Freedom of Choice

 

What exactly does “freedom of choice” mean to everybody? To one, it means that they have the right to do whatever they want to do, whenever they desire to do it. To another it means to not have any outside agency, person, or deity dictate what they should or should not be allowed to do. To a third, it means that you must “tolerate” any other choice that you may or may not agree with. And the list could go on and on, but you get the point. Freedom of choice is something that many believe is guaranteed as an American, but is that absolutely correct? Do not all of us daily surrender our “freedom of choice” so that we can live in a controlled society? We have local, state, and national laws that we all must obey or face punishment. We all voluntarily sacrifice our freedom of choice each time we drive our cars. So the point is not whether or not we can have our freedoms restricted, but instead, should those freedoms be mandated for all to follow.

One case in point regarding “freedom of choice” is the highly volatile issue regarding Gay Marriage. Now, before everybody gets on the “hate bandwagon” hear me out. I do not want to dictate, direct, or even demand that someone else choose “exactly” as I would. As I Christian I have strong conservative beliefs regarding said issue, and if asked, I will gladly engage in that conversation. But, the last thing I would ever want to do would be to seek to “force” anybody to adhere to “my beliefs.”

So how should a Christian respond to the issue of Gay Marriage?” Some would say that we are to just love them, no matter what, and accept their “choice” and have nothing to say whether it is “right or wrong” according to the Bible. The problem with this view is that while we are called to spread the love of Jesus, Christians are likewise called to announce the whole counsel of God, which includes the willingness to speak out against sinful behaviors which the Bible clearly teaches that Christians should not tolerate. So if we truly love, the “sinners” of this world, would we not warn them what God says? So to just come across with love and tolerance is clearly against what God desires. By the way, the Bible clearly teaches there are many other things that we do that God has called sin, not just the issue of homosexuality. My point is this, to just use “love” and not truth as a means to convey God’s truth, would be a sinful act.

On the other side of the fence is the group of Christians that demand that laws be passed, penalties assessed, and judgment pronounced. To them, it is an issue of seeking to purify everyone around them. The problem with this view is that way too often it degenerates into legalism. That my way is absolute and you must adhere to it no matter what. Another issue with this attitude is that is leaves out the “love” aspect that God likewise clearly teaches all Christians to promote. Now, in a technical sense, this group is correct in calling certain behaviors sin when the Bible clearly teaches that behavior as sin. But where is the love. They will say that we are to love the “sinner” but hate the “sin. The problem is that to a sinner, hating the sin is equal to hating the sinner. They see no difference.  So again we see a major problem, to be all about truth, and show no love is likewise a sin.

So how must a Christian respond when faced with engaging the world on such volatile issues? The answer, for the Christian, is found in the understanding that we are to be “Salt & Light” in this world. The “Light” is to clearly teach what God says in the Bible, and that includes taking the time to learn the “whole counsel” of scripture, not just some spoon-fed saying one has heard some preacher say. To be light means one has to be ready to patiently teach God’s Word in a way that sinners can grasp. Understand this, that teaching may takes hours, days, or even years. In other words, we are to teach in such a way, that confusion will be eliminated. But along with light, Christians are to be the “Salt.” This is the area many Christians get into trouble with, they pour TOO much salt and by doing so make the object unusable to all. As believers, we must remember that the salt we are called to be is meant to purify ourselves and other believers around us. This is where the “hate the sin, but love the sinner” comes into play. Instead of attacking with the caustic agent of salt against the sin that someone is involved in, which only seeks to push them away, instead seek to incorporate the Light of the Word of God. How about trying a novel concept, show them in Bible where God teaches that He truly loves them where they are. That He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for them, even if they do not think they need it and that God offers them absolute happiness through His gift of eternal life.

Perhaps we Christians could use the example of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery found in John 8:1-12. Jesus accepted the woman, who clearly “had sinned” by having sex outside of marriage and He did not condemn her, Jesus said, “I do not condemn you” (v. 11). The very one who “did” have the right and authority to pass judgment on the woman, chooses not to, but instead granted her forgiveness. But, before those of you who are caught up in your sin, say, yea, don’t condemn me; look at the remainder of the verse. After, Jesus forgives the woman of the sin she had clearly committed which was clearly stated in the Bible that it was a sin, what did He tell her next? “Go; from now on sin no more.” For the sinner, this means there must be a change of lifestyle that turns away from the sin, and now seeks to run from sin. Therefore, if you are in a behavior of sin that God clearly pronounces as sin, then if you desire God’s forgiveness, you likewise must obey His command to turn from that sin and its lifestyle.

To all, let’s focus instead on telling everybody what salvation truly is, how to get saved according to the Bible. And “THEN” we as fellow believers in Christ must seek to “go and sin no more.”