An Oncoming Revolt by Christians? I don't think so.

            Matt Barber, in a piece published by WND recently, suggests a Christian revolt is on the horizon . Matt Barber: The Coming Christian Revolt.  As much as I’d like to agree with him, I cannot.  I just don’t see it.  Are Christians facing discrimination like never before?  Yes.  Does it appear that Christian persecution in the United States is on the horizon?  Yes.  Will Christians stand firm?  I’m not certain.

             Barber correctly and rightly describes the Christian view of sin:  "It is not so much that Christians wish, willy-nilly, to call abortion, homosexual behavior, fornication, adultery, bestiality, incest or any other disordered sexual proclivity “sinful.” It is, rather, that we must. For the true Christian, God’s objective truths will always trump man’s subjective desires."

        He then suggests that Christians will ultimately stand for these beliefs.  He is much more optimistic than I am, mostly because too much of Americanized Christianity is an amalgam of First Amendment, Bible, and conservative political ideology.  For instance, I don’t agree with most things Rachel Held Evans says, but she rightly strikes a nerve when questioning the long established pattern of evangelical kowtowing to a single political party.  Too many who claim Christianity can’t seem to distinguish flag waving or so-called conservative politics from Christian living.

            The problem with this pattern is Christians feel threatened when the liberties granted by the government appear threatened.  For instance, I think too many evangelicals of importance got hyped up about the Hobby Lobby case, both pre and post decision.  Suppose the decision had gone the other way?  So what?  Would we as Christians not remain committed to the gospel message?  Some of the discussion seemed to argue that religious liberty emanates from Caesar rather than from God.  My duty to spread the gospel comes from God, not from man.  My right, yes right, to proclaim the gospel comes from God, not from man.  My ability to spread the gospel comes from God, not man.  My willingness to spread the gospel comes from God, not man.

            Do we not then, as Christians, have all the liberty we need from God?

            Peter and John established a pattern for us when in Acts 5:29 they told the Sanhedrin “We must obey God rather than men.”  Unfortunately, American Christians seem to think if the government doesn’t uphold our right to exercise our religious sensibilities, or speak freely, that this has some actual bearing on whether we must speak out.  I have watched my friend Nathan preach on the street in the face of hostility, despite rather insensitive and vile remarks hurled his way.  Yet he continues, knowing the gospel message matters more.  Most people want nothing to do with this kind of evangelism, claiming it doesn’t work, or it gives Christians a bad name, or they prefer “friendship” evangelism, and so forth.  Mostly, though, I think too many Christians simply never want to talk about the gospel out of fear or shame.  I’m guilty of not speaking up too many times myself.

            Government endorsed limitations on Christian speech, Christian action, and even Christian belief, are here, now.  The New Mexico Supreme Court spoke to this issue recently in the Elane Photography case, requiring the photographer in question to simply set aside her Christian worldview if she were going to offer her services to the public at large.  The court basically told Christians to sit at the kid’s table and keep their mouths shut or suffer the consequences.  While many Christians claim to be upset, frustrated, or otherwise incensed about such decisions, the reality is we sit back, whine, complain, and go back to American Idol, SEC football, or singing the song from Frozen.

            I am not as optimistic as Matt Barber seems to be.  He believes a Christian revolt is coming.  I see many so-called Christians simply doing what they always do: belly-ache, vote Republican, shrug their shoulders, and shut their mouths when opportunities present themselves to actually speak up.  I don’t see a revolt coming.

            We are too soft, to weak-kneed, to undisciplined, too hooked on Americanism, to do anything.  John Piper says the Christian life is a battlefield.  He is right.  Unfortunately, most American Christians seem to think they need the government’s permission to take on the armor of God in order to participate in the battle. The First Amendment was made by men, not decreed by God.  Some of us are acting like the First Amendment, not the First Commandment matters more.

 

            American Christians, wake up.  You have a God-given,  God-mandated obligation to speak.  If the First Amendment vanishes tomorrow, it will make it harder on us, yes.  But our liberty comes from God, not from men.  If we are silent now, while we still have our “rights” what are the odds we’ll revolt?  I’d like to agree with Matt Barber, but I just don’t see it.