Lately the news has been a bit depressing. I make a point to read about what is going on in the world because to me it's like pressing my finger on the pulse of our world. It helps me to understand what people are thinking, what are the battles being faced so that I know how to pray more effectively and, sometimes, to write a blog. I haven't written on this site for a while. This summer has been pretty busy, but mostly I've found that I've started to write something, but then felt it just wasn't right. It wasn't the right timing or it wasn't the right message. Something was off.
Then this morning, as I started to get ready for church, I read through some blogs and some news posts and things came to a head for me. Mainly what I saw in the news are stories about fallen cops, a transgender boy who is arguing to use the same locker room as the girls, the anger of many over the Iranian nuclear deal, horrific descriptions of abortions, the after effects of the Ashley Madison scandal, and the devastating situation for the Syrian refugees (the image of the drowned child on the beach will haunt me forever). Mainly what I noticed were the comments. The typical Facebook arguments over these issues reach far and wide. Behind these comments are intense emotions, and it seems that all this discussion doesn't resolve but embitters and divides.
Why?
The reason we can't agree on Facebook, or in real, daily life, comes down to a basic idea. We are coming from completely different worldviews. But even simpler than this is that fundamentally we don't agree on who or what gets to define things. Therefore, sometimes (though not always) these virtual arguments are useless because we aren't starting from the same perspective. We are arguing the peripherals while the foundational aspects of our discussion are never touched.
It's basically this question: Who or what as the authority to define reality (and by this define what's right or wrong)?
Many people on Facebook would argue that what's right or wrong depends on what you feel. Follow your heart.
To those who are transgender, they might say: Go with what you feel. No one can tell you different.
To those who hate cops, they might say: Your feelings are justified. Feel free to act out on them.
To those who want to have an affair or express your sexuality in a different way, they might say: Have fun! There's no point in restraining yourself.
However, Christians have a completely different starting point. We start by saying that God alone has the right to define reality. He who created us has the right to say what purpose we serve and what determines right from wrong. As Christians, we go to the Bible to help us create a framework by which we interpret the events, the feelings, the actions of this world and ourselves.
To those who are transgender, we might say: I understand you are confused. This must be so challenging and difficult. You were created for a reason, and you have a purpose. If you want to know what that is, let me introduce you to my Savior.
To those who hate cops, we might say: I am sorry for your suffering, but hatred is never the answer. There is a true judge who will bring to light all that has happened, but He will also judge our actions. If you know that your own heart could not stand under the scrutiny of perfect judgment, let me introduce you to my Savior.
To those who want to have an affair or express your sexuality in a different way, we might say: Giving in to whatever your body demands will not bring freedom, but slavery. Addiction to anything, including sex, will destroy you. God created sex for His creation. He meant it as a gift. A means by which we connect lovingly to another human being. In its proper context, it brings life, not death. If you feel you cannot control this and that it is bigger than your ability to resist it, let me introduce you to my Savior.
Christians--our message should be different from the rest of the world. Is your message different? Because when we get to the heart of the matter, if you are speaking the same message as the world, then that's the one you serve.
As Joshua said to the people of Israel so many years ago, "Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness.Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”Joshua 24:14-15
We need to make a decision to serve either God or the ways of this world. And we need to make sure that we make a point to not argue the points but to get to the heart of the matter.
