Christians Should Beware of the B Word
Recently, I wrote a letter to the editor at The Tennessean newspaper, defending certain actions of President Bush. I wrote that Christians should support Bush on certain issues, such as the fact he is against abortion, against homosexuality, and that he had the guts to take on the terrorists responsible for September 11 and dictators such as Saddam Hussein.
Within a few hours of the letter’s print, my email box was inundated with ‘fan mail.’
I received three supportive letters, and the rest attacked me and accused me of being everything but a human being.
The one that really shocked me was the word bigot. People thought that because I said homosexuality and abortion is wrong, I am a bigot.
I answered many of the emails, explaining what I truly meant. I even met another true Christian, and after several emails, we have become friends, and have realized we share a kinship in the Kingdom of God.
One of the most amazing, and troubling, letters was from a woman in Kentucky, a professor at the University of Kentucky. The woman told me she did not support Bush because he did not support equal rights. I asked her to explain.
She told me that because Bush did not support gay marriage and abortion, she could not support him. She further told me she is a devout Christian, and that homosexuals should be allowed to marry and that abortion should be legal.
It was hard to choose my words for a response, but I told the woman nicely that I disagreed with her assessment, but that I would not judge her relationship with God.
Still, letters such as hers trouble me. Why? Asa Christian, I do believe that homosexuality is wrong, abortion is murder, and divorce is saved for the case of fornication (which is another issue in my letter that sparked controversy). I base these beliefs on the Bible and the words of our Lord and Father.
At the same time, Christ gave us an eleventh commandment, to love one another. I love everyone. It’s not always easy, but I do. Homosexuals are still human beings. I love them too, and I would love to see each and every one of them make the change to Christianity and forsake their lurid lifestyle.
Abortion can be avoided. If you don’t want the innocent life you carry in your womb, place the child with an adoption agency upon its birth. Many, many couples would be thankful for the opportunity to adopt a child.
Other respondents to my letter claimed that they are Christians, and that they felt I am hiding behind the Bible, spewing ‘hatred’ and pretending to quote from the Bible.
My pastor is right. When you become a Christian, you have to grow thick skin, to handle the abuse and jabs thrown at you daily.
I cannot stop thinking about the many people that wrote me, voicing their opinion, saying they saw me as a bigot, as a spreader of hate. How can we, as Christians, convince our fellow man to join us in the light, when what we’re saying is being construed as the work of Satan? Satan is convincing these people we’re trying to convert that we’re turning them to his evil ways, when he’s in fact turning them himself. We simply get the blame, so in trying to avoid Satan, people are playing right into his hands.
The only solution to this problem is diligence. If we are to preach the word of God, we must be instant in season, out of season, and we must stand firm in our faith and our love of God. Only through His grace and strength can we overcome the label of bigot that is becoming more and more attached to our way of life.
Continue to preach, preach from the Bible, and stand firm in the faith. Do this, brethren, and you can’t go wrong in the eyes of God.
