Are we who call ourselves by the name of our Lord,
Christians (or followers of Christ), brave enough to be the devil’s
advocate? No, I am not talking about
becoming lawyers bent on the destruction of planet earth. Nor am I talking about adopting or embracing
any evil practice we come to know. But I
am wondering if we followers of a God who created the freedom to choose against
Himself, are brave enough to allow others to make the same wrong choices. We tend to want to impose the right choice on
others, whether they like it or not. We
believe we are doing what is in their ultimate best interest and therefore are
completely within our rights to make such an imposition. But we have no rights. And often our understanding of ‘better’
choices is corrupted by our own weaknesses of character. Our impositions may also be a testament to
our own lack of faith and understanding.
Back to my question, are we brave enough to defend the right
of others to choose to believe in something we think is morally wrong? God is.
There is no question that God would not wish evil on any of us, but He
does permit us to choose it. However, us
reformed prostitutes, tend to be the first to cast stones at others who do not
share in our reformation of thinking (if not behavior). Once we ‘find’ a truth we seem compelled to
force it on others. In this we exert
control and mimic the author of all evil.
Instead of becoming the devil’s advocate, we become his mouthpiece and
do his work for him. God is not about
control, although He is in it. God is
about choice, as Love is completely about choice. Power cannot compel love. Power can compel obedience but not
affection. Power is the tool of Satan,
whereas Love is the tool of God.
So often Christians get in touch with their paranoia about
being prosecuted by the world and react by enacting moral laws to protect them
from unnecessary persecution. In so
doing they impose their moral views of right and wrong on others who may not
share their opinions. Instead of
protecting and defending the rights of the few, Christians seek to group
together and impose moral law. Yet as a
group we blast others in foreign governments for exactly the same
behavior. Consider Muslim morality
enacted into law for a minute. Were
Christian women compelled to wear black head dressing that covers the hair and
face, they would react with revolution.
Muslim women do this by choice in our country to honor their religion
and beliefs.
Yet we would not hesitate to compel Muslim women to take off
the head dressing for any number of reasons – chiefly because we do not share
their moral views, and we are in the majority.
Instead of defending the traditions and beliefs of others, we impose our
own, and add an attitude of further intolerance with sentiments like … “this is
America, if you don’t like it, leave – go back home.” Of course this is home to many Muslims born
and raised in our country, whose parents may also have been born and raised in
our country. This is their country as
much as it is ours. They do not seek to
impose their beliefs on us Christians here in America, why is it OK for
Christians to act counter the will of God and impose our beliefs on them and
others.
Majority may rule, but it cannot compel conscience. Instead of offering unconditional love to
those who do not share our beliefs and thereby perhaps attract interest in our
doctrine, we offer intolerance, indifference, and in effect know nothing of
love for our neighbor or our God. I may
despise the beliefs of the Satanist, but I MUST defend his right to hold his
opinions. I must see him as God sees me,
an errant child needing to find his way home.
I must NOT make his form of worship illegal simply because I have the
power of the majority behind me to do it.
Majority imposition must be absent morality derived from religious
doctrine or many will be compelled into behavior against conscience, and worse
against the will of God. No one can love
by force, only by will.
God is so misrepresented by those who take their personal
moral opinions and seek to make them laws.
It is the character of GOD that comes into question when his servants
make so huge a mistake in His name. Non
believers see this imposition for what it is.
Instead of winning the hearts and minds, a decided loss of opportunity
is engaged. Why are we so timid with our
faith as to believe it needs the protection of the state to survive? Why do we trust God so little as to assert
His ways must become the punitive law of the land or no-one would choose to
follow them? Do we understand so little
of why God does what He does? Are we
truly that blind, or arrogant, or both?
It is election time again in this country. Another opportunity for big-business to field
a set of pre-paid for candidates who talk of change but whose rhetoric outlines
plans to keep big-insurance, big-energy, and big-military nice fat and happy
for years to come. Completely irrelevant
who wins an election so long as the sponsors earn their due. Yet each candidate has good intentions. Each believes they can make substantive
changes to improve the lives of the American people. They sound like us don’t they?
We set out do the will of God. We talk about change of character, and
improvements in the quality of our lives, and making a difference for all
around us. But over time a review of our
accomplishments may not quite match our intentions. We may have become politicians in that we preach
about the need for change, but practice very little of it. We look for change in others, but ignore the
need in ourselves. The candidates make
promises of change but neglect to tell you who alone can deliver it. You might answer that the guy in the mirror
is the best one to effect change. In the
sense that each one of us CAN make a difference, you are correct. But in the sense that the guy in the mirror
is ACTUALLY going to change – history tells us this is an optimistic
prognostication at best. That guy is too
lazy, too unmotivated, too … pick your adjective.
So don’t blame the candidates for not delivering change when
the guy in the mirror fails to deliver regularly. However, if you want to talk about real
hope. Then instead of making your mission
in life to impose values you do not even adhere to yourself, make it your
mission to allow God the freedom to make the changes you know you need in your
own life. Be brave enough to defend the
ones who do not share your convictions.
Have faith enough in the goodness of love that it can overcome evil if
left alone. Trust in the goodness of
your God that love does conquer all – even what is inside of you. There is real religion applied. Not words, not doctrines, not sermons – but
life, love, and freedom applied in yourself.
Herein is the way we reach the hearts of the Satanist, the
Muslim, the others – not by embracing their beliefs but by defending the rights
of their conscience. By offering
unconditional love for the person, even if their beliefs are blatantly despised
in your own eyes; the hearts of unbelievers can be moved from stone to flesh
again. Think about the way God woos you,
how He loves you, even though He may despise some of the things you do – even
with all your accumulated Christian understanding…
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