Tag: Christianity

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The Bigger Problem with Chick-Fil-A

On Wednesday, I wrote the post, Oh, Chick-fil-A: The Outrage. So far, it has reached over 101,000 people, and it keeps going. That’s crazy! My intention was to share my thoughts with my small social media world. I had no idea it was going to travel as far as it did. Reading the feedback from some people in the comments section, as well as on Facebook and Twitter, I have seen the light! I now see the bigger problem with the Chick-fil-A controversy.

Today, I’m going to jump on the outrage train. I’m going to assume,
Chick-fil-A caved after 7-years of attacks from the LGBTQ+ community and their liberal political allies. It’s a shame, isn’t it?

Chick-fil-A, the last American, Christian hope against liberal bullies, trying to force Christians to accept their homosexual worldview. I am disappointed, almost to the point of tears, angry tears, that they failed me and Christians all over America. And, really all over the world, like in England, where they are being shutdown, after only 6-months because of these bullies.

So, my fellow disappointed, angry, and outraged Christian brothers and sisters, what should we do from here? How should we respond to their caving betrayal of our Christian principles?

I am brand new to this. After all, you know it was just on Wednesday that I told the world that I was not jumping on the outrage train, and look at me, just like Chick-fil-A, I CAVED! So, will you help the new kid on the train out a little bit? It appears, we’re looking at Chick-Fil-A as a person, a fellow flesh and blood Christian.

So, what do we do? Help me out!

  • Do we look to the Bible to pave the way for our response?
    • I guess, we can look to Jesus, since He’s in the Bible. Is that okay?
  • Do we skip the Bible and just react with sheer emotion? After all, Chick-fil-A has wronged us personally!!!
  • What does this look like in the real world? Do we go to every comment section, Facebook post, news site, and make our voices heard? I got that impression from one of my own commenters, they said they were speaking out to let the company leaders know they are disappointed and not happy. One of my Facebook connections posted an article and then personally relished that it was “all going bad for Chick-fil-A!”
    Hooray! My brothers and sisters. Let us rejoice that they are going to reap what they sowed (that’s from the Bible!) for betraying our Christian values and for caving. As others have said, “Now God will stop blessing them!”

Look at us Christians, standing so firm and yelling so loud at what we’re assuming is essentially a brother or sister in Christ falling and giving into the world’s ways. You know what I’m thinking? I’m thinking this will show “the world” — those liberals and LGBTQ+ advocates — that we don’t play. Our beloved Chick-fil-A caved, but WE WILL NOT! Well, I caved, but with your help, WE will not! If you want to be a part of Christianity, and you don’t act right and perform to our Christian standards, you have to go! There’s no room in Christianity for that kind of behavior. There’s no room in our faith for the weak spined, cavers.

THE BIGGER PROBLEM WITH CHICK-FIL-A
See, this is the bigger problem with the Chick-fil-A controversy. We’re so concerned with being right and for protecting a set of values, that we forget what we’re supposed to be about. We forget there’s a world looking in at what Christians and Christianity is all about. So far, what they have seen is (some) Christians who may profess the gospel, but their attitudes and their behavior is void of it. The biggest problem in the Chick-fil-a controversy is how Christians are acting toward a perceived wrong.

Here’s what the world sees: “If they will treat Chick-fil-A that way, how would they treat me?” “If Chick-fil-A did this one thing wrong, what if I get it wrong, is this what I can expect from the church?” And, they’ll just pass on God, Christianity, and the church.

You may dismiss me, but it’s true. Jesus told us this in John 13:34-35 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” If it’s by our love that everyone (including the world) will know that we are His disciples, it is by our lack of love toward one another that we disconnect ourselves from belonging to Christ.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH CHICK-FIL-A?
If we’re treating Chick-fil-A like a fellow brother and sister in Christ, would Jesus go and publicly blast them for their wrong doing? Would he utilize social media to express his disgust at their sin? Or, to rally the family of God to boycott them? Would he send them hateful and unkind messages?

“If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private….”

Matthew 18:15

It’s not an accident that Jesus also told us in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.” Christians are not hidden from the world around us, both for the good & the bad. Whether in unity or in disunity. In agreement and in disagreement. When we choose to express our disputes in the public eye and when we choose to express our disagreements or when we act as if we are relishing in the potential downfall of another, the world sees that and will make a decision about Jesus, based on our behavior. Jesus told us to go to one another in private.

