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| Pro-Jesus (not anti-abortion, or anti-gay marriage, or anti-this-or-that) |
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In the days since the shooting death of abortionist Dr. George Tiller, I’ve felt unsettled. Many Christians have spoken out against the shooting of the notorious abortionist inside the walls of a church. Others have instead pointed out the man’s heinous practices as a late-term abortion specialist. I believe that both sides make strong points. But frankly, I view the entire discussion, which has gotten pretty heated at times, as one giant distraction. Not that we should completely ignore the awful and widespread practice of abortion, but I just don’t want my identity as a Christian to be tied down to such issues.
In the words of the psalmist, I find myself singing a new song, a different song, one that the world doesn’t understand. The world understands protests, tactics, arguments, labels, and strategic maneuvering. But the world doesn’t understand the divine love that is characterized by grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
You see, I’m completely taken by the majesty and glory of the One who loved me enough to die for me, who in fact died for all humanity (ALL of us—John 3:16-17). This to me is such good news, that I can’t stop talking about it. Even during personal hardships, the hope I have is too strong to silence me for long. The horrible tragedies and sinister crimes of this world can’t even begin to alter my tune.
So the song I sing is not one of protest. True, sometimes love for the One who saved me motivates me to temporarily lend my voice to the protest of certain things. (We joined Choose Life of Maryland, Inc., in order to get "Choose Life" license tags for our vehicles.) But that isn’t what defines me. People don’t look at me and conclude that I am a “social activist.” Hopefully they look at me and conclude that I am Christian, that is, very much Christlike and therefore different from the world. Hopefully the thing that stands out isn’t my activism, my eagerness to take on “causes”, but my adoration for the One who loved and saved me. In seeing my witness, I pray those who don’t know Christ might consider that they have little to lose and much to gain by giving their hearts, and lives, to him as well.
It is true that in a certain sense Jesus was a social activist, but no one labeled him as such. That’s not who he was. He was the Lamb of God, Savior of the world! His approach to social issues was an indirect approach, aimed at changing hearts rather than laws and behaviors. Jesus sought to change people’s hearts toward God, which inevitably results in a change of heart toward our fellow man, and every social issue that follows. Since this was Jesus’ approach, I try to make it mine too.
I used to be more vocal on social issues. But eventually I noticed that the Lord hadn’t changed ONE HEART through my agitating and debating. I have also noticed that other believers who are focused on such issues often come across as bitter, cynical, angry, judgmental, and insensitive. When we are perceived this way by people, it becomes very hard for us to sound authentic when proclaiming the Good News, let alone winning them to our side of any issue.
It has been pointed out that John the Baptist was one of the most vocal social activists of his day. However, I’d point out that a) his heart wasn’t filled with the Holy Spirit, b) he was a man with a very specific calling in history, a unique appointment, and perhaps not coincidentally, c) the end of his ministry, and his life, came after an apparent change in focus from preparing the way for Christ to calling out the sin of one particular political leader (Herod). To my knowledge, scripture never instructs us to follow John the Baptist’s example, either. However, it does explicitly tell us to follow the example of Jesus, the Heart Changer.
The song I sing is not one of judgment, either. My divine Example (Jesus) said, "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” Of course, there will come a time for judging people (which is different from judging between good and evil—1 Thes. 5:21). For now though, since my Savior, who searches the heart, is patient and withholds judgment till the proper time, the least I can do is withhold judgment on the apparent misdeeds of people I barely know, given the limited information that comes from outward appearances (1 Samuel 16:7; John 7:24).
By the way, the world understands judgment too.
Instead, I sing a new song. And I sing at the risk of being accused of being overly positive (and I have been accused of just this, quite a few times in fact). But that’s ok. Those who criticize don’t even come close to outweighing the reasons I have for being positive. Tiller won’t distract me. Personal judges won’t distract me. Hundreds of “gay marriages” won’t distract me. Angry debates won’t distract me. Questionable political leadership won’t distract me. And a zillion other things won’t distract me either! Satan may try to use these things, but with God’s help, I’ll remain focused as he would have me be, on Jesus and the Good News he offers!
12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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