Boycotts - More Carnal Weapons

Boycotts - More Carnal Weapons

A little over two thousand years ago God came in the likeness of human flesh. He was called Yeshua, or Joshua, or as we call Him, Jesus. He would come surreptitiously and with no fanfare. Only ancient prophecies and angelic hosts would witness His birth. He was the Messiah.

During His 33 years upon this earth, he did many miracles, but His words would have much more of an impact. But His death paid for the sins of mankind, and His resurrection left no doubt as to Who He was. His message was powerful, but His methods were unorthodox to say the least. He lived and taught a life of self denial and humility. When attacked, he did not respond in like kind. Many mistook His ways for weakness, while others were inexplicably drawn to His words and His Person.

He lived and spoke in ways which were completely different than the ways of the world, including the religious systems. And when He left, he sent His representative called the Holy Spirit. This Spirit was not just a force, but He was a divine person as well, and one of only three. His mission was to speak of Jesus to lost sinners, as well as bring truth, guidance, and comfort to those who would believe on Jesus. In a mystery, He would come and reside in the very beings of believers. And the New Testament would teach us that we are not supposed to engage this world with the same methods and weapons that are used by the kingdom of darkness.

The history of Christianity contains many chapters where believers were persecuted for their faith. They were hung, quartered, burned at the stake, fed to lions, and thousands upon thousands died in various ways. Many were tortured for their faith and many died with joy and humility. The Book of Revelation mentions these followers of Christ. Being martyred for Christ is a holy calling and the zenith of what it means to follow Christ.

Men and women have risked their lives for Jesus Christ. They have smuggled Bibles into forbidden lands; they have gone into uncharted jungles; they have flown where there were no landing strips; they have left spouses and children in order to reach sinners with the everlasting gospel. True believers throughout the centuries have sacrificed everything they have in order to tell people of the Crucified and Risen Christ. In fact, many times the selfless examples of believers have been used of the Spirit to lead men and women to faith in Jesus Christ.

Even today there are men and women whose lives are at risk daily. Many languish in prisons. I know many believers who right now are in places which would take their lives if they were discovered. And these are not just people who go for a couple of weeks and return to capitalistic luxury. These are humble heroes of the faith who have left everything for His sake. Many have lost a child because of substandard medical facilities. Oh the stories that could be told of how believers sacrifice day and night without earthly recognition or reward.

But in today’s evangelical paradise what makes the news are spurious little attempts to appear as if we are confronting evil. No longer will we be asked to leave our comfortable surroundings. No longer will we be asked to sacrifice. No longer will we be called upon to give our very lives. This modern war is not about Jesus. It is not even about salvation by faith alone. It is about the moral issue du jour. A believer is interviewed and says he supports traditional marriage, and the unbelievers take an offense. Ok, so far so good. Then the unbelievers organize a boycott of Chick-Fil_A sandwiches, and the Christian community goes into reactionary mode as is their tradition.

Please pay no attention to the fact that Jesus and Paul exhorted us to eat with sinners. Pay no attention to the exhortation that our weapons are not like theirs. Pay no attention to sacrificial love toward sinners. Pay no attention to the "overcome evil with good" nonsense. Pay no attention to our commission to preach the gospel. The western Christian community gets exorcized over everything the lost sinners do, and instead of forbearing them for the gospel’s sake, we ride out on our moral horses and do battle upon the battlefield that the lost have chosen. And while we ignore the fact that adultery and divorce are rampant in the pew and the pulpit, we still do battle for moral issues that are not redemptive.

Do we actually believe that unbelievers can understand sanctification without being born again? Do we believe that the lost will suddenly awaken to the traditional marriage perspective because we support businesses that do? It is such a western, competitive principle which can be found no where in Scripture, if that even matters anymore. What if the Outback restaurant came out in support of gay marriage, would we boycott that store? Don’t you realize that Jesus Himself was criticized because He ate with sinners who had lifestyles and beliefs that were at odds with God’s Word - yes, God’s Word who was Jesus Himself! So God’s Word ate with sinners who denied God’s Word. Go ahead and juxtapose that against the petty little activities which make western believers think they are standing for truth.

No sweat, no tears, no wounds, no thorns, no lashes, no punches, and no blood. None of these, only chicken sandwiches. That’s how far we have come? The entire spectacle is a pitiful and sad accounting for the faith once delivered to the saints. It is as if the early believers fought on a battlefield rich with the glory of sacrifice and even death, while we fight with plastic soldiers in a sandbox and call it standing for Christ.

People, we are only kidding ourselves. If you like Chick-Fil-A then continue to go there as you had in the past. If you never did, do not start. And if you happen to meet a protestor at a store, go and speak words seasoned with grace. Tell him you understand where he is coming from, but in reality that is not the issue. Be Jesus to him. Boycotts and reverse boycotts do nothing for the kingdom of God. Personally, I do not support or condemn gay marriage. It would be like having an opinion about what morals Satan worshipers have. The world will continue to be who they are, and live who they are. Think about that statement.

Let us be who we are, and let us live who we are. And just who are we? We are Jesus. Read about Him once again and then go BE Him.