THOUGHTS FROM THE STATE DIRECTOR
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." Revelation 3:15-16
Jesus' words to the church at Laodicea must have hit some of them like a piercing arrow; still others may have thought that He was "intolerant" and "prejudiced." His words sting His followers to this day. In a post-modern society; the worst thing anyone can be is dogmatic about their beliefs. The prevailing worldview is consensus-building; a description that meets with hearty approval in the policy-making circles. Those who hold to "traditional" values are mocked, derided and called "racists", bigots or Neanderthal-types who are holding modern culture back from achieving its "tower of Babel" potential.
Tolerance and "toleration"
G.K. Chesterton, English author and Christian apologist said this about tolerance, "Tolerance is the virtue of the people who don't believe in anything." His words mirror what Jesus said to the church at Laodicea - a church professing to believe in Him, but whose actions revealed they believed in nothing . . . at least nothing for which they were willing to take a stand. Josh McDowell stated this about tolerance, "Tolerance says, 'You must approve of what I do,' Love responds, 'I must do something harder; I will love you, even when your behavior offends me.'" He further states, "Tolerance says, 'You must agree with me.' Love responds, 'I must do something harder; I will tell you the truth, because I am convinced that the truth will set you free.'" In addition, he states, "Tolerance says, 'You must allow me to have my way,' Love responds, 'I must do something harder; I will plead with you to follow the right way, because I believe you are worth the risk.'"
A harsh rebuke against moderates
Jesus rebuked the church at Laodicea because of their indifference - their lack of conviction that was born out of self-interest and comfort. This church saw the suffering that other churches were undergoing, and it decided to be a "moderate" in terms of conviction which, of course, by definition is not conviction at all but a narcissistically selfish and childish response to the call of truth. In later years when conquering armies, including Muslims, invaded this territory do you think they respected and cherished these "moderate" Christians? Moderate is not a Christian term. Think about it. What if Christ had said I am a Way, a Truth, and a Life instead of the Truth, the Way and the Life? What if He had said, I will go to the Cross, but not overcome death? What if Paul had said that it was not politically correct to evangelize the Gentiles . . . that he didn't want to make the Jews mad at him? What if Daniel had said I will pray to the Lord behind my closed window instead of praying in full view of everyone, including those who plotted to destroy him because of his stand? What if our founding fathers had reached consensus with King George instead of fighting to the death for our fledgling country? What if we had continued to hide our heads in the sand when Hitler was exterminating the Jewish population? I could go on and on; those we remember as valiant warriors were NOT moderates.
Pick a hill to "die on"
One of CWA's state directors stated it very well the other day: "You had better pick the hill you are willing to die on . . . then fight to your dying breath." Jesus is not impressed with wealth, accomplishments or glib words. He does demand truth, fidelity and courage from His followers. He admonishes us to love others in the way He loved us . . . a self-sacrificing love that demands we tell others the truth because we want the best for them. If they spit in our face, we remain in good company; the Lord endured that on the Cross. If the world hates us, it hated Him first. So the question is this, as followers of Christ do we love others enough to tell them the truth? Is the truth important enough to die for? Is the cause of Christ worth submitting our lives? When we hear that someone is "moderate" do we give hearty approval or do we worry about their integrity to the principles in which we believe? These are questions to ponder in our heart because it is our heart that the Lord examines.
In Him,
Judy Smith
State Director
Concerned Women for America of Kansas
P. O. Box 11233
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207
Phone/Fax: 913-491-1380
Email: director@kansas.cwfa.org
Web site: kansas.cwfa.org |