Rhetorical question: Why is simply quoting a passage of Holy Scripture so offensive in today's culture? It’s happening with greater frequency and hostility. Moreover, why should we be compelled to remove God's Word from public institutions and monuments due to the protests of an offended few? If a person really believes the Bible is nothing more than a collection of clever fairy tales, then why get so offended? No really, think about that one. No one can compel anyone to believe anything anyway, at least in the United States anyway. And by the way, aren't we supposedly a culture which strives to welcome all truths and viewpoints, not just a few?
Over the past few years, public monuments of the Ten Commandments have sent some people into quite an emotional tizzy. So much so that they sought to have them removed or even chose to dubiously knock them over while folks weren’t looking, like this monument on the Arkansas State Capitol, June 2017:
Apparently its very existence was offensive. What happened to societal thought between the “dash” of when they were installed decades ago………..and today? It certainly didn’t start with monuments, books have long since been the kindling for easy “purge prey”. Someone’s great, great….grand parent helped install that monument. I don’t have to wonder how they would feel about this destruction.
To reiterate, if one believes the inscriptions on any monument are nothing more than powerless words in a book, then what's the big deal in publicly displaying them? Ironically many folks willingly throw their support towards the contemporary rainbow flag, another symbol which has tremendous meaning poured into it. It has even found a spot at the U.S. Capital flagpole right below the occasionally trampled or burned American flag. Surely there is a moral inconsistency there which has eluded many.
Astonishingly, the answer is sitting right before our very eyes in an old book entitled Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 12 where the author writes: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Clearly, these are not simply words in a book. Even within the conscience of many unbelievers, the Bible is revered to a degree. This is because all Scripture is God-breathed despite whether we choose to believe it or not. And folks do not like to have their thoughts judged, certainly not by an unseen God.
Alas, I now find myself guilty of waxing....not so eloquently.
Personally, I strive for balance in all things, though and deed, and have found the best solution to maintaining balance is to follow the wisdom of Peter in 1 Peter 3:15 who writes: "In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
The application of this, that is talking it out together, comes with time, patience and firm resolve. As always, I really prefer to hear your insightful thoughts on this matter. It turns out that I am blessed to have not less than a few highly intelligent readers, for which I am very grateful.
Jim
Jim, you have addressed the spiritual reality of our time. Few would say they hate God, but their hostility to the things of God affirms what Paul says, "The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law." The idea of God is appealing, until He tells me how to live. Bless me, but don't boss me.
David expresses the same idea in Psalm 2, "The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and his Anointed One, 'Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.'”
What we Christians understand as a loving God calling us to purity the rest of the world sees as binding restrictions. For decades, Americans were willing to live under the auspices of God, but now it is no holds barred.
Jim, great observations! I write to persuade in the area of evolution vs creation. One of my favorite questions is "why to evolutionists care what creationists believe?" As you pointed out, the fact that unbelievers *care* speaks volumes.