The Best Answer

This morning I was reading the review of the new movie "The Book of Eli," starring Denzel Washington. Most of the review was pretty straightforward, but one statement really stood out to me. The reviewer asked if anyone really wants Christianity to survive the apocalypse. Now, leaving aside the fact that this reviewer would never have asked that about Islam or any other religion, the rhetorical question itself reveals the kind of disdain with which Christianity is held in many circles today. Now I know that many who read this blog (both of you!) are as tired as I am about Christianity being treated this way by many of the so called "cultural elite." But what do we do about it? Frankly, I think we ignore it. We don't comment on it. Instead, we ask God to help us to live lives that will convict those who continue to reject God's free offer of salvation in Jesus Christ. To the extent that this disdain is brought on by actions and attitudes on our part that are unworthy of our God and Savior, we must repent and live differently. To the extent that they represent the inevitable opposition God's plan will always raise, we just keep going on and leave it all in God's hands. But we don't strike back. We don't picket or sue or do any of the other things that might "show them" that "they can't treat us this way." Why? Don't we have our rights? Well, frankly, no, we don't. Jesus warned us that we would be opposed in this world. In the Bible we are told to make sure that we are not suffering for our own wrongdoing, and if we are not, then to suffer such treatment in silence, even turning "the other cheek" if necessary. Besides, when I talk to the pastors of our Armenian and Assyrian congregations, I am humbled by the persecution they suffered and yet continued to serve both God and their fellow people - even those who persecuted them. Let's live lives of such godliness that those who oppose us are ashamed for having done so.

Pastor Ken