Rick Warren tweeted recently, “Fast-food Christian CEO bullied (Chick-fil-A). Pastor bullied out of praying publicly (Louie Giglio). Athlete bullied out of speaking AT A CHURCH (Tim Tebow).”
GrayHas Bible-believing Christianity been marginalized in this culture? If it hasn’t yet, the war is on to see that we are marginalized, or worse.
Sing Oldham, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee vice president for convention communications and relations, said, “It’s open season on those who profess personal faith in Jesus Christ and pattern their lives by biblical morality.”
Fox News accused NBC of “declaring war” on Christians for a “Saturday Night Live” episode that mocked Jesus and for bashing Tim Tebow’s decision to speak at First Baptist Church of Dallas. Shortly after this, Tebow cancelled his speaking engagement at the church. Todd Starnes of Fox News said, “I find it interesting that the networks always mock and ridicule Christianity, but they give other religions a pass.”
Gregg Doyel, CBS sports writer and blogger who attacked Tebow for agreeing to speak at the Texas church, wrote, “I don’t like Tebow now. Liking him means liking someone who wouldn’t just agree with, but would support, Robert Jeffress. And I despise [Dallas First Baptist Church pastor] Robert Jeffress.”
Jeffress and the church he pastors hold values and beliefs that are biblically consistent. He has been bombarded by homosexual-rights activists and the media for his stance on, frankly, biblical principles. He responded to the firestorm a couple of weeks ago when he addressed his congregation: “As long as I am pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, we are not going to kneel before the altar of political correctness or convenience.”
The story behind Tebow backing out of his commitment is about why this church is being attacked and why the values and beliefs of the overwhelming majority of Southern Baptist and evangelical Christians are being attacked. These beliefs are based on mainstream Bible-believing principles. What is going on in America? Are Christians being marginalized by a more liberal culture? Are we moving from a post-Christian culture to an anti-Christian nation?
Jeffress, for example, was attacked by the liberal media for calling Mormonism a cult. He then endorsed Mitt Romney for president. Our SBC churches have consistently identified Mormonism as a cult. A presidential campaign by a Mormon does not erase that. We should not hate anybody, but we must be honest with our convictions and beliefs. Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. A person must be born again to enter heaven. It is not Christ-plus-something-else – but Christ alone. We should love God, which means obeying His Word; we should love our neighbor, which means caring enough about them to share the truth with them.
There is an easy type of cultural religion that passes for a genuine relationship with Christ. It cannot save anyone, and it typically will not risk controversy or persecution. Speaking at the 2013 Verge Conference in Austin, Texas, David Platt said, “We’re living in a day when it means almost nothing to be a Christian.” Yet Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Our culture may be marginalizing genuine Christians, but that does not mean we are wrong. It presents a challenge, but our forefathers in the faith met challenge after challenge. Now is the time to be confident in our Lord, strong in our convictions, and grounded in His Word. We are still called to be salt and light in this world. Our mission is to disciple as many people as God gives us both opportunity and grace to do. I would imagine those early Christians in the Roman Empire felt more than just marginalized. Still, by the grace of God, they stood strong and made a difference. That is the opportunity of our time.