As a follower of the
teachings of Jesus Christ, it troubles me that there is language and intent in
the current social mindset to “eradicate Anti-Christian Bias” through
government action.
I shall soon make my case
that it is the church, through invitation, not government, through coercion,
that makes the case for Jesus.
But to begin. I shall
assert that atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, and all others who do not subscribe
to Christian belief have an absolute, fundamental 1st Amendment
right to their conscience and their speech. Also absolutely true is that none
of us have a right to extend our conscience and speech into actions or
incitements that may cause harm to ourselves, others, or property.
But for sure, people are
entitled by the 1st amendment to express however much anti-Christian
bias they may hold.
I base and center my
approach to establishing a Christian society on the Gospel of Matthew 28: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age.”
Please note: Jesus was not standing before the
Roman Emperor, nor the Roman Senate to give this commission. He was not
attempting to recruit government to create a “Christian” form of government or
nation. He was standing before and speaking to his disciples, the founders of
the church. Jesus was giving charge to disciples and the church to:
Make disciples (not reluctant victims of indoctrination)
Baptize
In
the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (not in the name of the government or the nation).
Teach them to obey everything he commanded. (Not
what Moses commanded, not what Paul would later write, not what a self-aggrandizing, inhospitable
religious movement would seek).
Our best approach to being and making disciples
and teaching the commands of Jesus is to invite people to hear,
read, and learn about Jesus through the gospels, or as I like to call them…biographies
of Jesus.
The Christian faith is by personal
invitation, not government coercion or indoctrination, or even
proclamation.
Far from attempting to eradicate anti- Christian
bias by persecution of those that hold such bias, we, as Christ-followers, the
church, should be out front, in actions of hospitality, defending those who
think differently.
When Jesus was approached by Pharisees and Sadducees
with questions, he had discussions with them. He reasoned with them. He did not
call upon the Roman Emperor or Senate to silence his opposition. He, through
discussion, made his case himself.
And I remind Christians who meet in houses of
worship, often with much acreage of play area, picnic area, that you do not pay
property tax on that real estate.
And in any county in Indiana (and probably all across
the nation) there is much church real
estate exempt from taxation.
In fact, because your church is contributing no
revenue to the county budget, that means that others in the county actually pay
more in taxes. In a very real sense, atheists and others are subsidizing your
church and ministries.
It is not those with anti- Christian bias that are
burdening Christians and churches. It is churches that are imposing burden on
non-Christians.
Churches should realize this fact and, with a
sense of humility, be thankful to people in the community that they don’t
launch a class action lawsuit to have churches actually pay taxes to support
law enforcement, fire protection, maintenance of streets, and all other
services of which churches benefit.
If we, as Christians and churches, cannot make
the case for Jesus without government coercion, then maybe there is no case to
make.
I call upon Christians and churches to be faithful
to Jesus rather than chasing the emptiness of coerced indoctrination.
I call upon Christians to behave in ways that
show hospitality to others rather than hostility.
I call upon Christians and churches to follow
through on the teachings of Jesus.
