History in the fallen world challenges us in so many ways to accept things in their entirety, and we are lectured that our failure to do so will put us at odds with whatever structure of power is currently in place.
I would have without a doubt preached on this matter. First, we all come into this life with certain defining traits, and we acquire others as we go along. We are born with a certain skin color, nationality, personality, intellect, and family. We acquire various knowledge and skills. They are all tools for helping us carry out God's will in our lives, but they are never the basis for His favor. For example, as a scientist I can reach professors in universities, and I have done so. As a writer, I have authored many papers and a book. As an American, I have used my passport and financial gifts to adopt two children from other countries. As a white person, I have been a member of a mostly black church. God only knows what that did for the Kingdom...but I learned a lot.
Second, these traits, no matter what they are, were never meant to be my identity. If they are sinful, I need to let them go. If they are good, I need to shun their worship. If they are neutral (like race or language), I need to ask God how to use them for His glory. When my acerbic tongue and sinful will cross the line into wickedness, I need to repent.
As a child, I was taught that Martin Luther King was a philanderer, or a communist, and therefore his message of racial reconciliation and peaceful defiance could be ignored. I was taught that schools were better before integration. I was taught that George Wallace wasn't a racist, but that he was a proponent of states' rights. And more. So much more. I swallowed it all, hook, line, and sinker, because I wanted the world to be "black and white," for everything to make sense without thinking.
But then I learned about the Buffalo Soldiers, and how Civil Rights went backwards in the 1920's. I learned about Kennesaw Mountain Landis. I learned how Emmett Till's killer walked free and lived out his days in my own city. And more. So much more. I learned that every culture must have some version of the "good ole days," because it's so much easier than thinking. Oh, how our palliative mythologies persist. The Xanadu of the mind...
But here's the thing. It seems that this trip through life as a Christ follower has - as its main purpose - to strip away and shed all of those identities except our identity in Christ. Maybe it's age, or maybe it's study of scripture, or maybe it's hands to the plow. I am less American after adopting from China, less white after serving HIV-infected people in S. Africa, less scholarly after teaching the Bible to children, etc. These traits haven't gone away, but they are only temporal tools, so far beneath the surpassing knowledge of knowing Christ. As Paul said, skubalon (rubbish). As John said, "I must decrease, and he must increase." I still have much to shed. So much more...
And so, I believe are called to reach a peace in conflict as we navigate this temporal diaspora. As Hebrews says, Jesus saves us completely. Yes, it is future, but it is also past, and it is here and now. We rest in our salvation even though we look through the dark glass. I love the courage of Martin Luther, but I reject his anti-Jewish rantings. I love the KJV Bible, but reject the KJV only-ism. I love Ken Hamm, but I reject his interpretation of Genesis 1. I love Martin Luther King's message, but I reject his personal life. I loved James Dobson, but I rejected his continual fear-mongering and alignment with political grifters. And more. So much more.
And so it is with Charlie Kirk. This assault on our dignity, on our country, on a man of faith. I love this follower of Christ, but I do not accept his politics. He taught nothing new. It is the same things that I heard from the Moral Majority, the Christian Coalition, etc., in the 1980's and 1990's. It was based in populist "us vs. them" rhetoric then, and it's based in the same ideas now. Once I was disabused of these ideas by looking at the leaders who proclaimed them, the rot they produced, and the people they deceived, they no longer had a hold on me. It's almost as if the modern politician tries to hook me with his religious rhetoric, and I have no populist leanings that can be hooked. I have ideological line item veto. What...is...the...word...for...that. I believe it's called freedom. Thank you, Jesus. And take good care of Charlie, please.
94chem,
That, sir, was the greatest post in the history of TexAgs. I salute you. -- Dough
