By: Daniel Brown
The Consistency
One of Jesus Christ’s greatest criticisms of the Pharisees was their hypocrisy. In fact, the words “Pharisee” and “Hypocrite” are now used synonymously. He said of Pharisees, “they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men:” (Matthew 23:4,5). He was teaching that the Pharisees, for their own personal gain, and to be seen of men would teach one thing, while ignoring another that might inconvenience them. Much debate today is like the reasoning of the Pharisees. We are all too concerned about advancing our agenda, but not so concerned with challenging the consistency of our arguments.
Although we have defined our terms, and chosen our sides, it is often a human failure to accuse without considering the consistency of the present argument with other major issues. In the gun control debate, the lives of the “innocent” are being threatened, and therefore must be protected at all cost. What seems to be a contradiction, or at least an inconsistency, is that the very ones lifting their voices for the cause of “safety” and “security”, have not so much as given a grunt in opposition to those organizations who have taken the truly innocent lives of unborn babies through the brutal act of abortion. We are speaking of Christians, not of the world.
Today, even in many Christian circles, the mention of an “Abortion” protest elicits criticism. The eyes roll, and the sarcastic comments of “extremism” or “fundamentalists” come pouring out. We know it is wrong to abort babies, but we would never hold up a sign, or march in front of an abortion clinic. After all, there are other ways to get your message out there than to have a “shouting match” with Planned Parenthood. Right?
Although it is a truly life- and culture-altering moral issue, opposing abortion is, however, still only dealing with the “here and now”. Even more disconcerting than our inconsistency in moral issues, is the Christian’s obsession with the physical threats being posed, real or imagined, while ignoring the impending eternal threat which the unregenerate face. How can we truly justify waving any banner for any cause, if we are not willing to lift the “banner of the cross”? How appalling it would be to watch those who possess the cure to cancer championing the fight against the common cold, while millions perish under the greater illness. Yet the only ones in the world who have the answer for man’s sin problem, and ultimate eternal damnation, Christians, spend their days fighting any number of lesser battles, all the while never giving a clear presentation of the gospel to the lost.
The concept of our argument must be consistent, not only with our own principles, but also with the emphasis God places upon it in Scripture.
This has been the first part of a PDF entitled iProtest by Daniel Brown. For the entire PDF, please click here.