It’s Time to Speak and Act Against Evil
Why are Christians and Pastors not speaking up against the obvious evil in our schools, our government, and our culture? Why are Christians not defending themselves and their church? Are you upset about the attacks, and yet have you heard a response from the pulpit? Why not?
Under attack
Is it fair to say that Christianity and Christians are under attack? Here are just a few examples:
· In Connecticut, the Public Health Committee is considering allowing health works in Catholic hospitals to openly violate the Ethical and Religious Directives. (Legislative Proposals Threaten to Remove all Limitations on Abortions and Threaten the Religious Freedom of Catholic Hospitals, 2024)
· CT Senate Democratic leadership has endorsed the right to abortion without any limits (up until birth) contradicting the current state law. (Legislative Proposals Threaten to Remove all Limitations on Abortions and Threaten the Religious Freedom of Catholic Hospitals, 2024)
· Anti-Christian threats and violence have risen 800% since 2018. (Freiburger, 2024)
· Our Children are being taught Gender Ideology which contradicts the Bible teachings (Genesis) there only two genders, a man, and woman.
· The FBI Richmond VA office spied on Catholic churches and church leaders and shared that plan to other FBI offices. (Picker, 2023)
· The Transgender Funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral was an attack on the church. The leadership at St. Patrick’s is now deeming the funeral a “scandal,” and for all Catholics. (Griffin, 2024)
What is the best strategy in the face of these threats? Do we “turn the other cheek” or do we battle evil and defend ourselves? What is stopping us?
Do we “turn the other cheek”?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”
Matthew 5-38
Is Jesus telling us to be “pushover victims” in the face of an attack? Is he saying Christians must not defend themselves? No, it’s the opposite. When we put the Sermon on the Mount in the context of the time, we learn that this interpretation is wrong. (Wilson, 2022) The action of turning the other cheek at that time meant, behave in such a way as to make it harder for an additional attack and let the attacker know you are prepared to defend.
“…a slap on the right cheek meant the soldier backhanded the Jews, which was a far more demeaning slap. “It was degrading,” he said. “It was what you gave to an inferior or a slave.” To not break down emotionally and simply turn the other cheek meant that the soldier couldn’t slap you again on the right cheek, and, Farr said, “he can’t slap you with his left hand, because that is unclean for both of you.” (Wilson, 2022)
Avoid Retaliation
Turn the Other Cheek is about avoiding retaliation not being a pacifist. God desires us to be a source of peace (not retaliate), to be humble and courageous when attacked and when God’s will is being attacked. The Sermon on the Mount tells us to speak the wisdom from God (Bible) to deliver an effective and non-violent response.
God Wants Us to Have Defensive Weapons
Jesus encouraged followers to own a defensive weapon. “[L]et him who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” Luke 22:38.
Any weapon must be used to defend God’s will. It must not be used for retaliation or purposes contrary to His will. Peter was rebuked by Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane when he cut off the ear of the guard because it was God’s will that Jesus be taken by the guards.
Telling the Truth is a Weapon
Retaliation is easy and unsophisticated. Telling the truth with humility requires wisdom and courage.
“So not to speak an uncomfortable truth to someone who needs to hear it—and giving the excuse that we are loving them—is not to love them but to harm them.” (Metaxas, 2022)
Jesus has demonstrated his willingness to speak the truth with courage when necessary. Jesus entered the temple turned over the tables and drove the merchants out. He was acting to defend God’s will.
“Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” Jn 2:13 - 25
The church, our children and our families are being attacked and are suffering because we are not courageously defending God’s will with the truth.
“When the Church shrinks from this duty—to God and to its fellow citizens—it is not behaving as God’s Church. And when that happens, the state and everyone in it will suffer.” (Metaxas, 2022)
We Must Speak the Truth Before It’s Too Late
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. God will not hold us guiltless.” Ephesians 6:10 – 13
One fear of speaking up may be coming from the false claim that churches are prevented from speaking about politics. To safeguard non-profit status, by law, a church must not endorse candidates. (National Council of Non-Profits) Churches can speak from the pulpit about policies. Some policies are consistent with Bible teachings, and some are not. By clearly communicating how political policies conform to Bible teachings is essential to protect religious liberty.
Evil is prevalent and must be confronted with courage, wisdom, and truth. Let’s proclaim:
· There are only two sexes. Gender Ideology is evil because it’s inconsistent with God’s will.
· Silencing Christians (or anyone) is evil.
· Abortion is evil.
· Institutions spying on Christians is evil.
· Christians prevented (threatened) from following biblical principles in their jobs is evil.
Let’s start to speak up! Let’s defend our faith. Let us not fear.
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26).
References
Freiburger, C. (2024, February 26). Anti-Christian threats and violence in the US have risen 800% since 2018, new report finds. Retrieved from https://www.lifesitenews.com/: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/anti-christian-threats-and-violence-in-the-us-have-risen-800-since-2018-new-report-finds/
Griffin, T. (2024, February 20). Transgender Funeral At St. Patrick’s Cathedral Is An Attack On The Church. Retrieved from https://thefederalist.com: https://thefederalist.com/2024/02/20/the-transgender-funeral-at-st-patricks-cathedral-is-an-attack-on-the-church/
Legislative Proposals Threaten to Remove all Limitations on Abortions and Threaten the Religious Freedom of Catholic Hospitals. (2024). Retrieved from https://action.ctcatholicpac.org: https://action.ctcatholicpac.org/abortion_proposals_2024
Metaxas, E. (2022). Letter to the American Church. Salem Books.
National Council of Non-Profits. (n.d.). Protecting the Johnson Amendment and Nonprofit Nonpartisanship. Retrieved from https://www.councilofnonprofits.org: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/trends-and-policy-issues/protecting-johnson-amendment-and-nonprofit-nonpartisanship
Picker, K. (2023, April 10). FBI's plan to spy on Catholic churches was shared with bureau field offices across U.S. Retrieved from https://www.washingtontimes.com: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/apr/10/fbis-plan-spy-catholic-churches-was-shared-bureau-/
Wilson, D. (2022, December 22). What Does It Really Mean to "Turn the Other Cheek"? Retrieved from https://www.biblestudytools.com: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-it-really-mean-to-turn-the-other-cheek.html