True Grit
I think this is the perfect time to talk about our faith in a different way. In the past few weeks I’ve found myself consistently challenged, in terms of my faith. I don’t mean that I went through trials and tribulation; I mean I met confrontation with other people.
In the wake of the terrible shooting against the night club in Orlando, many people approached me in conversation about the event. But I quickly discovered that the individuals talking to me weren’t interested in having a heart to heart about a terrorist attack committed against citizens of the United States of America, they wanted to have a debate about what I, as a Christian, thought—or what I should think—about the attack against ‘the gays’.
So, what should I think about the attack?
Well, I think it’s terrible that people look at me as a Believer and automatically assume that my thoughts on a terrorist attack are going to be any different from the next person. It doesn’t matter who was attacked; the fact is that someone took it upon themselves to carry out a violent and gruesome act on people they don’t know. And that’s wrong.
The reason I brought this up is because many people came forth after the attack and thought they had the right to question me about my faith. I somewhat expected the questions and the finger pointing but I certainly didn’t expect anyone to think that, because I’m a Believer, I would be happy about gay people getting shot and killed at a night club.
Let me start by saying that homosexuality is a sin. But also that sin is sin. Whether its homosexuality, prostitution, lying, or cheating on your spouse. Sin is sin and if you don’t confess it and ask Jesus for forgiveness, and turn from it, then you will wake up in hell when you die. Gay, straight, or otherwise.
That being said, I do not ever think its ok to mistreat or harm someone because of their lifestyle—sinful or not. Why don’t I think its ok to use gay slang? Or beat a prostitute? Or bomb Muslim mosques? Because Jesus wouldn’t do that.
Our message as Christians is love. Beyond that, it’s also free will.
Jesus died because He loves us. But it’s important to understand that He wasn’t forced onto the Cross. God didn’t spew curses over Jesus and have the angels restrain Him on the Cross. He willingly took the beatings, mistreatment, and even gave up His life of his own accord. That’s the message He gave to us. That we always have a choice. We choose to follow Jesus or to follow Satan. That might sound harsh but it’s the truth and that’s the point of this article.
We as Christians need to stop backing down when we are in a corner. We need to learn that meekness is not weakness and that its ok to tell someone the truth when we are confronted. It was hard to explain to people, my friends even, that I don’t support gay marriage. It was difficult to look them in the eye and be honest about my beliefs as a follower of Christ. But that is what makes me stronger.
Jesus was not afraid to say; “He that is not with me is against me…” Matthew 12:30 KJV, so why should we be afraid to say that whoever doesn’t follow Jesus is following Satan?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV says “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.”
In reference to the article, sometimes you don’t have to say anything when people question you. Sometimes it’s appropriate to just ignore the person confronting you. But when you are lead to speak—the keyword here is lead, as in guided by the Holy Ghost, then open your mouth and speak. I’m not saying that you should go around telling everyone they’re on their way to hell. Not at all. But I’m saying that you shouldn’t be afraid to speak the truth about the Word of God when confronted by others.
Think about Moses.
It wasn’t easy for him to confront Pharaoh. Often times he asked God to find another person to do the job. Why? Because he was afraid, because he recognized that the people of Egypt didn’t exactly see him as a great person, and he didn’t like confrontation. It was hard for him to say those simple words that are so famous today; ‘let my people go’. But He had what many Christians today lack, true grit. Moses understood that spreading the gospel and obeying God’s command was of far greater importance than staying on good terms with even the people he was raised around.
Sometimes our faith requires sacrifice. That means that your friends and family won’t always agree with the fact that you have church or that you must pay your tithes and offering or that you don’t drink or have sex before marriage. Sometimes our friends and family will have such a problem with us and our faith that they won’t want us around. And that will hurt and it will leave scars and it will break hearts but Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. God is a mender of hearts, and a peacemaker. When our friends don’t want to be around us because we’re ‘too holy’ smile because it means you’re getting closer to God.
Remember, Jesus didn’t have a slew of BFF’s. In fact, the Bible told us in I John 3:13 KJV “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you.”
Why did it say that? Because people don’t like to hear the truth. No one likes to be told they’re living an ungodly life. No one likes to be told they’re wrong. In other words, light offends darkness.
But have faith, have grit. And stand firm in the Word of the Lord.
Until next time.
God bless.