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Blocked

I recently read a post by a Christian author who was coming out. Because, hey, celebration. (If you're deciding right now whether or not to continue reading, I get it. But the first line is not the crux of my thoughts here today.)

His wife, according to his post, was supporting it. They were working on the next steps, which would obviously include happy celebratory events like divorce and a broken home. (Are you still deciding whether or not you'll finish? I get it.)

But I'm not going to attempt to defend an institution, marriage, that has long since lost its foundation in the eyes of society. At this point, I hope we can agree marriage seems to have become something people do when they feel like it. (So if I'm not writing to defend my marriage, you might wonder what my purpose is here today. Thanks for asking!)

What struck me about this author's post was the end. He said he would block anyone who tried to confront him or had any judgment for him. 

Wait, that's how we handle things now?

Is This How Conversations Go Now?

If anyone disagrees with me, or with any decision I make, I will simply block you from my life. Because I don't need any negativity in my life, even if that negativity is a loving correction or a call to be accountable to any authority higher than my own. 

In a world that cries out for a need to have civil discourse, allowing other opinions to be heard, it is the epitome of hypocrisy to forewarn people that their dissenting opinions, no matter how lovingly offered, will simply be blocked.


How do I know how to find the line between a differing opinion that is judgement of my worldview and one that is simply offering a different perspective? Won’t I lose the opportunity for any expansion of my mind by closing out any thoughts which appear to be different from my own? 

I think I’m losing my mind. But please don’t tell me. 

Being a Christian Does Still Mean Something

Here’s the thing. People are going to do whatever their itching minds and bodies want to do. I get that. It’s 2020 and freedom of expression will rule the day. 

But at some point we need to accept that Jesus drew some pretty distinct lines for what it means to follow Him. When people chose not to do so in Jesus’ day, He didn’t change where the lines were drawn. 

He admitted it was pretty hard to stay in the lines. We hang our two-year old’s art on the fridge even though the scribbles are all over the place. But if I sent scribbles to my mom now, she would hardly be impressed. 

Why? Because I know better now. It’s the same with following Christ. We should not be so foolish as to think the scribbles of our life, when we know certain lines represent moral boundaries, should be celebrated by those who know the truth. 

So Where Do We Go From Here?

I know I’m not the first to note this struggle. I’m certain many others have written, at length, about the struggles in our culture between love and truth. Though it seems ludicrous to some, I’ve even read that those two things can be expressed together.

I believe the good news we have to offer as Christians can only be defined as good news because it is distinct from all other news. That necessitates drawing some lines. 

People can choose to ignore the lines as long as they want. But it doesn’t mean I have to accept their drawing as needing to be displayed on the wall. It doesn't mean those lines cease to exist. 

But I suppose that's why we block people out. If I don't see the lines anymore, or have anyone reminding me where those line are, I can go on pretending my scribbles are fine art. 

Comments

R Swaim said…
Thoughtful discourse is so rare today. Thank you for making me think about this topic.
August 30, 2020 at 10:01 PM
Margaret Schmitke said…
Experiencing this in family from several angles, sadly, with family who claims Christ. Thankful for this well thought out share on why it should concern us. Thankful I'm not alone in it.
August 31, 2020 at 9:35 PM
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