Us Versus Them: Use Godly Decorum & Not Worldly Standards

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘<Jesus said,> “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”’ (Matthew 7:12)

One of the biggest sticking points in American culture today is the ‘us versus them’ divide, to the point where when one side takes up an issue, usually with facts tied into their case; the other side opposes that, typically with feelings involved.  Illegal immigration is one, but certainly not the only topic that has this ‘us versus them’ divide. 

This divide often has both sides engaging in attempts to ‘cancel’ out the other.  Both sides attempt to shut down each other’s comments and beliefs as ‘wrong-think’, without dialogue or debate.  When there is a debate, both sides devolve into shouting and belittling each other.  In Christian circles, the ‘anti-Christians’, those holding the secular worldview, attempt to shout down or close out the Christians, while there are many Christians who equally attempt to denigrate, ridicule, and ‘cancel’ out the secularist with divisive rhetoric and tone.

‘Canceling’ over Christianity is a two-way street. The more we Christians are shouted down we unfortunately often react by shouting down those opposing us as well.  We need to allow those who oppose us to come into our presence to provide them the Gospel, as Jesus did with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-26).  Christians often attempt cancel out those who we should be reaching out to with the Gospel.  Churches exist that turn away those who are not ‘dressed appropriately’. or who are living a lifestyle different than what we would consider Christian (gays, Muslims, golfers, etc.).  We need to pull the 2×4 out of our eye before we address those who place feelings over facts, and understand what Jesus did at the well with the woman. 

Look closely at the Samaritan woman and Jesus’ interaction with her.  First, He allowed her to approach and help Him.  Should we turn away from people because they are different?  No, of course not!  Second, Jesus did not chastise her for her sinful nature.  He addressed her sin (living out of wedlock, being a 5-time divorcee), but He did not lay down a guilt trip.  Should we chastise or scream ‘baby killer’ at a young woman about getting an abortion?  No, of course not! 

Third, Jesus provided her the Gospel, even though she did not specifically ask for it.  The Samaritan woman shared that the Jews told her and her people they could only worship God in Jerusalem (which would be very unwelcoming to the Samaritans if they went there), and Jesus told her there would soon be a time where one – anyone – could worship God anywhere they were at.  Do we assume some people just don’t want to hear the gospel because they are ‘XYZ’ and therefore don’t share it?  We often ‘cancel’ out others because of our biases when we should be sharing more to whom we place our biases on. 

Understand, those who we shouldn’t cancel out, are trying to cancel us out.  We cannot compromise our Faith and our foundations of Faith while we try to be welcoming. (Note: I did not say accommodating.)  Treat all equally, and we are to love all, but we cannot approve of the sin they are engaging in.  Yes, homosexuality is a sin and is detestable to God and we cannot condone it, but we must allow the lines of communication to be open, show respect, while letting it be known this is a non-negotiable. 

As an example on a secular topic, we can discuss climate change, and we can negotiate ‘carbon credits’, per se, but my stance is we cannot completely kill our economy by trying to kill of fossil fuels without viable and complete alternatives.  That’s my non-negotiable on that subject.  If your stance is otherwise, we should be able to discuss the topic and at the end be amicable enough to ‘agree to disagree’ and move on.  

We must do the same for the example of the homosexual.  We must be able to welcome and talk to the person, and if they cannot come to terms with the Lord’s Word, we must be polite and understand that is their viewpoint, agree to disagree, and allow them to move on without ridicule.  They may come back to learn more or commit to Jesus, or they may not, but we should not tell them to ‘shut up and go away’ and insult them using derogatory terms, and expect them to believe we are a representative of Christ, or want a relationship with a Jesus who would appear to condone such ridicule and disrespect.  At the same time, we cannot condone or accommodate their sin within the church – it is a sin and it would be untruthful to state ‘it’s OK’ in the Christian perspective – it’s not OK. 

What if we are the ones being cancelled, unfortunately the more likely scenario given history?  There is a good guide entitled, ‘Twenty Things to Say & Do to Fight the Cancel Culture’, which discusses how to, in a good Christian way, get a Cancel Culture bubba to get to a point of ‘agree to disagree’.  Sometimes we must face the bully, like Ralphie did facing the Evil green-teeth Farkas in the ‘Christmas Story’, and fight back.  We do not have to fight back with fists, as Ralphie did, but with the Wisdom to ask questions, like ‘Why?’ or ‘What do you mean about that?’, not accusatory in tone but to curiously inquire why. 

Don’t take ‘because’ for an answer, ask ‘Because why?  I’m trying to see your viewpoint.’  In today’s society, people hear the sound bite and don’t know why they really believe ‘XYZ’ except their favorite actor, or newscaster, or weatherperson said so.  Sometimes, when folks are hit with facts, especially Biblical facts, their world suddenly is lit up, and things often change in appearance in the Light.  Share the Truth, try to invoke thought and use God’s Wisdom and avoid canceling out those who would cancel you out.  That is the Jesus Way!