It Isn’t Hateful…
Author and feminist J.K. Rowling recently said, “It isn’t hateful for women (to) speak about their own experiences, nor do they deserve shaming for doing so.” She declared this in response to attacks received from transgender activists for her opposition to parts of the transgender agenda, such as the allowing of men who identify as women into women’s changing rooms and restrooms.
The boisterous minority (to me) seem to be overly sensitive and think any claim that does not fit their narrative is hateful. This makes discourse of any kind challenging if not scary. The church cannot allow the threats of shamers and cancel culture to silence the greatest and most necessary message of ultimate hope and change, the gospel.
Remember:
It isn’t hateful to tell people there is only one true and living God who created everything and who deserves all the glory (Gen. 1:11; Rom. 11:36).
It isn’t hateful to be honest with people about our deepest problem: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), and our best effort can’t alter this predicament (Rom. 8:8).
It isn’t hateful to warn people that “the wages of sin is death,” physically, spiritually, and eternally (Rom 6:23).
It isn’t hateful to proclaim to people what Jesus Christ announced: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6), and “unless you believe that I Am, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).
It isn’t hateful to invite people to turn from their sin and guilt before God (Luke 13:3) and place their trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of eternal life (John 6:47).
It isn’t hateful to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).
However:
It IS hateful for you and me to withhold the most revolutionary, life-transforming, destiny changing message anyone could ever hear or embrace.
The gospel (good news) of Christ is far from hateful, yet it is offensive and it exposes our wicked rebellious hearts. And right now, it seems there is growing animosity toward the very message that could give people what they will never find anywhere else: peace, joy, love, eternal life, forgiveness, purpose, meaning, a sure hope, all this and more in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Let’s ask God to use us to be a bold, loving witness of the good news. Our community and world desperately need it.
Pastor Jeff