Context: For all purposes of this discussion, I’m a Christian fundamentalist. However, I am certainly not a member of the “Christian Right Wing” in America (nor the left, but let’s not chase rabbits). The point is, I thump the Bible. It rules my morals and my politics, but not in the typical sense. The big difference is in the “how” of applying it.
I contend most of my fellow Bible-thumping fundies make the biggest logical mistake of all: They believe they are supposed to shape the fallen world. You can’t, and shouldn’t try. Yes, do witness to your world, and have an impact, and even vote and campaign. But don’t assume God supports your candidate because you have some silly notion about making the government “Christian.” If it’s government in the human sense, then it cannot be Christian. The Kingdom of Heaven is an entirely spiritual entity.
Censoring is simply pointless. No, you should not click on those links until you find that picture of the naked juvenile female. You should not want to see it. That’s where the issue lies. Don’t get me wrong — If I could have prevented the picture being published, I would. Even better if I could have prevented it being made, prevented the little girl from posing for it — but not by using secular government power. The means to preventing such sin requires a full restructuring of our society. Once that picture hits the Internet, all those options are gone. All the more so since it’s so easy to keep a copy of it on several million hard drives around the world. Yes, I erased my cache because I didn’t realize what it was all about until I glimpsed the picture. My spirit cried out in terror and I quickly closed that tab in my browser. Yes, I will admit my fleshly nature revved up and wanted more. Can you admit yours? Next time I’ll be more careful to read the comments on Slashdot before I take a chance on seeing what all the excitement is about.
The difference between me and someone who does not know Christ in this is I have a holy desire not to see such things. I have a divine nature born in my soul wanting to stop such things. However, human government is not the way to go. That’s just asking one sinner to slap another sinner when he sins. Slapping is the only way sinners know to do things. Human government can not comprehend the fine details of patient spiritual pastoring. The moment anyone steps into using force, or even the threat of it, which is what defines “government” in its essence, you are outside the Spirit. The righteousness of God cannot be implemented at the point of a gun because the Spirit cannot be embodied in laws.
The UK government is wrong. I don’t care what the law says; this is pointless. The implementation of such controls guarantees abuse. All it takes is some bureaucratic idiot — which is most of any government — to decide something truly good and righteous is “unlawful” and the whole thing is against God. The place to deal with this is at some other level of government. The problem is, no modern State on earth is following God’s plan for this, so there is no right way to address it. Any measure taken at this point is inherently sinful.
Meanwhile, you, Christian — consider ways you can keep your heart safe. There are times I’m ready to shut off all graphics in my browser. When it gets really bad, and stuff I don’t need to see pops up in otherwise innocuous places, I’m almost ready to remove the entire X server from my Linux box. Those days come more frequently lately.
Your face has popped up a few time on my recent visitors sidebar so I decided to see what you were writing about now that you have left Opera behind. I have had no problems with access. Sorry that you have. I don’t typically visit other blogs.
One of my jobs, before I retired, was helping graduate students write their terminal papers (theses). So I have read a lot of writing that was intended clearly to present a focused argument and point of view. I’m not sure that makes me an expert, but it does make me experienced.
I enjoy reading your arguments whether or not I agree with them completely because they are written with some passion. From what I have read, you live with more grace than you write and that makes your writing more of a challenge than most are willing to take on. I think you might draw a larger readership by presenting more of Christ and less of the dogma that governs your relationship with Him.
One of the most noteworthy things about Christ, to me, is His grace and comfort in the presence of the unredeemed. People come to Christ first because He is attractive and gracious to them and allows them to feel loved and welcomed. Only when someone has been accepted are they open to recognizing what they have allowed themselves to become. Christ will address the moral and ethical issues in his own time, but only in those who have freely responded to His invitation to come.
It is good that you know who you are and what you believe. it is also fine for you to share what Christ has shown you. What I would be cautious about is assuming that Christ has shown everyone else just what he has shown you. Only Christ is able to transform our thinking and our understanding. In my experience, He does a very individual (and perfectly appropriate) work within each believer. He certainly didn’t treat Peter the same as John and certainly not the same as Paul. He teaches as we are able to learn and brings us along as our trust and confidence grows ready. Just show Him for who He is and let Him do His own work.
Just another point of view. Keep writing. Keep thinking. Keep believing. Become whole.
Thanks, Jim. I, too, graded papers, but at an earlier point in the education process.
An interesting suggestion you make, but it falls into an area open to much debate in itself. Most of my apparent fury is aimed at my fellow churchmen. In this particular post, I attack the prissy viewpoint which only makes us look foolish for closing the barn door after the horse escapes. We have done such a poor job of making grace available in the first place; we have no right to complain society does such awful things. So much of Church History is laden with examples of grace being suffocated, as you suggest.
When addressing the lost souls of this world, I take a totally different tack. I publish those things in other places, places they are more likely to see them. I write in humor and love, and invite them to know me better. In that sense, I invite them to fall in love with my Savior. I really don’t expect too many sinners to read my prophetic words to believers.