Two days ago, I started a short series about my thoughts relative to the recent decisions coming from our Supreme Court. This is the third in that series, connecting my thoughts to the fourth chapter of a letter Peter wrote in the first century AD. I came to this chapter while praying and thinking, and as I read his words over and over the past 2-3 days, I believe I have found my verbal footing, some insights that help me express my thoughts about this new reality that I find very challenging, very troubling. They are perhaps more of a challenge to my Christian friends, church members, loyal readers….though I hope my other readers will consider my thoughts too. So, let’s go with the next passage from I Peter.
I Peter 4:14-15 “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.”
There are two distinct thoughts here that are useful for the overall discussion, and the first is actually to those who are supportive of the homosexual marriage ruling. We are absolutely very close to the coming Great Crisis, and nowhere is that more evident than in the philosophical divide that is being made deeper and deeper. Discussions on both sides of the issue have been marked by unpleasant comments toward the “other side.” I will address both sides, so stay with me.
First, let’s make sure you understand what I mean by “philosophical divide.” Here’s how I wrote it in my book on the coming Great Crisis. See if this doesn’t sound just like our current culture:
With each journey towards crisis, the ominous aspect that emerges is the fact that as the Fourth Turning comes closer, the two sides that emerge in contest over the country become philosophically divided. The story is the same whether we are looking at the 1760s or the 2010 period. Pundits and citizens search for unity, wish for a leader to unite the country, yet the various supporters of “the issue” grow so determined, so passionate about their view, that compromise is impossible. Older people will longingly remember the years of the previous High, when everyone “pulled together,” but those years and that spirit is gone.
So, the first concern I have is the vitriol and aggressive nature of those in support of the marriage ruling who are making this divide among us worse. Much like John Adams in the 1760s, I would be someone who is probably moderate, or at least in the realm of Libertarian about the general issue of being homosexual. Look…you want to be a homosexual…go for it. Of course I have a private opinion about it, but whatever…it’s your life. If you ask my opinion privately, we’ll talk -–you may not like my opinion but that conversation would be handled with tact and respect. Overall, however, I’m keeping my opinion mostly to myself and you go do what you wish. I have many homosexual friends and work colleagues and we get along great; my only thought for them is similar to what Dr. King said in his famous speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” The content of character among all of my friends is very high…otherwise, I don’t want to interact with them.
However, when I read comments on social media by supporters of homosexual marriage, I am astonished and saddened. Rather than exhibiting the tolerant attitude they wish from others, they so often viciously attack any view that is counter to their own. They have started to proclaim a “love wins” campaign and yet support that through actions and words of hate towards anyone, especially Christians, who disagree with them.
One person on one of my social media platforms quoted the Bible verse about not throwing the first stone, meaning she didn’t want me or any other Christian to say something negative about the ruling or about homosexuality. And yet, in how she conducted the written exchange, she was casting stones, accusing others of being bigots while at the very same time doing so with some bitterness and vitriol. I’ve seen posts wishing for the death of others who disagree…my goodness, what does it say about anyone’s character who actively expresses a wish for harm, death, job loss.
I was going to write about this after the Indiana situation regarding homosexuals. That was a sad, but effective case in point. That decision would never have happened had the homosexual community, or at least advocates for that position, not spent the past few years attacking small business owners like bakers or florists who happened to disagree with the view of homosexual marriage. Rather than just finding some other place, obviously a business owner who would LOVE the money generated from the transaction…these people went out to intentionally attack someone’s livelihood, their way of existing in their business.
It is to the point that someone like myself begins to feel as if they will be ostracized if they dare to speak out. And yet for our civic society to exist in a healthy way, free speech must be protected in a way that gives space for all opinions, even the one that you find troubling. When this doesn’t happen, then even the more moderate person ends up being pushed to the opposite side of the philosophical divide. Instead of continuing to work for moderation and healthy exchange, you end up pushing me to the other side….thus creating a self-fulfilling prophecy about “those people.”
The second takeaway from these verses is that, to my Christian readers, Peter says it clear enough….consider it a blessing to be so insulted (called a hater, called a bigot, accused of being intolerant or ugly….just to name a few insults) for the name of Christ. However, don’t miss the second sentence. Don’t be a meddler. The old King James version says it this way—don’t be “a busybody in other men’s matters.” The apostle Paul said something similar to the church in Corinth when he reminded them to not spend time trying to judge the actions of non-Christians.
Look, you may not agree with the choice of a homosexual lifestyle. But make sure you aren’t going around looking for a fight, verbal or otherwise. Especially don’t have those kinds of discussions via email or some social media. I mean, I hope you are concerned with the well-being of other people, so if God has put someone on your heart about how they live, then pray for them. And, if you really feel led to it, then sit with this person one-on-one and share your concern. But don’t go in guns blazing to tell them how wrong or bad or evil they are. Some of the comments by Christians online, in social media and other places DESERVES rebuke and push back….what that person may later claim to be suffering. Peter is telling us that in such case, well, you don’t get any credit for that and in fact, you are bringing shame to the name of Jesus.