Trinity kids performed on Saturday night, and spoke and sang of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5.22-23). One beautiful voice rang out those old words, "They will know we are Christians by our love." I was perched by the back doors and looked over the audience. I could see many who would probably call themselves nominal Christians, and I saw a few who outright declare their independence from the Christian movement. During the song I was wondering what was going through their minds. Maybe it was more hopeful that I imagine. Pollsters, statistics, and reports say that our host culture knows us for something other than love. I have always blamed it on offensive Christians, but I wonder if defensive Christianity is also to blame. Do we realize how
defensive we have become. We have been embattled in cultural "wars" and "battles" for the Bible, values, marriage, our youth, and the heritage and heart of our nation. We have been on the loosing side of shaping culture. We used to have a prominent place at the table. Now we are not invited. We have convened conferences and organizations that prefer the word DEFENSE.
I am not suggesting we change our views or values. I am suggesting we change our stance. What if we held Biblical teaching WITH a Biblical stance. We have taken our stand against those God has clearly said to love. How do you put your fists up and love at the same time? We have a battle, but it is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6.12). Lets take our stand against
THE enemy, but love our neighbor and even our enemies.
Current defensive stance:
Take your stand against your neighbor and the enemies of your views/values.
Biblical stance:
Love your neighbor (Luke 10.36-37)
Love your enemies (Luke 6.27-29)
Take your stand against
THE enemy (Ephesians 6.11)
Church, lets put warfare back where it belongs! We will stand and renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways. Fists up! Sobriety! (1 Peter 5.8).
Church, "put on love" (Colossians 3.14)! Fists down! Drop your weapons! Open arms! Prodigal love!
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