“Daddy, may we have candy for dessert?” This is a question I
often hear from Jace and Gwyneth as they
labor over their last bites of potatoes or broccoli. Any anticipation of
a food item they crave helps the last vegetable morsels go down like good
medicine. Often my answer is “No,” and I explain to them that they had enough
sugar for the day. Honestly, I sense pleasure seeing them enjoy candy. But out
of concern for their health, their afternoon nap (and my relaxation too), I
make the decision that it wouldn’t be prudent for them to fill up on candy.
As a Christian, I have faith in a God who interacts with me
much like an earthly father who wants to raise healthy kids. As a father, I
believe that I show love to my kids by giving them boundaries, and I think my
heavenly Father has done the same for each one of us. It’s as if God has
constructed a “way of refuge” for people who follow Him. It’s not a way without
suffering, but it is a way of peace and purpose that He has fashioned for each
person.
If you hold to a belief or a conviction that there is
actually “a way” to do life that supersedes all others, you may be labeled
unloving, intolerant, fundamentalist, non- progressive, a traditionalist,
unbending, culturally blind, etc…. It’s like the cultural heart-cry of the day
is “love has no boundaries and no discriminations.” In other words, if you are
loving, you better accept my way of life, and don’t EVER disagree with me. These attacks center on anyone who holds to a
belief that there actually is “truth” about how to live life, and it isn’t just
true for me, but rather for everybody.
And, it’s not that I don’t accept you, I just don’t accept “your
way." Now because I don’t accept “your way” even though I accept you,
please don’t label me or call me an arrogant bleepity, bleep, bleep….
Absolute TRUTH has been under attack through the ages, and
especially in the last twenty years. But, the issue is evolving even more. I
quote Pastor Mark Vroegop on the issue when he says, ”Before the advent of
post-modernity, followers of Jesus might have been excoriated for believing
something that non-believers believed was false. They would have been shamed
for their ignorance. But now the categories are no longer 'true and false'; the
new cultural categories are tolerance or arrogance. In other words, the problem
now is not being 'wrong' but in thinking or saying that someone else is wrong.
The issue then is that the cultural discussion has been framed such that
Bible-believing Christians will be shamed for their arrogance of thinking that
they are right and someone else is wrong.”
To be perceived as a person who thinks of himself as
superior or uncompassionate, as a Christian, is antithetical to 'the way' the
Bible, our authority, tells us to live. And just because we attempt to follow a
written rule whole heartedly, does not mean that we are arrogant, unloving,
bleepity bleep, bleeps.
“ I would suggest that we have an opportunity to present to
the world the refuge of God’s way. Post-modernity will not last. Truth inside
of oneself and morals chosen by public opinion will collapse, personally, and
eventually, culturally.” Mark Vroegop
Yeah, my kids will continue to have limits. And, they seem
to know I love them. In fact, they tell
me so!