So, let’s assume, Chick-fil-A caved and made a grave mistake. If this was a man or woman in your church, how would you handle it? How would you approach their failure? Maybe they relapsed into an addiction. Maybe they took their eyes off of Jesus and entered into an inappropriate relationship. Maybe they have become ensnared with pornography. You find out on a Sunday morning at church. What will you do? Will you go home and blast them on the internet? Will you go and tell the world how disappointed you are in them? Is that the instructions that scripture gives us?

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.” 

Galatians 6:1

Christians, if you feel Chick-fil-A is wrong, where is your gentle spirit? Where is a genuine, PRIVATE attempt to make your disappointment and disagreement known, and then to seek restoration? What I see, sadly is the last part of verse 1 ignored: “watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.” Paul doesn’t say you will be tempted with the same sin, as the fallen. It could be, but you may fall into other temptation. Maybe a temptation to be controlled by your emotions, or to become self righteous, or to cast judgement, or to act in a way that is void of love.

Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else.

Galatians 6:2-4

Instead of publicly opposing our brothers and sisters and instead of publicly expressing our disapproval and disagreements with them, what if we went to them privately? What if we asked how we can help them with their burden & the temptation to cave? Paul said YOU need to examine your own work. I need to examine my own work. We need to look in the mirror and be less concerned with Chick-fil-A, and more concerned with what we’re doing, or not doing. Does your life fully align with scripture to the place you can correct Chick-fil-A? Are you really in a place where you can say, “I can’t believe they caved!” Could Jesus say that about you? We should all be careful we don’t see ourselves as being better than Chick-fil-A, because we haven’t sinned as they have sinned (in our own mind).

LET’S BE HONEST
If we’re honest, here’s the problem. We often lack a true understanding of the gospel. If we don’t truly know the gospel, we can’t truly practice it. If the gospel isn’t inside of us, it won’t come out of us.

When we lack an understanding of the gospel and when we don’t live it out, we expect people to perform according to our standards. It comes from a works based theology. You have to perform a certain way to be accepted. You have to fulfill specific expectations to receive approval. This is NOT the gospel!

The gospel is that Jesus performed all that God required on our behalf so we can be accepted and saved. Jesus fulfilled God’s expectations so we could receive His approval. Jesus did everything for us, so we didn’t have to. We could never fulfill God’s requirements, no matter how hard we tried. A works based theology, disapproves of people when they don’t perform correctly. It rejects people because of their failures. The gospel teaches us that we are free to fail because Jesus succeeded on our behalf [tchividjian]. God doesn’t reject us when we get it wrong, he doesn’t relish in our demise because we made an unwise decision. God doesn’t toss us aside and declare He is finished with us when we sin against Him.

So, why would we, Christians do the same to Chick-fil-A? Some Christians are saying they “will NEVER eat there again, they are through with them!” After one decision. Really? Is that of Christ? Is that the gospel? Is sending local Chick-fil-A operators hateful and unkind messages, bringing stress and exhaustion to their family, of Christ? No, it’s not. It’s a works based theology, it’s not the gospel.

I am left to wonder if this is the experience people are having in our churches? Is Chick-fil-A just a public picture of the way fallen people are being handled within the walls of the church?

“…if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.”

Matthew 5:41

How can you go the second mile for Chick-fil-A, right in the midst of your disagreement with them? How can you go the second mile to love and extend support to the local operators who are under attack from our own family? What if we allowed Christ and His gospel to drive us to do something different than the world? Different than the protesters and the advocates? Sure, privately e-mail and call the corporate offices, to express your disagreement and disappointment with them, if you feel they are wrong. But, what can you do to show the love of Christ in the midst of Chick-fil-A’s perceived wrong doing? How can you love those who are under attack, and are innocent of the decisions made by the corporate office? How can we be the light on a shining hill, showing the world that we, and the believers at Chick-fil-A, are truly Jesus’ disciples? That despite a difference, we will still live out the gospel and extend grace, forgiveness, and patience to them, even if we feel they don’t deserve it. After all, that’s what Jesus does for us. That’s how he first loved us.

May the true gospel guide our attitudes and our actions.

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The Bigger Problem with the Starbucks Red Cup Controversy

large_Starbucks-Red-Cups-2015

Nicki and I were traveling to Nashville on Sunday afternoon when I had to take a quick restroom break. I walked up to the urinal and there it was, the infamous gospel tract. I was just about to post a photo of it on Instagram and tell all the Christians in the world how they’re wasting time and resources by leaving their tracts on urinals (because who really wants to pick something up off the urinal? Think about it). When I read what it said and starting thinking about the question it asked, I completely forgot to take the picture.

