Christians are called to be compassionate (1 Peter 3:8) and to love those who oppose them (Luke 6:27). To some, “loving your enemies” means either avoiding controversy, or watering down the Christian message until it pleases everyone. This is not what Christ did; this is not what God wants. In Christians, Don’t Fall for the ‘Compassion’ Trap, David French raises three excellent objections to why Christians cannot stay neutral in the cultural debate of religious liberty, sexual perversions, and the assault on biblical morals. Not only is the rhetoric against Christians inaccurate, but staying neutral is a surrender of deep convictions about what Christ instituted, and what God ordained.
Christians should love the opposition, and to some people loving the opposition means either sitting out the fight or watering down the message to the point of impotence. I have a few objections.
First, there is no inconsistency between defending our culture from the latest sexual “reform” and loving our neighbors. It is compassionate to women and children to argue that governments and businesses shouldn’t render them more vulnerable to sexual predators. And if you believe the words of the Bible, there is nothing compassionate about acquiescing in the latest cultural demand to normalize immoral and troubled behavior. Yes, transgender men and women need the love of Jesus, but if by our words or deeds we contribute to the notion that their “transitions” are perfectly acceptable, we’re contributing to their own tragic self-mutilation.
Second, when one actively opposes Christians who are seeking to preserve religious liberty and opposing the relentless march of sexual decadence, then they marginalize and isolate their own brothers and sisters. For those few Christians who have the courage to stand against censorship, there is nothing more discouraging than enduring opposition and vitriol from fellow believers. I’ll never forget comforting a sobbing Christian client who filed suit to allow her Christian club to stay on campus — only to wake up the next morning to discover that a coalition of pastors and ministry leaders were the first to oppose her.
Third, a public political stance is not the same thing as a personal relationship. I can oppose gay marriage or transgender normalization yet still treat every single gay or transgender person I know with dignity and respect. Indeed, that is my God-given moral obligation. If a gay person chooses to shun me because I hold and profess orthodox Christian beliefs, that’s on them. In my experience, however, people can differ wildly on politics and come from dramatically different religious and political backgrounds and still forge meaningful relationships.
Christians need to start engaging. Otherwise, as David French accurately warns: “Leave the field, and the screamers take over.”
