Friday, January 3, 2020

Help My Unbelief


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.

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