Selling Out on the Good Fight

There is a big difference between loving and supporting people and loving and supporting their sinful lifestyles. Condemning sinful actions, behavior and lifestyles is the loving and Christian thing to do. Jesus ate and hung out with sinners, and as he did this, he transformed them. He didn’t do that by being tolerant of their sin! He rebukes Peter, and refers to him as Satan, “Get behind me Satan”, when his plans for saving the world is revealed.  Peter really wasn’t too hip on the whole idea of suffering and death, not down with the idea of the cross at that point at all. I would suggest that being referred to as Satan didn’t seem very tolerant to Peter. Jesus always called out the hypocrites in the Gospels, again, not very tolerant or nice. He also spoke frequently of Hell and just how difficult it would be to live a life leading to Heaven, if we do not fully embrace God’s commandments.

If we are truly Christian, we will stand for God, and not be lulled into these notions of false concern and tolerance for sin and sinful ways. It is not loving to walk with someone on their journey if that path leads straight to sin, death and Hell.   As we accompany someone on this path with our definition of love, support and tolerance, we may find ourselves in an eternal pit of those God defined vices. There is no evil in God, only goodness, so where he is, there are no evil behaviors, vice or sin. I want to be with God, even in the absence of my loved ones who have rejected him. God is my everything.

So, in light of this, I am very disappointed with a couple whom over the last several years I have enjoyed and gotten to know through their television series, Fixer Upper. What I have loved most about them is their portrayal of family values and Christian lifestyle. They were recently clobbered in the news media for being affiliated with a church that condemns same sex marriage. It is quite startling to me that this couple has now decided to join and partner with Target,of all retailers, to sell their home and fashion goods. Target is a retailer that has openly celebrated and endorsed the homosexual lifestyle with rainbow apparel and other merchandise. They are a retailer that also supports transgenderism and the open bathroom policy. I stopped shopping there a few years ago, I couldn’t, in good conscience, support financially such an institution. I have done the same with Starbucks and some other charitable organizations that I find suspect. I cannot love people if I support their sin. I cannot fight for their salvation while endorsing the path that leads them away from it. It is so difficult, and yes it does require sacrifice. The most difficult part though is the scorn that we receive when we decide to fight the good fight, and stand for Christ.

These organizations may extoll good works in areas of charitable contributions and support, but good works mean nothing, if they not performed with love, and I am referring to the Love of Christ, the love that Paul speaks of to the Corinthians. I will endorse the Love that stands in Truth. I will strive to not be a clanging cymbal.

Jesus promised us crosses, we have it easier than most in this land of the free, for now anyway. We are increasingly coming under attack more and more, and the ways of the world seem to be winning more and more favor every day. The subtleness of these victories is clever. That is okay, I have my eyes on the bigger picture, the eternal one.  I strive every day for that heavenly kingdom, not the worldly one. It is tough, heck yeah? Do I struggle and fall? Heck yeah, but I get right back up, remember the bruises He bore for me, and keep moving.

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I heard that phrase a long time ago, and never understood what it meant. I do now though, every day this statement becomes more and more real, and more and more true. Satan has clouded the Truth in so many seemingly good intentions. I keep that phrase in my head as a reminder, so good intentions don’t pave my road to Hell.