Congregation Shema Yisrael

I see comments in the media from time to time stating that Christians oppose certain “human rights” because we want to control people. When Christian groups publicly oppose abortions, Pro-Choice supporters say that Christians want to control women’s reproductive rights. When Christian groups publicly oppose gay marriages (I’m writing this as the California Supreme Court is about to render its decision regarding Proposition 8), gay marriage supporters say that Christians want to deny gay people equal access to marriage. As I read these sorts of stories, I find myself wondering when I became such a control freak. As I exercise my convictions and my free speech rights, is my motivation the desire to control people and groups around me?

I have to admit, when I’m driving to work, I do find myself wishing some of the other drivers on the road with me would be a bit more cautious or avoid following so close behind me. When I’ve got an appointment to meet with someone and they’re late, I find myself wishing people would be more on time. As a human being, I have a tendency to “want it my way”. I suppose that’s the core of “original sin”; the desire to put your wants and desires ahead of all other considerations, including God’s.

I live in a nation and in a society that guarantees life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Our rights as individuals have become woven into the fabric of our thoughts, feelings, and lifestyle. A “classic” ad campaign for a fast food restaurant once offered that you can have it “your way”. The rights of the individual are ingrained deeply in American culture and in the psyche of each American. Does that translate into each American wanting to have his or her own way, at the expense of the rights of others?

More to the point, do Christians as a group or organization, want to control the rights of other individuals or other groups and if so, why? I must admit, whenever I’ve gathered together with believers, I don’t recall having discussions that involve plans to control others. If we’re planning to “take over the world”, we’re doing it by trying to be a light to the world; that is, by communicating the will and desires of God and the Messiah Yeshua for all people everywhere. Actually, I think that’s the key.

I won’t dig into the scriptures that Christians believe support the institution of marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman, nor those that support the sanctity of life from conception. They are referenced quite a bit on other sites and through other sources. It’s enough to say for the purpose of this article, that these are two strong statements made by the Creator of the Universe we believers are tasked with cherishing and protecting.

This is why groups that support Abortion rights and gay marriage have such a tough time understanding us, assuming they don’t acknowledge the Sovereignty and will of the God of the Bible (or if they do, assuming their interpretation of the Bible is quite a bit different than the “traditional” view). If you don’t acknowledge God’s right to rule the universe, and certainly if you don’t believe He exists, then the only other conclusion you can come to when evaluating Christian behavior, is to believe that Christians want to control people’s lives due to human motivations.

Actually, I do want to insert some commentary at this point. I have met believers who have “supported” Biblical principles primarily due to their own personal views and feelings on various topics, rather than because it was the will of God. It’s not just what we do but why we do it that’s important. We are supposed to be doing good to serve Him and others, not primarily because it gives us a “good feeling” or because we think that our actions alone will win approval from God. Paul said in Romans 3:10 that, “As it is written, There is no one righteous, not even one…” No, believers are not perfect. It’s not our perfection that we have faith in. We certainly can’t use our own standards to properly view others. Yeshua (Jesus) made this point:

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. -Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)

So does that mean we believers aren’t supposed to render an opinion based on Biblical and moral standards because we aren’t perfect people (have a plank in our eye)? Actually, the waters get a little more muddy because of this:

But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. -Matthew 5:39-42 (NIV)

Does that mean we are not to resist or combat “evil” in any way? I know that people who support Abortion rights and gay marriages don’t see themselves as “evil” but rather see themselves as doing good for others (supporting access to reproduction options and equal access to marriage rights and benefits). From the Bible’s point of view and certainly from God’s point of view, doing good is doing what God wants and doing evil is disobeying God and going against His will.

The scripture from Matthew 5 regarding “not resisting evil” specifically refers to showing the nature of the Messiah by not exercising our individual rights. It doesn’t mean to stand idly by when we see evil or injustice being done in the world. Part of being “a light” is to stand up for our convictions and let it be known who we serve. Expressing our beliefs and our faith isn’t a matter of exercising our personal desires or expressing our opinions about actions or groups we may or may not “approve of”, it’s a matter of knowing the will of our Father and then obeying His will. Part of that obedience is to go against popular opinion, if popular opinion is opposed to His will. To remain silent to avoid offending someone, to avoid conflict, or to try and “blend in” with the culture around us, isn’t an expectation of God for us.

This doesn’t make Christians “control freaks”, it makes us people who recognize who we serve and people who are doing the best we can to respond in service and love to God. It doesn’t mean we are angry at anyone or that we don’t like particular groups of people. In fact, we are commanded to love those who oppose us. I know that opposing certain “rights” probably doesn’t feel like “love” to some folks when we stand against Abortion and gay marriage, but we are expressing God’s love by expressing His desires for people.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -John 14:6 (NIV)

Believers are directed to pass that message along to the rest of humanity at the end of the book of Matthew (popularly known as “the Great Commission”). Part of passing along the message is passing along God’s expectation of everyone. While not everyone follows God or is a disciple of Yeshua, there will come a final day of reckoning when all (believers and non-believers alike) will be called upon to give an account for the actions they committed in this life. How can believers call themselves faithful if we don’t tell as many people as possible what is good and what is evil, before it’s too late? That’s love: doing what’s unpopular so that as many as possible will come to Him and live.

Do believers want to control the lives of others? No, in most cases, we don’t. In fact, it would be easier on us in our day-to-day lives if we didn’t get involved in public debates, kept our mouths shut, and just hung out with people who thought the same way we do. That’s not what Yeshua did, though. He came here for the lost and he wasn’t always polite about it.

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” -Mark 2:15-17 (NIV)

Doing what’s right isn’t always popular. In fact, telling Biblical truth is often seen as unpopular and historically, people have suffered everything from social rejection up to death when standing firm on the Word of God. Yeshua suffered death so that many could be saved. Without his sacrifice, where would any of us be? If that means believers now sometimes “risk” being unpopular or being called “bigots”, what is that compared to what was done for us? To be faithful to God means being as faithful as Yeshua was and is, at least in our attempt. He showed us His ultimate love for every man, woman, and child who ever has existed or who ever will exist by this:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16

If we believers are being honest with God and faithful to Him, then we will “so love the world” by being a light to the world and standing in the breach between humanity and destruction; giving everyone we encounter the message of the Messiah’s love for them and how to come to him and walk in his ways. Not everyone will listen, but some will, by grace and the Father. We are the branches, but he is the vine. We can do much in connection with him but apart from him, we can do nothing.

Believers are trying to do much in connection with Yeshua. When we oppose someone’s “rights” and seem to be trying to control the lives of others, we are actually showing love for those people; God’s love. God’s love and God’s truth aren’t popular to those who don’t know Him. That love and truth are easily misunderstood by those not connected to the vine. It looks like control, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.

There is only One who is in control of the universe. God is One and He is in control. He created us, cares for us, and only wants us to listen to His voice. Yeshua said it this way:

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” -John 10:14-18 (NIV)

The One who cares for us wants us to listen to His voice. Believers are to represent His voice to the rest of the world. If we are faithful, we cannot be silent. If we care, we cannot be still. I’m sorry if anyone reading this believes I or those like me want to control other people. I don’t want to control anyone. I just want what God wants; the best for everyone. To express that, I’ll express His will, His desire, His truth. His truth isn’t always popular, but it is the only truth that matters. Be silent for a moment and listen.