Sunday Sermon: Christians Grasping at Power

California's Proposition 8 would eliminate the right to marry for same sex couples. Christians say that this is to preserve marriage and protect children, though it would do neither. If you want to protect marriage, eliminate the right to divorce, for Christians divorce in far greater numbers than do unbelievers. As far as children are concerned these Christians are denying family to children, now and in the future.

What these Christians really want is power. They want God's rules to apply to what they believe is our Christian nation. In the choice between following Christ's commandments to feed the hungry, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit those sick and in prison (Matthew 25) and the acquistion of raw political power - the ability to impose religious law on everyone - these Christians have chosen the latter.

Jesus had the same choice given him, and here was his response.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Matthew 4:8-10

These Christians are making faith in Christ a truly repulsive prospect. The secular and unchurched rebel against attempts of the self-righteous to impose faith upon them, as well they should. Jesus never suggested this as a viable option. He called these Christians "unprofitable servants" to be cast into "outer darkness" where "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:20)

These Christians believe that they can lie for God. But a lie is the opposite of God and these lies come from Satan, or for those who don't believe, from the vanity in the heart of the believer. They corrupt the Christian's efforts to share Christ with the world.

Jesus said,

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 8:36