“Do you want to be a Christian?”

Do I?

If I were not already a Christian, would I want to become one at this moment in my life?

What does becoming a Christian look like? What does it mean to become a Christian?

I wonder what non-Christians would say when they saw that question?

If a non-Christian didn’t have a Bible & wanted to know what Christianity looked like, what it meant to be a Christian, and what it would do for their life, who would they ask those questions? Who would they turn to in order to have those questions answered? Christians?

With the current controversy over Starbucks’ new red cups for the Christmas and Holiday season, my immediate thought was, “Do I want to become a Christian and become a scrooge about anything and everything I don’t like?”

Seriously! As a Christian reading the question on the Christian tract that was my exact thoughts about Christianity. Do you wonder if that’s what the world thinks about us? How can we rightly ask anyone if they want to become a Christian?

Christian to Non-Christian: “Do you want to become a Christian?”
Non-Christian to Christian: “What is a Christian?”
Christian to Non-Christian: “Hold on, let me finish updating my post on Facebook…. ‘Starbucks is furthering the war on Christmas; they took  the snowflakes and ornaments off their Christmas cups; if you buy coffee from them be sure to tell them your name is Merry Christmas (it’s okay if I lie about my name because it’s for Jesus) and while I’m here posting let me splatter a few more rants and criticisms on my wall like how Christians shouldn’t eat Girl Scout Cookies and by the way I hate this and I hate that. Why can’t more non-Christians act like Christians? What is this world coming to? Christian businesses should be free to serve who they want and don’t want, but secular businesses should accommodate Christians! Also, here are a few more internet conspiracy theories that probably aren’t true, but  I saw them posted on someone’s wall’ ….a Christian looks like me and we don’t go to Hell when we die!”
Non-Christian to Christian: “No thank you, your life looks like a living Hell!”

That’s not even the biggest problem with this whole controversy.

What is the Bigger Problem?

The bigger problem with the Starbucks Red Cup Controversy, and any others like it, is the GOSPEL. Everyone ranting about Starbucks not printing their cups correctly are promoting a works based theology which teaches people they must be morally good people to be right with God & to be accepted by him.

Christians: God’s walking talking billboards are going to rise up against a non-Christian company that has no claim on Christianity and demand they do Christmas our way, or we will reject them, and they are somehow supposed to believe that we are promoting a God who extends radical grace to all people? A God of love, mercy, and forgiveness? If Starbucks’ employees, executives, and the world don’t see it in us, how are they supposed to be introduced to our God and our Savior, Jesus?

Let’s just ignore that God accepts us in Jesus. He doesn’t accept us because we did Christmas his way, or we did church his way. He doesn’t love and forgive us because we first did life his way. No, he loves, forgives, and accepts us before we know what is right and wrong. He chooses us way before we choose him. He didn’t wait for us to start doing anything right or stop doing anything wrong, yet that’s exactly the life we demand of companies like Starbucks and sadly it’s probably what many are demanding of other people in their life as well.

Every Christian who has decided to boycott, shout at, and raise a fuss over red cups has decided they would rather teach: Do good Starbucks and Christians will be cool with you (Bonus: God will be too, because God is just like us!).

Do what’s right Starbucks and you’ll honor God and Jesus by keeping CHRIST in Christmas.

Essentially, we’re not concerned with you as people. We’re not concerned with your hearts being transformed so you can see Jesus for who he really is. We’re only concerned that you accommodate our Holiday in which we celebrate the birth of our Savior, who you’ll never meet, if it’s up to us.

With every post, with every shout, and with every complaint we’re telling Starbucks, their employees, and the world that Christian-like performance is what Jesus and his followers expect, and require, to be accepted.

This is not the gospel.

As a Christian, the gospel is your greatest stumbling block to requiring Christian behavior from a non-Christian business or individual.

[tweetthis remove_twitter_handles=”true”]The gospel is your greatest stumbling block to requiring Christian behavior from a non-Christian[/tweetthis]

You want Outrage? Be Outraged

If Christians want to be outraged, let’s start within our own camp, not with those who are outside it.

