My fear is that the violence is going to escalate, and that Christian organizations are going to be the target. The shooting at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday may be a harbinger of things to come.
You see, the FRC is courageously taking the lead on calling for upholding traditional moral beliefs such as the Biblical definition of marriage. For their stance, they are being classified as a “hate” group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and others of like mind. This is the same organization that designated Chick-Fil-A as a purveyor of hatred as well.
The man who entered the FRC headquarters was carrying a Chick-Fil-A bag, pretended to be an intern so he could infiltrate the building, and when questioned by a guard because he seemed suspicious, shouted out that he opposed what FRC stood for, and then began shooting. As you can see from the photo of him when he was taken away by the authorities, there was ample reason for the guard, who was injured during the scuffle, to be suspicious. The man, it turns out, volunteers for an LGBT “community center” in D.C. I wonder how many of those letters in the acronym he claims for himself?
FRC is only standing for what society has always called marriage. Christians who speak out against homosexuality are doing what Christians have done throughout the centuries: identifying a sin, calling upon those who are engaged in the sin to repent, and offering a new life free from the bondage of that sin. That’s not hate; that’s showing the way to true life. It’s an attempt to help people who have succumbed to a sinful lifestyle that separates from God.
Except for fringe groups like the small Westboro Baptist crowd [well, “crowd” is too generous a term], no genuine Christian hates people trapped in homosexuality. Instead, they want to reach out to them and speak the truth in love, seeking to turn them from an activity that has eternal consequences. It’s the Christian pattern for dealing with all sins, and it’s based on what Jesus said needs to be done.
The LGBT “community,” on the other hand, has become nearly hysterical over any disagreement with their lifestyle choice. Of course, they don’t consider it a choice; they claim they are born that way, without any scientific backing for a homosexual gene. They have become adept at classifying anyone who critiques them as “haters.” This is incendiary language that can only breed more incidents like the one at FRC. That’s why I say we may be witnessing the start of a series of such episodes. They hope to silence Christians through intimidation.
Will it work? I’m concerned that far too many evangelicals are already drinking the kool-aid on this issue. Some will be so afraid of speaking up that their voice will be absent just when it is most needed. Others will decide that perhaps the Scriptures are being misunderstood and will take sides with the homosexual agenda because, they say, Jesus loves everyone unconditionally. They will buy into the lie that God made some people homosexual, and that it is as valid as heterosexuality.
The pressure will be even greater if the federal government forces religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriage by threatening to withhold funds to students at evangelical universities, for instance. How many Christian colleges and universities will hold firm in the face of threats like that? Those threats may be coming; more violence is in the offing. The first may be allayed by a Republican sweep in November, yet that very Republican sweep could lead to an increase in the violence.
Here’s a little reminder from the short book of Jude:
I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in . . . ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Contending for the faith is about to become more of a necessity than ever.