Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Ridiculous Christian Bashing
This story out of Canada is so transparent in its efforts to bash Christians, as to almost be unworthy of comment. But why let that stop me?
Apparently some petroglyphs have been defaced in Canada, ruining the chances for a team of archeologists to have it declared important and therefore have their livelihoods guaranteed by governmental or quasi-governmental funding for the rest of their natural lives. Sad, really it is, but why do they go on the attack against Christians because of it?
Well, historically, though not recently, the images were vandalized with crosses, but there is no evidence the current problems are similar. The archeologists are simply being bigoted and the press is aiding them.
But, having said that, I have to opine that in many ways, we deserve it. Yes, the petroglyphs do depict pagan practice, but why was it ever necessary to "fix" them by putting a cross on them? I want to argue because of a lack of faith.
I, for one, find the gospel so compelling that it's truth and beauty that it does not require the bashing of other perspectives. Yes, we need to argue with those perspectives, but argument is something quite different from bashing or defacing. Obviously, if you feel that you must bash and deface, then you do not think the gospel is that compelling, and isn't that just another way of saying you lack faith?
Why do we ever make enemies outside the faith on any level, or in any circumstace? Because somewhere, we, or our predecessors have done it wrong. Christ, even Paul for that matter, had no enemies in the world - their enemies were the Jewish officials of the time, the Romans got involved mostly at the Jews' insistence.
When it comes to evangelism, and pre-evangelism for that matter, we need to remember there is a time for diplomacy and a time for defense, there are enemies you fight, then there are those you wish to turn into allies. Sometimes, I think we forget that.
Related Tags: apologetics, science, faith
Apparently some petroglyphs have been defaced in Canada, ruining the chances for a team of archeologists to have it declared important and therefore have their livelihoods guaranteed by governmental or quasi-governmental funding for the rest of their natural lives. Sad, really it is, but why do they go on the attack against Christians because of it?
Well, historically, though not recently, the images were vandalized with crosses, but there is no evidence the current problems are similar. The archeologists are simply being bigoted and the press is aiding them.
But, having said that, I have to opine that in many ways, we deserve it. Yes, the petroglyphs do depict pagan practice, but why was it ever necessary to "fix" them by putting a cross on them? I want to argue because of a lack of faith.
I, for one, find the gospel so compelling that it's truth and beauty that it does not require the bashing of other perspectives. Yes, we need to argue with those perspectives, but argument is something quite different from bashing or defacing. Obviously, if you feel that you must bash and deface, then you do not think the gospel is that compelling, and isn't that just another way of saying you lack faith?
Why do we ever make enemies outside the faith on any level, or in any circumstace? Because somewhere, we, or our predecessors have done it wrong. Christ, even Paul for that matter, had no enemies in the world - their enemies were the Jewish officials of the time, the Romans got involved mostly at the Jews' insistence.
When it comes to evangelism, and pre-evangelism for that matter, we need to remember there is a time for diplomacy and a time for defense, there are enemies you fight, then there are those you wish to turn into allies. Sometimes, I think we forget that.
Related Tags: apologetics, science, faith
