What should we be proud of?
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I tuned my television to Good Morning America , poured another cup of coffee and listened to the lead story of the day. The cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated is generating almost as much conversation as the swimsuit issue. Jason Collins, “The Gay Athlete”, is this week’s cover story. It was just another article about what has become considered “newsworthy” until this statement was made. Jason Collins spoke about his conversation with President Obama, during which time the leader of our country told him how “proud” he was of him for coming out and how “brave” the basketball player is for telling the world he is gay.
My very next thought became the subject of today’s post. I imagined my two sons, during their junior high years, sitting at my kitchen table, eating their morning Cheerios, and hearing the leader of their country tell them what made him proud. I wondered what I would have said to them.
Jim and I have been saying for years that this is one of the largest issues that the church, the culture and the Bible would be up against – and now what we have been warning people was coming, has arrived. The issue is much larger than the label it has been given. Homosexuality, according to the Bible, is a sin. It was a sin in Genesis and multiple generations, cultures, and Covenants later – it was still a sin in the book of Revelation. In theology, that makes it a “truth.” This week, the president of our nation telephoned a basketball player and told him he was proud of him for standing against God’s word. That is the larger issue, and that is what Christians need to think about. But we need to do more than just think, stew or protest. How do we teach our culture what God is proud of?
First, get over the anger. Psalm 4:4 says, “In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” When my kids reached college age, I used to look at them as they were headed back to the dorm and say, “Ok…you know everything I want to say to you right now, so I won’t say it…but, do me a favor and think about it.” There comes a time when silence has more power than words. If you live your faith and witness full out, and you should, most people already know what you think about the issue of homosexuality. So, if words are not necessary, stay silent. The world doesn’t need any more anger or hostility. Ask God for kind or helpful things to say instead.
Second, be informed. Learn how to find the biblical truth to support what you believe. Jim’s paper on the subject is excellent! (I know, I’m married to him…but I am also proud of his Kingdom work!)
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Fourth, the internet and social media have become a high-speed freeway for God’s word. That is why the Denison Forum exists! Think carefully about your words, represent Jesus well, and use the resources available to you in comment sections, Facebook, Twitter and other forums to express God’s truth in a godly way.
What should Christians be proud of? Living like Paul taught in Galatians 6 is a great answer. I hope you will take some time to read that chapter. Paul said, “May I never boast except in the cross of Christ” (Galatians 6:14).
We have been headed toward this day for the past twenty years. Now, the battle for popular opinion has been lost. But the more significant news is this, the outcome of the war does not belong to public opinion. One day “EVERY knee will bow, and every tongue will acknowledge God” (Romans 14:11). It is time to spend our best efforts living rightly instead of just telling people we are right. THAT is what will change people’s opinions – and that is what you, and God, can be proud of!
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