Had a good talk last night with
my church small-group contrasting the church in America and in China. General
conclusions? Persecution makes saying “I’m a Christian” in China meaningful,
while general societal acceptance makes saying the same thing in America a
lifestyle or personality trait rather than a life-changing proclamation. Which
raised the question, how can we stand out in a relatively persecution-free
America? Here’s what I thought.
See, it’s not so much the
persecution per se in China that
makes the proclamation meaningful: it’s the radical nature of that proclamation.
In a country dominated by a wholly oppressive government, to which submission
is unquestionable, to stand up and question it for one reason in solidarity
with others is radical.
So what does radical look like in America? I could go on for several posts, probably, about that, and maybe I
will. Suffice to say this: the American manifestation of belief in Life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness is not Christ as I read him in the bible.
You have heard it said “Man has
an inalienable right to life,” but Christ says: “Do not be afraid of those who
kill the body but cannot kill the soul. …Whoever finds their life will lose it,
and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:28, 39.)
You have also heard it said “Man
has a God-given right to liberty” but Paul says: “Let everyone be subject to
the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God
has established. …Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is
rebelling against what God has instituted…” (Romans 13:1a, 2a).
Finally, you have heard it said
that “God has given Man the right to the pursuit of happiness,” but Christ
says: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. …Blessed are
those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because
great is your reward in heaven…” (Matt. 5:4, 10-12a).
As a Christian, all I have and
all I am belong to God, to use as He will – I have a right to nothing on earth:
not my life, not my property, not others’ lives nor their property. Even my
beliefs are not meant to be my own, they are meant to be God’s: a self-made
belief about God is a self-made God; but I am made in His image, not He in mine.
Just because you do not have a right to tell me what to believe does not mean I
have a right to what I want to believe – all is God’s to direct me how I should believe.
If we truly live that way in this
individualist, self-absorbed, I-before-you culture, that will be radical,
refreshing, and attractive. And hard. But ultimately, I believe, right.
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