I was having a conversation with a young lady recently, and
the topic of the Bible came up. It was in the context of Chick-Fil-A of all
things. Someone mentioned that he absolutely loved Chick-Fil-A, and the young
lady said she had never eaten there and probably never would because her
boyfriend thinks the owner of Chick-Fil-A hates gays. It came to light that her
boyfriend also claims to be an atheist, so it would seem the root of his
problem is that the owners of Chick-Fil-A, Truett Cathy and his son, Dan, speak
openly about what the Bible has to say about homosexual behavior.
The young lady said that being gay herself, she wasn’t
pleased with the Cathy’s position either. I told her that it was unfortunate
that people who demand open-minds and tolerance can be so intolerant of someone
who thinks differently. The Chick-Fil-A controversy began because the Cathys gave
money to organizations
with similar beliefs, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Salvation Army,
hardly militant homophobes. I told her that the Cathys do not refuse to serve
gays or bar them from employment. In other words, they follow the law regarding
discrimination but exercise their First Amendment rights to state their beliefs
and support others of like ideals.
The young lady then claimed that she believed the Bible
too; admitting that she was mostly Lutheran but didn’t agree with all the
church teachings. Apparently she thinks similarly to the gay woman who wrote in
the Daily Beast during the height of the Chick-Fil-A controversy that the
Cathys position is, “the
opposite of Christ-like.” This brings me to the point of this piece: what
do you say to people who claim to believe the Bible but want to pick and choose
what to believe? I would rather argue with a full-on atheist than a
pick-and-chooser.
I am writing this to prepare myself for the next time I face
that situation. I wish I could come straight out and say that if you don’t
believe all of it, you don’t really believe any of it. I see the futility in
that approach, though. I believe that people can truly come to Christ, trust
Him for their eternal salvation, yet not believe or even know all the Bible
says. We are not saved by our doctrine after all. All we have to believe is
that Christ gave his life in exchange for ours. The pews of modern churches are
filled with people who hold opinions that are not biblical, yet despite their
misbelief, they will one day share eternity with God.
I am not content, though, to leave it at that, especially
when the misunderstanding is so detrimental to civil discourse and the sanctity
of the family as God designed it. To the latter point, the dissolution of the
family in western society is at the root of many of our problems. I could dismiss
the studies that demonstrate healthier
outcomes for children of man-woman parenting; I could dismiss the fact that
gender confusion, so-called, is responsible
for a dramatic rise in teen suicide; I could dismiss the fact that the
health risks associated with a homosexual
lifestyle reduce male life expectancy dramatically. I could dismiss the
fact that every society throughout history that lost touch with biblical family
values self-destructed in short order. I cannot dismiss what Paul wrote in
Romans about, “men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in
themselves the due penalty for their error.” Sin always has consequences.
It’s the issue of civil discourse that is most troublesome.
Even among people who claim to believe some of the Bible, one is immediately
labeled a homophobe for standing on the whole Word of God. I can be against
avarice and not be labeled a hater; I can be against adultery and not be
labeled a hater; I can be against lying and not be labeled a hater; I can be
against theft and not be labeled a hater; but if I come out against gays, I am
a hateful person. Where does this emotional militancy come from? I suggest the
fervor is fueled by the enemy of our souls. He wants to disrupt family values
because he knows that alone will destroy godly society. (For a broader
discussion of the benefits of traditional marriage, see the excellent article
by Michael
Craven on Crosswalk.com.)
I am reminded once again of Paul’s word
to the Ephesians, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic
powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of
evil in the heavenly places.” I still want to attempt a civil discussion
with the pick-and-choosers, but I realize the best approach is spiritual
warfare, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer
and supplication.” I need to pray that the veil thrown over their eyes by the
prince of darkness be removed and the eyes of their hearts be opened to the
light of God’s Word in its fullness. Chances are I will still be drawn into a “spirited”
discussion.
