Boomerang

Lex III: Actioni contrariam semper et æqualem esse reactionem: sive corporum duorum actiones in se mutuo semper esse æquales et in partes contrarias dirigi. Law III: To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction: or the forces of two bodies on each other are always equal and are directed in opposite directions. I thought quoting Newton's Third Law of Motion would make me sound (or read) more intelligent. It would if I didn't have to write something explaining why I used the quote. Well then, it's all downhill from here. I must admit my shock at the backlash to Christianity in America. Mind you, I love studying history and this type of backlash isn't new to us or our time. I thought many of the current issues would would be something I would have to deal with later in life, but time is no one's friend. Still, this time around the gloves have come off and contempt is no longer veiled for anything Christian. I think I'm more shocked by the response from Christians, especially in the political arena. What I'm about to say will get me into trouble with some, but I believe to be true. Electing the "right" of officials will not fix this perceived problem. It's fuzzy math to believe putting the right people in government positions will suddenly dispel the fog. I want to be very clear, I believe faith can and should inform a Christian's vote. But at the end of the day, all officials are in God's Hand. We must trust Him. The boomerang effect on the Christian community is in part the result of our own doing. In 2008 several states voted to add amendments to their constitutions that marriage was between a man and a woman (DOMA). Many of these states were both red and blue states, and the amendments passed by overwhelming majorities. There was a collective sigh of relief from many church leaders, churches and religious organizations. But this would only be a temporary reprieve. Here's where the backlash will get us and reveal the dead-end path that our current approach has become. Voddie Baucham wrote in a recent article (http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/07/19/gay-is-not-the-new-black/), that the issue of same sex marriage is being couched in the same terms as the Civil Rights of the '60s. Therefore, no matter that DOMA amendments were added in 2008 to several states constitutions, if same sex marriage (and many issues by association) becomes the new civil rights, morality can be legislated. It just won't be the type that Christians wanted.  Legislation does not offer a viable alternative to issues of morality, no matter what side of the aisle you are sitting. But you don't hear that in some religious circles. Since I'm Southern Baptist let me pick on us for a moment. We have led the charge on many excellent issues through the ERLC, state convention lobbyists and getting information out about issues of faith. But it often appears we have put our eggs in the wrong basket. To the point, church attendance is declining, baptisms are declining, churches are dying/disappearing and overall belief in God as experienced in a communal setting (i.e., a church) is at an all time low. And we're worried about who's running for office and what they believe! Really!?!? So what do we do? The Church needs to be the Church. Leading the lost to faith in Jesus Christ, discipling believers and building a community of faithful followers. We (Southern Baptists) have been bird-dogging the wrong path. Satan led us down this prime rose, red herring path and we enthusiastically followed. Our greatest strengths of being a "people of the Book" were revealed to be our greatest weaknesses. This is a pure and simple case of believing our own press, that we're the largest protestant denomination and by inference we can throw our weight around to solve all that ails us by demanding our rights. "Squirrel!" anyone? The Church is at its' strongest when it wraps itself in the Gospel. I know what some are going to say, "You just want to stick your head in the sand and ignore these issues that encroach on our religious freedoms." My response: The only freedom that is guaranteed is freedom in Jesus Christ. All else is temporary at best and detrimental in the long term at the worst. I don't want to ignore anything, but the answer isn't found every four years. I love Jesus and He can resolve all issues. How do we accomplish this feat? Love your neighbor. So often I don't hear any love coming from the very people who have received and experienced the Love of God. When your (our) enemy strikes you, don't legislate! Turn the other cheek. Walk the extra mile. Love those who hate you. Go and make right with those who have something against you. I don't believe most churches of any tribe are broken for their communities. They don't love their towns. They've become little kingdoms. It becomes an us and them mentality and a longing for better times. You know what Solomon says about this in Ecclesiastes 7:10? Don't believe the past is the good ole' days, that's not intelligent thought. We will always lose when taken off our God given task. But this world isn't ours to win by any other means but the Great Commission by means of the Great Commandment. Satan can rail against it in any court of the land and always win. Let him! It's an empty victory. He cannot defeat the Gospel. And, he knows it. If Christians can be taken off task, which is often too easy, we become absolutely useless. This should be our rally cry: "Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”      John 6:68-69