Just Because You’re Passionate…

Today’s post comes right from my heart, but it is also written with me in mind. This is a reminder that I need on a regular basis.

It also is not meant to cause people to become namby-pamby. There are times when Christians must be bold. (I seem to recall my Lord driving people out of the temple.)

That said, I am sickened by what I see, virtually constantly, by Christians who are passionate about issues. Yes, I am concerned about the state of America. Yes, I care about issues. Yes, I have views and opinions on these things. Too often, though, we let our passion drive us to do things that are unbecoming of a Christian. Sometimes, those things are done in personal conversations. But we all know that, more often, they are done from behind a computer or smartphone screen.

It is great to have passion and to fight for what you think is right (or against what you think is wrong).

But, just because you are passionate…

…does not give you the right to be cruel or rude. If you are a Christian, rudeness is not part of your new life in Christ. That includes how you talk to or about someone, even on social media. Cruelty and rudeness does not help in efforts to “live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18).

…does not give you the ability to confuse one issue with the whole Gospel. You may be highly passionate about ending abortion, or about sex trafficking, or about women’s rights, or about any number of other things. That is well and good. But just because someone agrees with you on that one issue does not mean that person is a disciple of the Lord. We must teach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), not merely an issue or two that we feel strongly about.

…does not give you the right to avoid listening to those who disagree. And by “listening,” I don’t mean share an article on Facebook with which you disagree saying, “This is junk.” We have lost the art of true listening. We may be on polar opposite ends of an issue, but by truly listening, we are likely to find common ground from which real progress can be made. When we live in an echo chamber, we are closing the door of progress toward truth.

…does not allow you to use (or share) coarse, foul, or hateful language. I am absolutely amazed by how many Christians I see “liking” articles or quotes on Facebook or Twitter just because they agree with how this person takes the other side to task, all the while using language that is foul or even hateful. For a Christian, every word we say is to be “filled with grace” and “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). Just because someone makes a point with which I agree does not give me the right to let down my guard on the type of language I am to use (or share).

…does not give you license to attack someone’s character. I’m going to use one specific example here. I do not know Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, and I do not know Brett Kavanaugh. I have never met either one of them, nor do I know anyone who has. That being the case, what right do I have to attack their character? I may have an opinion on who I think is right or wrong, but that gives me no right to attack their character as a way to try to prove a point. In reality, the only point that proves is my own cruelty.

…does not mean you should identify more with a person, party, issue, or even nation more than with the Savior. If I am more concerned with defending the Republican or Democratic party than I am the purity of the Lord’s Church, I am an idolator. The same is true if I am more ardent in my defense of Black Lives Matter or #MeToo than I am the Gospel. It is even true if I am more fearful of the downfall of America than I am with falsehood taking hold in the Lord’s body. Folks, nothing–absolutely nothing–should ring out from us more than our love of Jesus. Not even an issue that we are deeply passionate about.

…does not mean you could be wrong. Wait, what? I know, it’s hard to fathom, but there is a chance that you could be wrong. But, too often, we throw out any acknowledgment of that and just start digging into our corner, deepening our defenses to “prove” we are right, even if all the evidence is to the contrary. And when we do, we only look foolish.

Again, I am not saying Christians should avoid the issues. I am not saying that we should not be passionate about seeking and defending the truth.

But, in our passion, may we never lose sight of the fact that our ultimate goal is not to win an argument. Our goal is to get to heaven and help someone else get there, as well. That–and that alone–needs to be our ultimate passion.

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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn