You call yourself a Christian!?!?!?!?!?

This morning a fellow believer pinged me privately to question me why a majority of my online activities quote: “Do not reflect Christ”? I have LONG said in person and online that the church has forsaken it’s calling to be a leading voice in society. The church has been SILENT for a VERY long time. You want to know why some places exist in our society where homelessness, crime, fatherless homes, hunger, ABORTION, etc….. are thriving and out of control? It’s because the church has abdicated it’s role in society. The church has stopped meeting the needs of the community. The church has stopped praying. The church Has forgotten that the scripture that states “Faith without works is dead”(James 2:17) and Jesus own words to “occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). We are to engage! We are to act! We are to pray! We are to work! I do not often get up on my preacher stump and cite scripture. I do not often make *religious* arguments. I do occasionally. I more frequently try to use the law, history, intellectual points, and debate to open up conversations. I have repeatedly cited 4 Biblical arguments to illustrate how God has used our current administration to achieve his goals. I can repost this soon. 

Some ask me frequently how I can justify being so controversial and “divisive”. I have had pastors confront me directly and tell me my online life (and if they only knew about some of the in-person conversations I have) is sinful and that I need to STOP it! I say to these voices “where is your voice?”. What are you doing to urge the church to action? Are you sounding the alarm? Where are you on Abortion? Where are you on critical issues of our time? Where are you on preparing the body of Christ to be not just salt and light, but effectual actors who are “occupying” until Christ returns? Where are you when believers urge each other to be silent? Where are you when political entities want to use taxpayer dollars to fund planned parenthood? Where are you when political entities want to regulate the first amendment to limit speech and freedoms of worship(happening right now in California under Governor Newsome!)? Where are you on _____________(fill in the blank)? I have had ENOUGH!!! Where were you when The Obama Administration used title 9 to persuade colleges and universities to silence Christians on campus for their declarations of the gospel? Where were you when the prior administration tried to use 501c3 status against churches to force them to open their bathrooms to LGBTQ+ standards? Where were you when New York State (and New Jersey) passed post-birth abortion legislation? Where are you on now on human trafficking? 

I can keep asking these questions. So NO! I will NOT be silent. Do NOT mistake my methodology for lack of Christian sensibilities. I am at the point that Jesus was at when he fashioned a whip and violently threw out the merchants from the temple. Our nation is founded upon Christian beliefs. Our Founders did codify into law that our nation would not be ruled by any religious entity or specific church, BUT(and it is a big distinction) they DID specifically codify into law the freedoms of worship. And I quote: “Congress shall make NO law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. Books have been written about this. Allow me to quote you the rest of the first amendment: “or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” We have been blessed to have law recognizing our inherent God given rights and liberties. The constitution does NOT grant these rights, it affirms these rights. 

Now onto Christians who get offended. Do questions offend you? Do differing opinions enrage you? Do disagreements destroy friendly relationships for you? If your answer to these questions is yes, then I have (perhaps some unsolicited) advice for you. Life is all about conflict and expectations. You expect person “A” to act like “X”. When this does not happen, conflict arises. this is a cycle that will repeat throughout your entire life in every relationship you will ever have. You cannot control person “A”. the only person you can control is yourself. If you find yourself reacting negatively every time person “A” fails to meet your expectations, you are going to live an angry depressing and frustrating life. Your reactions are a choice that only you have. You have a choice of how you will respond. Will you get angry? Will you attempt to understand the other person? Will you attempt to honestly see the reasons and journey this person has been through to arrive at this view? This is the only context in which you will hear me use the term pro-choice. I find it utterly amusing that one side of the political aisle DEMANDS the rest of us listen to, understand and believe, accept and join their crusade. Yet they accuse and slander those of us on the other side of the debate.

Negative reactions also contribute to physical illness. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, and many other general illnesses can often have an indirect link back to our stress levels. If you really wanna exemplify Christ, try being a happy warrior. Try having awesome friendships with people you disagree with. The Bible doesn’t advocate for never offending anybody, quite the opposite(Matthew 10:22). Jesus didn’t seem to worry about offending people when he preached sin. Jesus forgave people of their sin, worked miracles, and established the church in his disciples. He told us to condemn sin, not other people. Do not mistake my ramblings for condemning other people. I will call out names of persons (politicians/parties) and their actions to illustrate who is responsible some evil actions in our society. And If I were ever face to face with any of those persons, I would tell them to their faces that the ACTIONS and POLICIES they advocate for are destructive and evil. 

So………. still believe my life doesn’t exemplify Christ? Still believe my actions are not founded in my DEEPLY rooted Biblical beliefs? You are welcome to your views. You are welcome to unfriend me if this offends you. But before you do, ask yourself what are you doing other than praying? What actions are you doing to influence society, other than praying (and YES you should pray!)? Are you advocating for the church to start doing it’s mission? You can criticize me. I am fine with that. I am human and as such have frailties and sins and faults. We all do. But before you get up on your religious platform and interrogate me for my faith in Christ and challenge me for not injecting Christ into my outward life………………….. YOU HAVE NO idea who I am and what motivates me, and shame on you for trying to judge if I am truly a believer or not. You have unique talents and gifts. Mine appears to be being a vocal drumbeater. But I have also severed thousands of volunteer hours in education and community service. I have served thousands of volunteer hours in church leadership and church based outreach. I am NOT more righteous than anybody else. Neither are you. And all of our righteousness is as filthy rags according to Isaiah 64:6. It’s not about actions as proof of our walk with Christ. But acts of service pour out of our love and dedication to and for Christ. All I ask is this. STOP sitting on the sidelines. Whatever your gift is, start using it!