God always wins in the end
I’m not sure how to feel about the fight my Christian community has undertaken to ensure that a Ten Commandment stone remains at a local public school. Since feelings don’t help and my authority must come from the Word of God, I’ve been considering Mark 16:14-20.
Initially, I thought about how I wouldn’t want a satanic sculpture or an atheist framework displayed in a public place. I recognized that Biblical truth is no longer taught in public school and that parents are the designated instruments to foster their children’s biblical knowledge, not schools or signs.
And so I surmised that the solution is not to Christianize public places with billboards and rule books but to actually be Christians in public places. But it’s so much easier to fight for a sign than to live a life surrendered to God by loving your enemies, respecting (many times unjust) authorities, and doing good to those who hate you, isn’t it? If we are doing those things, we really have liberty to do whatever we want in regards to historical signs.
It’s not wrong to fight for what you believe in or stand up for a Ten Commandment sign. It’s wrong to do it in the wrong manner — in anger, in hostility, in a condemning or condescending way which gives unbelievers even more justification in rejecting the truth.
Some maintain that their behavior in this shenanigan has been above reproach. Perhaps some have. But when I read the page dedicated to the cause, I saw much hostility and condescension. Not to mention the hostility I myself was met with when I suggested that this, perhaps, isn’t the fight we should be most concerned with.
I attended a Christian movie regarding the same issue; I puzzled some more. I found that my biggest beef is not with the fight itself — because it’s a good fight — but with the way Christians approach the fight with clenched fists and staunch demands rather than love, respect and humility, and that we’re more willing to fight over a sign than to fight for holiness, justice and pure doctrine within our own hearts, minds and churches. In fact, the only time I see Jesus clenching his fists and condemning people was when he was in his own house. If we don’t live like we genuinely love those who oppose us, I have my doubts as to whether a sign is going to help our cause.
Besides, if we have diligently taught ourselves and our children to know God, God is anywhere we are. If unbelievers can’t see him, it surely isn’t because an old stone is no longer there, but because the Christians who are there aren’t shining their light and loving their neighbors the way they are called to do.
Consider Mark 16:14-16.
So far, only Mary Magdalene and two disciples have seen the resurrected Christ. The others who heard about it did not believe. They’re still wallowing in confusion, sadness and discouragement due to their own unbelief.
They were hoping to be delivered from political oppression and be in the service of a powerful, earthly king. Jesus transcended those expectations, but they disbelieved because the way he did it was much different than what they’d imagined.
We find them eating dinner, doubtless in a dismal state. Usually, when we encounter suffering friends, will offer condolences, soft speech, and a don’t-feel-bad-things-will-get-better kind of pep talk.
Not Jesus. The first thing Jesus does when he appears to his unbelieving disciples is rebuke them. He rebuked them. He didn’t join in the pity party over their failed expectations for a political leader. He didn’t tell them that their unbelief was justified. Jesus rebuked them.
Next, he commanded them to share the gospel. He told them to tell it everywhere they went to everyone they could. Clearly, this is the main goal of those who follow Christ … not to fight political battles.
I wonder if Jesus allowed these men’s hearts to be hardened so they might be sensitive to the doubts of others. I can hear them sharing the gospel, saying, “I know it’s hard to believe. I didn’t believe it, either, but it’s true.” I can imagine the patience they had with those who were slow to believe, always keeping in mind how slow they themselves were to believe. You can bet they weren’t condescending unbelievers for disbelieving. They never forgot where they came from.
The disciples soon learn that their power will not come from an earthly, political reign of justice as they expected. No. The disciples’ power will come from a God who reigns over both politics and justice. He will enable them to defy natural consequences and give them boldness to preach. He will prove his truth through spiritual power from a heavenly throne, not an earthly one.
These disciples did just what he said. They shared the gospel with boldness and reckless abandon, regardless who believed or disbelieved, encouraged or opposed, loved or hated them. And that is what we’re called to do.
Acting like the secular world owes us something and must submit to our belief system is not a practice Christ modeled. When Christ’s disciples are rejected, they’re told to dust their feet, move on and love their enemies enough to do good to them.
It’s a nice thought to want to protect the Ten Commandment sign, but it’s a nicer thought to protect the truth by living it no matter how unjust life becomes. We must remember where we came from; our deadness in sin and unbelief. We must treat those who oppose us with respect and love … like Jesus did. If that’s how the sign deal is going down, I have no beef. If not, well, I’m not sure the sign is even helping the people who seem to be so attached to it.
Our God and his word are the ultimate authority. So don’t worry — sign or no sign, in the end, God wins.
Lori Rodeheaver is a resident of Fayette County.