Saturday, November 15, 1997

Watch identifying yourself by what you are against

By MICHAEL O'CONNOR

Abilene Reporter-News

A calendar entry from the " 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said" calendar has former President George Bush explaining, "I hope I stand for anti-bigotry, anti-Semitism, anti-racism. This is what drives me."

Besides the obvious faux pas, I was intrigued that anyone would define what they were for with a list of what they are against. But this is exactly the situation I see forming in the conservative Christian world - they are identifying themselves by what they are against.

In a sort of evangelical political correctness, conservatives let the world know they are against smoking, against drinking and drugs, against homosexuality, against abortion, against pre-marital sex, and at least in Abilene, against suggestive names and advertising slogans in public places.

Curiously, conservatives used to be against divorce, and although some elements of the movement are trying to recover the stance, the number of conservatives who have divorced and remarried tend to work against a widespread renewal of acceptance of the position.

The most common defense of this tide of anti-ism is, "As Christians we must take a stand against sin." Of course this statement is true. A close look at scripture, however, will show that most of the time when the issue of eliminating rampant sin is addressed, God's people are the ones being taken to task.

Israel was intended to be a light to the Gentiles, showing them how to live a righteous life under the guidance of God. Jesus told his followers they were to be light and salt to the sinful world. With those mandates understood, the prophets and apostles largely directed their messages to believers, not unbelievers.

The failure of God's people to live up to the standards they claimed to profess was seen as shameful and a detriment to their witness to an unbelieving world. And the same holds true today. We will not convince "sinners" to join the fold as long as they see us as condemning them while allowing all sorts of sin to run rampant in our midst.

I cannot count the number of times I visited with someone I hoped to bring into the church only to be told about the member of my church everyone in town knew was having an affair, or was known as an unscrupulous businessman. Or the Baptist deacons who smiled piously on Sunday morning after swilling alcohol all week. Or the upstanding Church of Christ elder who was known to be a cheat.

Replying with the bumper sticker slogan that Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven isn't at all helpful. The nonbelieving world sees it as a double standard requiring them to forsake sin while Christians are allowed to shrug it off.

How much more effective would our efforts be if our public stances were for justice and mercy, love and grace, forgiveness and hope? How much stronger would our appeals be if we showed the world the reality of a changed life instead of giving it platitudinous excuses for our abhorrent behavior?

Jesus made the ultimate positive statement to the sinful world - he gave his life for it. Maybe his followers should try doing the same.

Michael O'Connor is Online Editor for the Abilene Reporter-News and is an ordained United Methodist Minister. He can be reached online at oconnorm@abinews.com.