THE STANDARD OF PUBLIC OPINION

THE STANDARD OF PUBLIC OPINION

I was told, indirectly, I am not a loving person because I said that homosexual relationships are sexual perversions. 

If one believes that there is a God and that He will judge sin, what should one’s response be? Should we not make every effort to help people find a right relationship with God? And does that not mean they must come to a proper understanding of sin so that they actually can repent (Luke 13:5; IICor. 7:10) and begin to build that proper relationship?

 

The problem I am seeing is one of reluctance to stand for righteousness. If all we have for a foundation is public opinion then I must concede the issue and agree with those standing in favor of….well, whatever they happen to be standing in favor of at the moment. Because you see, if all we have as a standard is public opinion it will shift with the wind. Today homosexuality is wonderful. When I was young it was understood to be sexual perversion. Today bestiality is considered sexual perversion, but for how long? Today child molesting is considered to be wrong, but for how long? Today pornography is (generally) considered to be improper behavior, but for how much longer? The list is endless. It is endless because there is no standard of right or wrong behavior. All of these can and will change just as soon as public opinion shifts. When society is properly corrupted all of these and many others just as vile will be acceptable.

 

When we come to understand that there is a God and that He will judge in accordance with His Holy Word then the standards change. We call drunkenness wrong because the Bible does (Eph. 5:18). We call harming a child in any sense wrong because the Bible does (Luke 17:2). The emphasis that the Bible puts on sexual sin is strong and extensive. I can provide a study on it if anyone actually cares to read it. The point though is simple. We stand against all of these because the Bible does and because the end result is eternity in a very literal Hell.

 

Am I more loving if I passively stand aside and smile at you as you slip into Hell for eternity? Or, is my love and compassion better expressed by screaming at you and standing in your way in an attempt to keep you from being cast into the pits of Hell for all of eternity? The letter that Jude wrote expresses it this way in verses 22 and 23, “And of some have compassion, making a difference: (v.23) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” How cruel is the person who would speak soft and gentle words of encouragement and acceptance to someone who is about to stand in the presence of Almighty God to face judgment knowing, that person is currently living in open rebellion to God’s righteousness clearly expressed in His eternal Word? Am I not the most heinous of individuals if, in an attempt to retain their friendship, I passively stand aside and smile when I could have done something to prevent their suffering? LOVE will step in and come to one’s aid even if it is currently uncomfortable to do so. What should we call that which allows suffering in an effort to prevent friction in a relationship? It certainly isn’t love.

 

Because I do sincerely love people who are drunkards, liars, thieves, homosexuals, and otherwise generally self-absorbed people living in open opposition to the righteousness of God, I choose to stand in their way. Love compels me to do so. And by the grace of God and with the Word of God I will stop some, and turn them to the love and grace of our God expressed by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ on Calvary for the redemption of their very souls.   

And Mary was Silent

We face hardships in life. So often it is difficult to understand why we go through so many struggles. Yet, the Bible tells us in Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God….” I think I would have to agree with the Apostle Paul on this one. I know what I am supposed to do. But so often the struggle is greater than my ability, or it seems to be. Paul said in Romans 7:18-19 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Like Paul, I know what I am supposed to do. I know how I am supposed to respond in given circumstances but all too often my old nature gets in the way and I just can’t seem to do the right thing. I can’t stand silently by and let God be God. 

     Mary was truly blessed by God. More than any other person in all of history. She was certainly not the Mother of God. But she was the mother of Jesus the Christ, the Messiah of Israel and the Lamb of God. She would give birth to the physical child who would become the sacrifice for our sin and in whom all the fullness of God would dwell. What a joy it must have been to watch him grow. Every day he was learning as others learned, and as Mary must have watched and wondered. He must have played as others played, and Mary must have watched and wondered. And yet she knew he was God’s son. 

     Did she see him as he was, the Son of God? The angels told her he would be the Son of God, Luke 1:30-33 “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” But when did she realize the magnitude of that message? When she held him in her arms as an infant was he just like any other child? When she put him to bed at night and kissed his forehead was her attachment the same as any other Mother? 

     Regardless of when she finally understood her profound gift from God she still formed attachments. Like any mother she would form a maternal bond that would become inseparable. She would still be worried when he seemed to be lost or missing. When Jesus taught in the temple Mary became very worried because she had no idea where he had gone, Luke 2:48 “And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” And I imagine this was only one of several similar situations throughout his life at home. Mary loved Jesus as her son. She was attached as any good mother would be. He was her son.

     She must have been so very proud of him when he began preaching. People came from all over to hear him. Multitudes would gather and often follow him over the countryside just to hear him preach. So, when his popularity finally caused the religious leaders to become angry and vengeful, Mary would surely begin to fear for his safety. Could any of us have done what Mary did the day Jesus was taken?

     Mary was in the crowd. Remember as Jesus hung on the cross we read in Joh 19:26-27 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother….” Mary was silent. She was SILENT, as she saw her son being tortured. She saw the crown of thorns pressed onto his brow. She saw the nails driven into his wrists and feet. How did she remain silent? How did she not cry out for justice? How did she not plead for mercy? Her son hung on a roughhewn wooden cross right in front of her beaten, torn and mangled beyond recognition. And, Mary remained silent! 

     I can only imagine that by this time she had come to understand what the Psalmist meant when he wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God….” She knew that even now, even in these circumstances God was in control. I am sure her heart still broke and the tears still flowed. But she knew God had a plan no matter how bleak her world may have looked.

     Can we have that same confidence in sorrow? Mary had special circumstances to say the least. But, she was still human and still a mother. Mary trusted God. And that is something we can still do today. God proved His faithfulness to Mary over the 33 years she shared with Jesus. But, we have had thousands of years of history that prove over and over again, God is faithful, that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

     In her deepest distress and darkest hour Mary remained silent and trusted God. 

     Can we remain silent and trust God for our trials?