According to Dictionary.com, one of the definitions for the the word audacity is “boldness or daring, especially with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions.”
With all of the big things in recent headlines, this word is one that is coming to mind more and more often lately.
I’m not going to lie. I’ve been pretty upset. The health care and marriage decisions rendered by the Supreme Court have left me disillusioned.
I lack the gift of debate, not having a quick wit and all, and I’ve also struggled with trying not to offend people with my views.
However…
One thing I learned from this past school year is that it is okay to be a dissenting voice, and it is actually imperative that dissenters speak up.
And so I am going to have the audacity to say a few things…get some stuff off of my chest.
As you’re probably aware if you know me personally or have read my blog more than once, I am a Christian.
This doesn’t mean I think I’m perfect. Far be it from that, I am probably way too harsh on myself. I am a sinner who is grateful for the redeeming blood of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Anything good that people might see in me comes from my gracious heavenly Father.
The plumb line that guides my life is the Bible, God’s never-changing Word. The Bible doesn’t change with the times; it doesn’t evolve through cultural changes and suddenly become irrelevant when societal norms begin to expand. The Bible wouldn’t be much of a standard if the measuring bar kept moving around, now would it?
So we come to the heart of my post…this whole same-sex marriage thing.
The Bible very clearly states that marriage is to be between a man and a woman. Most people will agree that homosexual behavior isn’t exactly endorsed in the Bible. There are multiple verses that say this.
What supporters of same-sex marriage fail to mention is that the Bible lumps homosexuality in the same boat with adulterers, fornicators, and thieves. So, it’s not that homosexuality is the worst sin. It’s just one of many. The other things just aren’t making the news right now.
The emotional battles I’m facing right now involve two things: 1) Five people deciding for an entire nation how marriage should be defined, and 2) Supporters of this law calling into question dissenters’ character and even calling them hateful and ignorant.
Honestly, issue number two from above is what’s hurting and confusing me the most.
To read that we who oppose the same-sex marriage law are in the growing minority is a fallacy. I can’t help but wonder, though, if we conservatives haven’t perpetuated this myth because, out of concern for looking “judgmental,” we haven’t spoken out enough, thus leading people to think there aren’t more who us who oppose it.
This has played out in numerous election results (case in point – who’s sitting in the Oval Office). It’s kind of hard to stand out if you don’t go out and make your voice heard by voting.
I also take issue with those who would call us hateful. If you take a close look at the ground we are standing on, it’s not quicksand that changes at a whim. It’s the solid foundation of the Bible, which has never changed.
Why would people call us hateful or ignorant when we choose to stand on conviction. Why would people tune out the part where we are constantly saying “hate the sin, love the sinner.” That is THE message that has been broadcast loud and clear, yet it is ignored.
People who support same-sex marriage get mad because they say we on the other side don’t want equality, yet these same people refuse to give us due respect for our opinions. How does that demonstrate equality? Truth be told, it’s not about equality. It’s about morality. Big difference.
When you take prayer out of schools, disallow prayer before school functions, and remove Bible verses from public buildings, you are most certainly not ensuring that everyone is being treated equally. You’re pushing an agenda that is more concerned with political correctness than anything else.
Quite honestly, what it boils down to is people not really believing in God’s Word. You can’t just believe in part of it and throw out the rest.
This fact makes me sad. However, the Bible makes it very clear that the way is narrow, which means that not all people will choose the right way. It’s a single lane road in which no service road magically opens up and runs parallel at the whims of societal evolution.
I love the way the movie, Audacity, handled these issues. It’s a 55-minute movie produced by Living Waters. I purchased and watched it last night. It’s a little hokie, I’ll admit, but the message is good and presents the struggle we Christians have when sharing answers from God’s Word to those who are curious. There are snippets of Ray Comfort’s interviews that delve into the topics of same-sex marriage, adultery, and other sins.
It’s no coincidence at the timing of this movie.
I take comfort that God knows how everything is going to play out…that He knew before He created the world that we would be traveling down this path.
While I’m concerned about His judgement, I am also grateful that He continues to be a God of grace who is always waiting to embrace us back into the fold.
I don’t know about you, but I am going to continue having the audacity to share. It doesn’t mean that I don’t care for people who choose alternative lifestyles. In fact, I have an uncle who is gay. Although I haven’t seen him since I was a little girl, I wouldn’t hesitate to hug him if a reunion came to pass.
Yes, I’ll have the audacity to proclaim God’s truth, but I’ll also have the audacity to love the people He has placed in my life with as much passion and conviction as I always have.
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