Paul instructed Christians to be careful how we treat outsiders:

Colossians 4:5-6 NLT  Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

The writer of Hebrews told Christians to provide accountability for those within our own faith:

Hebrews 3:12-13 NLT Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

[tweetthis remove_twitter_handles=”true”]If Christians want to be outraged, let’s start within our own camp, not with those who are outside it.[/tweetthis]

Do you want to be outraged by something? How about….

  • Very few Christians give sacrificially or generously. Giving per capita to the local church is 2.5% – many who say they love the church and are ‘All In’ for the vision and mission, give nothing [stats]
  • Local churches are handcuffed from doing necessary ministry, not only because of lack of finances, but due to lack of people using their gifts, talents, and abilities to serve due to the demands of their career, personal recreation, youth sports, hobbies, vacations, and other time consuming activities.
  • In 2014, a Lifeway poll showed that 78% of Christians did not share their faith and 59% did not invite anyone to attend church with them [stats]
  • An estimated 663 Million people (1 in 10) lack access to clean water [stats]
  • 842 Million people worldwide lack proper nutrition [stats]
  • An estimated 7 Million children are orphans worldwide [stats]
  • Approximately 2 BILLION people have never heard the gospel worldwide [stats]

Why do we expect non-Christians to honor Jesus, who hasn’t yet transformed their hearts and radically saved them, when we claim he has transformed our hearts and radically saved us, but based on the stats above we don’t honor him ourselves? Has Christ really transformed our hearts? Do we want to keep Christ in Christmas because it’s our way of worshiping and honoring his birth?

Based on just a few of the stats above, do we really have time to be fussing about snowflakes and ornaments on red cups? Do we really have a leg to stand on when we say people are trying to change Christmas, when Christmas hasn’t changed us?

I like what Job said to his religious friends:

“If only you could be silent! That’s the wisest thing you could do.” Job 13:5 NLT

Maybe we can learn from that. Christian friends, we have much work to do within our own walls. Let’s leave non-believers alone and work to ensure our hearts are seeking Jesus and our hands are serving his people. Maybe, just maybe non-believers will see we are his followers because of our love, for them, not decorated cups.

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What Christians Can Learn from James Harrison

james-harrison-participation-trophyJames Harrison, Outside Linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, made news this past week when he posted on his Instagram account a photo of two Participation Trophies his sons were given for their involvement in the Next Level Athletics Program. Harrison added a lengthy statement explaining his refusal to allow his sons to be given something they didn’t earn. “While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy,” Harrison said.

I admire James Harrison for teaching his young sons this valuable lesson and truth for their life.

I believe this same principle is missed in the American Christian Church, and I think we too can learn a lesson from Mr. Harrison. I think many times we believe we’ve accomplished something or we’ve earned something because we carry the title of “Christian” around. It’s like our very own club we belong to. I’ve often heard the term, “Country Club” used to describe churches and Christian groups.

Christians Aren’t Give Participation Trophies

When we get to Heaven, God’s not going to reward us for simply being. He’s not going to lavish awards and trophies on us because we participated in simply being a Christian, or because we were a part of the Christian club. We’ve earned nothing extra just by placing our faith in Jesus for salvation. Without merit, we’ve gained life in Jesus and if that wasn’t enough we were gifted an eternity with God in Heaven, but we gain no trophies for just being; we’re entitled to nothing more.

Our Rewards are Earned

trophy

Christianity isn’t about finding a church you love so you can sit and soak in all that’s happening around you. 1 Corinthians 3 tells us Jesus is our foundation; He’s the starting point for the new life we’ve been given and whatever we use this new life for will be tested. Paul said, “….on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward“ (1 Corinthians 3:11-14 NLT). Jesus speaks with a sense of urgency as he boldly proclaims, “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds” (Revelation 22:12 NLT). As Jesus was calling people to take up their cross and follow Him, if they desired to be His disciple, He told them, “For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:24-27 HCSB). We don’t earn our salvation, but we do earn our rewards after salvation.

[tweetthis]Christianity isn’t about finding a church you love so you can sit & soak in all that’s happening around you[/tweetthis]

As if Jesus wasn’t enough. As if God’s undeserved grace, mercy, and forgiveness wasn’t enough. As if an eternal home in heaven wasn’t enough. God goes even further and promises to reward us for the deeds we perform in this new life we have in Christ! But, notice, in every instance we are promised rewards there is a condition given; our rewards will be given solely based on the deeds we do within this new life, based on what we build on the foundation of Jesus.

So, what are you building? What are your deeds? What kind of rewards can you expect from Jesus when He returns?

