This past week we were all shocked with news from First Baptist Church Crystal Springs, Mississippi. So much horrible news about Mississippi has crossed the pages of history. Truly horrible things did take place in this great state. It has taken years and years to heal much of this.
In the blink of an eye, a small group of spiritually blind people cajoled and coerced a pastor to deny an apparently godly couple the right to have a Christian wedding in that church. I pity the pastor. He has been excoriated and denounced ever since the news broke. His feeble attempt to be a peacekeeper has now produced a backlash of tsunami proportions.
To be sure, I believe the pastor thought he was doing what was best for all involved. There comes a time, however, when a pastor must take a stand. When a church member or members make a choice that violates biblical principles, the pastor must always, always side with the Bible. It is unpopular to do so. It can be divisive. It can be painful. It can be costly. But Christ-followers must always be light and salt, especially when faced with such unsavory opinions by spiritually ignorant people.
I choose to pray for FBC, Crystal Springs, Mississippi. I choose also to pray for the pastor. And I choose to pray for the heartbroken couple. Let's not forget that poor community who now finds itself in the national spotlight.
And, as a native of that great state, please forgive us for such a tragic decision.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
I Think I'lll Have Some Chicken
I just did a Google search for Chick-fil-A. I discovered news items from every major venue, all the way from the influential New York Times, to lesser-known tabloids and blogs. I have been amazed at the audacity of some as they responded--I'm sorry! Did I say "respond?" I meant REACTED to the chairman's values regarding marriage and family. I should be amazed at the audacity of city mayors who boast that they will do all they can to prevent free enterprise by doing what they can to keep Chick-Fil-A out of their cities.
I should be amazed; but I am not. After all, Christians do not belong to the world order that these guys do. They are born of the Holy Spirit, blessed with a new nature, and promised a new heavenly citizenship at a near-future date.
I do have a few questions for these mayors: What country do you guys come from? You think you have the right to speak freely and work diligently against Judeo-Christian values, and simultaneously hinder those with such values from exercising their own rights? Do you honestly fear the homosexual movement so much that you cowtow to their growlings and ungodly demands for fear of losing your polical clout?
The mutual benefit of the U.S. Constitution's first amendment notwithstanding, an amendment that allows both pro-traditional family people and those who oppose the traditional family to express themselves without governmental interference, this is a moral issue. This is blatantly anti-Christian and anti-traditional family. Christians and those who hold to the morality of the traditional family do not seem to enjoy the right to exist and openly express their values; only those opposed to such values are able to have public opinions and fear no recourse of action against them.
Isn't it interesting that the only time the tolerance card is played is when a Christian, or morally conservative person, tries to express himself? Think about that. If you hold true biblical values you are told to be tolerant. If those who disdain the idea of biblical values speak out against those values, why are they not told to be tolerant, as well? What hypocrisy!
So tomorrow I plan to go to Chick-Fil-A. I plan to enjoy a chicken sandwich offered by a company that holds the same overall values as I do. I plan to urge my fellow believers and others who hold to these same values to indulge in a chicken sandwich as many times as they can in the coming days. If you read this in the coming days and you are near one of these great fast-food restaurants, go have a meal from someone who actually cares about the traditional family in these United States.
I should be amazed; but I am not. After all, Christians do not belong to the world order that these guys do. They are born of the Holy Spirit, blessed with a new nature, and promised a new heavenly citizenship at a near-future date.
I do have a few questions for these mayors: What country do you guys come from? You think you have the right to speak freely and work diligently against Judeo-Christian values, and simultaneously hinder those with such values from exercising their own rights? Do you honestly fear the homosexual movement so much that you cowtow to their growlings and ungodly demands for fear of losing your polical clout?
The mutual benefit of the U.S. Constitution's first amendment notwithstanding, an amendment that allows both pro-traditional family people and those who oppose the traditional family to express themselves without governmental interference, this is a moral issue. This is blatantly anti-Christian and anti-traditional family. Christians and those who hold to the morality of the traditional family do not seem to enjoy the right to exist and openly express their values; only those opposed to such values are able to have public opinions and fear no recourse of action against them.
Isn't it interesting that the only time the tolerance card is played is when a Christian, or morally conservative person, tries to express himself? Think about that. If you hold true biblical values you are told to be tolerant. If those who disdain the idea of biblical values speak out against those values, why are they not told to be tolerant, as well? What hypocrisy!
So tomorrow I plan to go to Chick-Fil-A. I plan to enjoy a chicken sandwich offered by a company that holds the same overall values as I do. I plan to urge my fellow believers and others who hold to these same values to indulge in a chicken sandwich as many times as they can in the coming days. If you read this in the coming days and you are near one of these great fast-food restaurants, go have a meal from someone who actually cares about the traditional family in these United States.
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