disapproves of the United States' governments
making and ratifying any legal contract with the citizens of this nation
which would recognize marriages in this country to be solely male-female
unions. The most sorrowful part of all this is that my friend also claims to be a Christian.
I understand what my friend believes. It is the same mind-set that I see and hear play out in front of me over, and over, and over... Basically, it's this, "Because, God loves everyone, the Gospel of Jesus means that we are free to do whatever we want! And, as citizens of the United States we REALLY get to do whatever we want, because our Constitution says that the Church and the State are separate! We are free to follow the laws of God or man in whatever manner we so desire - everyone's choices are only relative to the individual making them, and should be respected - so long as no one gets hurt..." It's a terribly ignorant and foolish belief system; it has invaded and is spreading in our society and in our world like a malignant cancer.
I chose not to participate in the discussion yesterday. My friend has been gnawing on the "Christians and U.S. citizens should just let everyone have sex with whoever they so desire" bone for awhile now, so he's heard enough Scripture as well as the testimonies of others - who know that homosexuality (and other sexual immoral behavior) is sinful and can be overcome in Christ - which should have helped him see more clearly by now. From all I've witnessed from him, there is nothing more I could say that would be of any consequence to him. But, because I find writing rather cathartic, and I'm still extremely frustrated by this brother-in-Christ's unholy and unprofitable pursuits, I chose to write my thoughts today.
The part of his thought process that bothers me the most - as a Christian - is the part where he thinks that by combining God's laws regarding righteousness with our now secularized nation's laws could result in any amount of pain to anyone. How can someone who claims to believe in God think that?
The Bible is replete with information about how the Law is thoroughly beneficial for everyone! Both the Old and the New Testaments are completely filled with instruction on how obedience to God leads to blessing - this truth was the belief system of our nation's founders - so, therefore, the Bible is the basis of our Constitution and government.
I am saddened by the reality that my FB friend - and
other professing Christians - no longer care to seek God's favor for his country or my childrens' future in this world. It has always been my
experience that those who disobey God always end up hurting themselves
and others FAR more than those who live and proclaim His moral standards.
When I began this blog, I looked up some of the key words in the message my friend posted yesterday. The definition of the word "prove" has given me a small measure of peace regarding his agenda. "Prove: to learn or find out by experience (http://www.merriam-webster.com)". I know that there will come a day when he learns that the only ones who are hurt by requiring strict obedience to God's moral laws will be the ones who don't. This gives me only a small measure of peace because, as I continue to impress God's laws on my children and others, I know that I will continue to be misunderstood and hated for my efforts; but, I also know that the day God judges and condemns those who oppose His laws, will be the day that I fully realize His grace and mercy!
Too many americans are calling themselves christian & are not!
ReplyDeleteLiars & deceivers even to themselves.
Anyone that would take a stand against Holiness is deceived & lacks Wisdom. Their morality is amoral and pathetic.
The really fantastic thing about system of government is this idea of dissenting voices. It's so ingrained in our culture that it's easy to forget that in many places in the world - even in monotheistic countries - that disagreement with the ruling party can mean imprisonment and death.
ReplyDeleteYou are just as entitled to your opinion as your Facebook friend is his.
What I too find so disheartening isn't the disagreement but that your religiosity entitles you, you believe, to tell others how they should and shouldn't live their lives. And that you are completely content with codifying your belief system. That is the separation we champion and you disdain. But I am certain that if it were a different faith - Mormonism or Jehovah's Witnesses or Muslims - creating laws based on their faith that restricted your rights as Christians you would feel very differently.
And that's the balance that we strike in this nation.
We are not solely a Christian nation. And despite revisionistic attempts, we never have been. Since our founding, and among our founders, there have been a multitude of religious faiths and nonfaiths. And because of the concern that one would try and strip the rights of others, as had long been the practice at the time of the Articles of Confederation, the founders wanted assurances that we could all practice our relious faith freely.
It is so sad that you don't know me, even as you don't want to be known. Apparently this is also how you approach the creation of our world and the creation of our country - preferring for yourself ignorance over knowledge, but believing that it is the other way around.
ReplyDeleteAccording to your comment, you believe that I should be educated to think like you, but you don't really want to know the truth adequately for yourself. I am not interested in expressing my opinion for the sake of my opinion - I am interested in saying and doing what is right for the sake of my freedom and yours (whoever you are). The problem isn't that we disagree with one another, the problem is that we don't agree with God.
For your information, I do not believe that my 'religiosity' entitles me to anything, and I believe that yours (or lack thereof) doesn't make you entitled to anything either... I hope you are paying attention - because pretty soon, that is all we will have left to give to this bankrupt (spiritually and materially) economy - this government was set up according to this standard: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." It may be escaping your notice, but it hasn't mine: our governments - 'of, by, and for the people' - are working overtime to prohibit the free exercise of my religion, because the people no longer tolerate the words and lifestyle of it. The more the citizens pursue and protect sinfulness, the faster we will realize our demise - just like EVERY great and powerful nation before us!
So, for now, you are indeed free to remain anonymous on this sinking ship - being entertained, eating and drinking to your hearts desire - but, because I know we are all sinking, I will continue to work to get as many as I can to safety!