I have so many Christian friends right now who are afraid to speak their opinions. Afraid of being called “hateful”, when they’re not. Afraid of people misunderstanding them, because they speak the Truth in love. Afraid that if they say anything that sounds like it comes from their moral beliefs, it’s automatically invalidated. “Christians need to stay out of politics”, they hear, and wonder if it’s true. Even Christian friends will tell them to stay quiet because they think that taking a stand on moral issues will make people less receptive to hearing the Gospel.
I've got news for you, anytime a Christian stands up for ANY moral issue, they will be called "hateful" and "bigoted", even when they're respectful, tactful, and loving about telling the Truth. Darkness hates the light, and will always spew venom when it's shined in their eyes.
What if we were to lay down on moral issues and let them have their way. Would that make them "like" us more? No! They'll still always see anyone who believes in God as ignorant, narrow-minded, and an obstacle to "progress". Appeasement only makes the aggressor more aggressive.
Remember that the aggressor here is not people, but the spirit of this world: the Enemy who has been battling for the hearts and minds of Americans (and winning ever since the Sexual Revolution). If we don't stop the tide of moral decay, our nation will be destroyed from the inside out, just like Rome and great societies of the past.
The Enemy wants us to believe that the only way to be truly loving and not threaten our ability to share God’s love is to be silent. It's a lie. Watching people throw themselves over a cliff, while insisting that the rest of society go with them, is not love!
The Gospel is offensive and foolish to people who don't understand it. The idea that there is a loving God who made the universe and has a paternal right to tell us what we should and should not do is offensive. The idea that we will all someday answer to Him for our actions is offensive. The idea that there is a moral standard apart from our own invention is offensive. You can say it in the sweetest way possible, and it will offend. That's the price we pay for telling the Truth.
People say that the Church should not be involved in politics. That's a lie, too. Every citizen has the right to vote their conscience, whether that conscience has been formed by the Bible or their favorite Humanist college professor. Christians have just as much right to express their views, engage in the debate and influence the direction of our country as any other group.
Don't let people intimidate you by saying, "this is why the world hates Christians". They hated Jesus, no matter how loving He was, because He told the Truth.
I'm not saying we have permission to be obnoxious and rude, start pointless debates or force our opinions where they aren’t wanted (if we do, we deserve to be hated!), but we must never be fooled into silence for the false promise of the world somehow "liking" us more or being more open to the Gospel.
“Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to put on God's full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.”
Ephesians 6:12-13
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