God doesn’t give participation trophies, but He does reward us for what we’ve earned.

Are you connected with a church, but find yourself disconnected and not involved? Find out how you can plug in within the church or the community so you can start building on the foundation you have in Jesus. Are you one of my people from New Passion, but you haven’t plugged in and you’re not building anything on the life you have in Jesus? Don’t delay, register online to start serving right now. God wants to reward you, but you have to earn it!

[tweetthis]God doesn’t give participation trophies, but He does reward us for what we’ve earned.[/tweetthis]

Join the conversation: What are some helpful ways to move people from simply being a Christian to doing good works in the world as a Christian? In what areas do you need to improve yourself?

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An Open Letter to Dr. Terry Jones

Dear Pastor Dr. Terry Jones,

I write this letter with little hope that #1 you would read it and #2 that it would make a difference, but I feel something should be said, whether the advice is heeded or not, that sir, is your choice.

As a fellow Christian pastor, I urge you to stop your blatant disregard of the Christian faith. Your continuation of your planned burning of the Koran, not only makes you a disgraceful American it disgraces the core teachings of the faith you claim to follow and represent.

I do not make my case based on personal feelings. I base it through Scripture which is strong enough to stand alone:

I make my case through…

Jesus

  1. Where in Scripture did Jesus ever destroy (in any way) the holy books or the temples of worship for any other faith or religion?
  2. Matthew 5:9-12 Jesus said the “Peacemakers” will be called the Sons of God – You do not make peace by inciting violence with your actions of burning the Koran. It goes on to say,  “Rejoice and be glad” when persecuted for righteousness sake, not go seek revenge or go make a “statement” when you feel others have done you wrong.
  3. Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus tells us to “turn the other cheek” and to go out of our way to accommodate those who seek to harm us. I’m curious, how does your burning of the Koran fit with in these instructions?
  4. Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus tells us to love our enemies. He asks, what reward is there in only loving your brother? Even the Pagans do that. How is inciting our enemies loving them? How do you open the door for the Good News of Jesus Christ, by angering them? I don’t know, maybe the word “enemy” from Jesus’ day meant something else…I’m sure it did.
  5. Luke 17:11-17, Jesus performs a good deed, a miracle. One of ten men came back to thank him, it was a Samaritan. I am sure you are aware that the Samaritans worshiped differently than the Jews, this Samaritan could have looked at Jesus with great disdain, but he didn’t, maybe it was because Jesus didn’t incite him to violence and hatred, he loved him, healed him, did good to him. I wonder, how are your actions on September 11, 2010 in burning the Koran, follow in Jesus’ example? Where did Jesus burn the Samaritan’s holy book? Where did he “take a stand?” Um, maybe I missed something, either way, Jesus’ method led the man to faith.

Paul

  1. Look at 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, now go study the rest of Scripture. For every “act” of violence, hatred, or wrong done against Paul, where did he one time respond with a “protest” or “standing up against his foes” or any other demonstration of what was “right” in his eyes? Where? He preached the Gospel. His life was for Christ not his own.
  2. Check out Acts 14:19-22, Paul was stoned and left for dead outside of the city. I bet Paul got back up and made a protest against them for burning his Bible and attacking his fellow believers, don’t you? No, he went back into the city, preached the Gospel and encouraged the believers, declaring that one must suffer many hardships as a believer. It sounds to me that Paul did not need to “act” out in order to “stand-up” for his beliefs. He just lived them out, whether it cost him his life or whether he got to keep his life.
  3. Furthermore, check out Acts 17:16-34, Paul goes to Athens and is encountered with a people who followed many gods and different religions. I bet we see here where he goes and destroys their temples and their idols and their holy books. Oh, man, once again, a peacemakers approach. He actually “preaches” against them and uses them to contrast the Truth and the Gospel.
  4. We are instructed in Colossians 4:5-6, to be careful with how we deal with non-believers, to be full of grace and to be seasoned with salt, so that we may have an answer for everyone. I wonder how your approach on September 11, 2010, falls within these instructions?
  5. In Acts 16:16-40, Paul and Silas are in prison. They have the opportunity to escape, but they know that in doing so it would cost the guards their life, so they stay and because of that the guards come to faith. Unlike you, they were unwilling for their faith to cause another person their life. You sir, make a mockery of the Christian faith when General Petraeus warns that our American soldiers will have the risk on their life increased by your actions and you ignore it! You may be willing to die for your faith, but you are not a peacemaker when you are causing & increasing problems for others on your behalf. If one attack happens because of your actions and any soldier loses their life, their blood will be on your hands, so I guess you might be very proud of them sacrificing their life for your right to be foolish.
  6. In Romans 12:14-21, Paul urges us to BLESS those who persecute us and to not pay back evil for evil. How does your plan fit within that instruction?

