I’ve read a few articles and seen a few social media posts
about Christians being targeted and treated differently for their beliefs. As
our society becomes more and more pluralistic it appears that Christians become
more and more disliked. Quite a few people have stated that they have received
differential treatment because of calling themselves Christian. Here in the Bible
belt, the opposition and disgust that are rippling across the nation towards
Christians is not felt so intensely, but I am ready and dare I say it, maybe
even excited for the day when it is felt here.
You maybe wondering why I say this… it is anti-American to
want our nation free of the Christian roots from which it was founded… who
wouldn’t want a whole country that believes and follows the Word of God… God’s
blessings over a “Christian” nation will be taken away when we turn our backs
on Him. I’ve heard statements like this over and over in different ways and yet
I whole-heartedly disagree.
America has been a nation that fully embraced Christian
culture (until lately) but has fully missed fulfilling the call Christ has
given to those who choose to follow Him. The culture of Christian values states
that all people should live according to the laws and commands God has so
graciously given to believers to follow. But why would people who don’t know
God’s loving mercy and kindness submit themselves to His laws? Expecting
someone who does not know the beauty and glory of a relationship with Jesus to
live as someone who does is not only foolish, but also harmful. My friend
recently told me a quote she had read, “the Bible is for believers, the Gospel
is for the lost.” Think about that for a minute… all the times we try and push
verses, quoting them for people to show them their sin, challenging government,
media, and culture through a means that was intended to guide the Believer, it
is grossly misusing the beautiful gift God has given us, His very Words! I’m
not saying there aren’t times in which the power of the Word should be used,
but used cautiously and with a discerning Spirit. The Gospel is what gives the message of hope
and love to the ones who do not believe, not the laws.
The only way in which I can see this culture of Christianity
die is through persecution. When you are challenged, threatened, murdered for
what you believe in, you make sure that you truly believe it and don’t simply
repeat what you’ve heard all your life or claim the trend of “oh of course I’m
a Christian” while grossly misrepresenting the Body of Christ. With the culture
of Christianity dead, believers will no longer be seen as standing in
opposition with the world but will be seen as standing in contrast with the
world.
Instead of expecting the world to look like us, it is way
more effective to let the world be the world and shower them with the love and
grace we have received from Christ. We have not been called to judge and
condemn the unbelievers and their sins. The Holy Spirit has been given the job
to convict all hearts towards his holiness, and I would hate to be prideful
enough to challenge him in His timing and His methods. I’m not saying believers
are to be passive in their faith, quite the opposite in fact. Actively go out
and love your neighbor. Show them the same grace that we have so freely been
given. Find the joy in no longer fearing the change in culture but the freedom
from it.
This week I have heard a lot of responses out of fear, fear
of the change that is moving across this nation. I welcome the change. I am
tired of being a grey country that is actively tainting the Gospel of Christ. I
am ready to be a country of black and white, you follow Jesus or you don’t. You
love others or you don’t. No more claiming Jesus so you can get a pass into
heaven while selfishly taking whatever you want out of the world. I want to be
an American Christian willing to give up everything in this world in order to
show the world how Jesus is worth it all, he’s worth my riches, my traditions,
my comfort, my culture, my life, my all.
