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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
What Are They Afraid Of?
Every four years we go through the process of electing a president. While presidential politics seems to be a constant story on the evening news during the nine months between the New Hampshire primary in February and the first Tuesday in November we are subjected to countless political ads, followed by people in the media telling us what those ads mean. During the primaries and then in the general election there is a good deal of talk about demographics, which means the make-up of those voting. One of these groups is generally referred to as the “Christian Coalition” or “Religious Right”, and without fail, it seems, whenever this group is mentioned the charge is made that they are intolerant.
Webster defines intolerant as - “unwilling to tolerate a difference of opinion or feeling, esp. in religious matters: refusing to allow others the free enjoyment of their opinions or worship.”
In their attempt to cast people of faith in a negative light, people throw out that word like it is something evil. But it only exposes the hypocrisy in their argument because I’m sure it’s not unusual to hear one of them say something like “I will not tolerate bad service at a restaurant.”
The charge of intolerance against Christians and the Bible is based in fear. So one has to ask “What are they afraid of?” Could it be the following?
- ”And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise,” Luke 6:31.
- “He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he,” Proverbs 14:21.
- ”He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise,” Luke 3:11.
- ”Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men,” Romans 12:17.
- ”Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another,” Romans 14:19.
Why should anyone fear or feel threatened by the above verses. Many of these sentiments were characteristic of the rhetoric espoused by the “flower children” during the 1960s. Those making the charge of intolerance against Christians do feel threatened and this is what they are afraid of:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved,” John 3:19-20.
We live in a hedonistic world where good is defined by that which brings pleasure, much of which is derived from beverage alcohol, drugs and sex outside the bounds of marriage (resulting in an illegitimacy rate of nearly 40%). It is celebrated in the media, on television, in movies and commercials where sex is used to sell any number of products.
But many in this country are fed up with this “if it feels good, do it” mentality and have returned to a faith based attitude toward life and it is manifesting itself in exit polls during elections where faith and character are said to be as important as economic issues. Those who “love darkness” are threatened by this and so they lash out.
So, is God intolerant? Absolutely.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God,” 1 Corinthians 6:9,10.
God is intolerant of false doctrine: “He answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up,” Matthew 15:13.
Does this mean that God has no compassion? Absolutely not:
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” 2 Peter 3:9.
“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,” 1 Corinthians 6:11.
Don’t be intimidated by the charge of intolerance. If someone makes that charge against you look them in the eye and kindly ask “What are you afraid of?” They may walk away or it just may pave the way for a study of the soul saving message of the Gospel of Christ.
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Can Things Be Better?
“It’s just like my heart is being ripped from my chest and then stepped on every time we fight. I’ve never hurt so badly before. How can someone who promised to love me forever say such degrading things to me? I feel so lost, so miserable, so dejected! Our home is broken and it needs to be fixed. I worry about our children, their future, and our future. I so desperately want things to be better. I want to be happy and alive again. I want us to be whole. We need help. I need help. Our family needs help. Can things be better?”
Have you ever felt this way about your family or your marriage, or know of someone who has? Occasionally, I hear or read about troubled homes and feel compassion for those who are hurting because of conflict. Some situations are quite desperate and differences seem almost irreconcilable. Others, while not at the brink of disaster, merely exist with each family member leading quiet but separate lives, all the while living under the same roof. Still others, while generally satisfied with their marriage and home life, may at times find themselves struggling to make the relationships grow and thrive. Indeed, many are wondering if things can be better.
I want you to know that not only can things become better – they can become great when Christ Jesus is in your home. Nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth entered into the troubled homes of Palestinian Jews who were struggling with the pressures and worries of life. Some were struggling because of illness (Mark 1:29-31), some because of familial conflict (Luke 10:38-42), and others because of sin (Luke 19:1-10). In all three cases, Jesus left these homes better than He found them.
In the modern world, the healing power of the Lord’s Word and the memory of His compassionate life can also leave our homes better than they have been. When Jesus enters a home and its members embrace His life and His teachings, that home will be happier, fuller, finer, complete and most assuredly, better.
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