For some time now, I’ve felt a calling to write this article. I attempted it once but wasn’t satisfied with the way it turned out. Since then, I’ve had more discussions and heard a sermon on the topic. Also, recent events have made it imperative that these thoughts be shared. This article is addressed to Christians.
If your first reaction to hearing about the Orlando shooting was “Obama is going to threaten to take guns away again,” then this is for you. If you have ever said “Christians are being persecuted,” then this is for you. If you are a diehard in the boycott of Target, then this is for you. If you are worried about America’s future, then this is for you.
Let’s start with persecution. Who told you living a Christian lifestyle would be easy? Surely no one, and if they did:
If you expected Christianity to be rainbows and butterflies, then I’m sorry to tell you that you were bought into something false and unfulfilling. Look at Jesus. He was perfect. He had never done anything wrong in his entire life, and they nailed Him to a cross. Did you expect them to treat us like Saints? Christians suffer because we can take it. We can take the physical and mental pain because nothing in all of creation separates us from the love of God. Nobody can take your eternal life away from you unless you give them permission. If you are not being persecuted, then I challenge you to reevaluate your life. Persecution means that our message is being heard. It’s something to be happy about and not a red cup to whine about on Facebook. With that being said, what is your message? It should be Jesus. It should not be gun control, whether or not a gorilla was rightfully killed, or the next US president. It should be Jesus. A perfect example is Westboro Baptist Church. The first thing I saw about this group was its famous signs reading “God Hates Fags." That is its message, but it’s not the correct message of Christians. Ours is Jesus.
Secondly, although we’re told we live in a free country, it doesn’t always feel that way. As Christians, we aren’t always allowed to voice our opinions as much as non-believers are. While law states that we have freedom of speech, we are often told that God isn’t “politically correct." We should be sharing the good news all the time, but for the times when you feel like your hands are tied, remember that you have a different kind of freedom. No matter where you live or the oppression you suffer, you have freedom through Jesus. We are called to live in freedom from sin and evil. Through Jesus you can. We focus so much attention on what we can’t say and do, but we need a change in perspective. Look at all the things you have done and can do.
A few weeks ago, I did a study on Habakkuk. It’s what led to this article and this new perspective on American Christians. Also, in case you don’t believe that God has been telling me to write this, I went to church with my grandmother and the pastor, my uncle, spoke on Christians in America. When he first began, I thought he was on his soapbox complaining about how the country is going to Hell, but by the end his points lined up with what I had studied in Habakkuk. Let me give you some background of this book. Habakkuk is watching the world he lives in being conquered by sin. Sounds familiar, right? So, what does he do? He asks God the question that everyone asks at some point: why do bad things happen to good people? God’s answer is His power. He tells Habakkuk that He has a plan for these things happening around him. He tells him that it’s a setup for something greater. He reminds him of how powerful He is. We need to remember this in our daily walk with Christ. God isn’t “taking His hand off of America”. No, He actually has both hands on us. I encourage you to talk to God about our country’s current state of chaos. Ask Him to talk back, and I can guarantee He’ll tell you that He isn’t finished with us yet.
Lastly, I want to remind you of our common goal. The purpose of this article isn’t to tell you who to vote for or what your stance on gun control or gay marriage should be. It’s to tell you that Jesus Christ is what we should strive for. Our lives should mimic His. Our goal in life should be to speak like, act like, and spread Jesus. How important is He to you? Important enough to tell your friends about the peace and joy He brings? How many people died and went to Hell in Orlando because no one told them about Jesus? Heaven didn’t get to welcome new citizens. Satan had that privilege. Let’s ask God to shift us into a daily mindset of looking like Jesus. We can accomplish so much if we make a decision to do this. Ask God to work on your heart. Believe me, He doesn’t disappoint.