The honest truth sir, there is no Biblical foundation for which you can say your actions are in the name of Christianity. What you are doing is in the name of Dr. Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach Center. Maybe its your way of getting a little fame and a little bit of news coverage, but you in no way are promoting the Savior Jesus or his teachings. You can twist Scripture all you want to make your point, people have done so for centuries, but you will be hard pressed to present grace and love through your actions. Our instructions are to go into all the world to make disciples (Matthew 28:19) as Christians we are called to represent Christ. You are not doing that and you are not paving the road for the Gospel to be preached, in fact, you are perverting the gospel, with a gospel of hate. Here’s a novel idea, arrange a massive prayer meeting not a Koran burning service, but then again, that may mean you think God is big enough to change the hearts of those you disagree with.

Sincerely,

Nick Carnes

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Ignorance in Action

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

constitutionI’m not one to shy away from a debate on politics. I never let politics trump my faith and the Gospel, and I never use my platform as a pastor to share my view on politics or to try and push legislation towards my view. I will however, when given the opportunity or when a discussion is taking place, share my view on given subjects.

As we all know, the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate Health Care Reform Bill last night. As I was surfing around on Twitter, I engaged in a few late night discussions on the topic, and then a few more this morning. I follow a lot of Christians on Twitter, and remarkably, I saw several diverse responses to the passage of the bill. Some point to Jesus and his teaching to care for the poor and the sick, while some others argue away the increase in taxes on the top wage earners in America to pay for it all, and then there are those who argue, that this is a bad rout to take as a Country for a list of reasons. I’ll reserve my thoughts for a potential future post…I’m not sure that I want to go there right now 🙂

Here’s what has provoked this post, because this issue in itself is, in my opinion, becoming a bigger and bigger problem among American Christians. I’ve seen A LOT of people either in a straightforward way or in a suggestive manner say that we as Christians need to just accept this new law, because Romans 13 tells us to (paraphrased) “Submit to authority because all authority is from God…to rebel against authority is to rebel against God.” This suggestion and view of Scripture makes me shrill as if someone were taking their fingernails and running them down a chalkboard, here’s a couple of reasons why:

1. It reveals an ignorance about the foundations of our country: The United States of America is a Democracy in the form of a Representative Republic. Our authority is a document known as the Constitution. It is Government for the people, by the people. Our Senators, our Congresspeople, our Supreme Court Judges, and our President are NOT our authority. We are their authority. They are not to dictate rules and regulations to the people, rather they are to represent and enforce the will of the people and defend the authority of the land, the Constitution. We do not serve them, they serve us. Our American tradition is to give them honor and respect, but that should not be mistaken with authority. Our country is not a dictatorship.

2. It reveals an ignorance about the beginning of our country: To suggest that it is a sin or somehow against Romans 13 to speak out against a law that has been passed or to just “accept” what “is”, is to imply that the entire founding of our country was founded in sin. Our forefathers should have never picked up a rifle (they should have been content with oppression), the Pilgrims should have never boarded the first ship to flee persecution (they should have just accepted it), and we should all be speaking in a British tongue today (Because America would not be America). Who knows, maybe that is how you feel?

Romans 13 was instructed in a totally different political system than America. Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised that people are interpreting it based on an American lifestyle and political system? America seems to be the filter in which we interpret the Bible many times. Romans 13 is definitely applicable in many situations, but not in this situation or in any debate concerning the laws of this land, it is up to our debate and our wills to form those laws. If the Democrats truly went against what the people said they wanted, and what polls said they wanted, it would not be the people ignoring Romans 13, it would be the politicians. There has been a huge movement in recent years for some people within Christianity to silence other Christians from sharing their political views. They complain “Christians are too political” – Yet, they will turn and loudly share their opposing viewpoint as they shame others into silence. We as Christian Americans have just as much voice as any other citizen, in fact it is our responsibility as citizens to be political, whether that voice is Independent, Liberal, or Conservative, we must share that voice with the character of Christ. That does not mean to sit back, accept what “is” and be silent. It means to stand up for what you believe in, while representing Christ well.