What’s The Downside Of Christianity?

In case you hadn’t noticed, Christianity is under attack. Christians are called “haters”. Recently, Senator Diane Feinstein said she didn’t think she could support a judge nominee because of her “Christian dogma”. It’s a judge’s duty is to enforce the law as written. Being a Christian wouldn’t conflict with enforcing the law. Most laws conform with the Ten Commandments. We have laws against stealing, murdering, libel, adultery, etc. Progressives like secular judges who are likely to loosely interpret law and legislate from the bench. That’s how they circumvent the will of the people. Christian judges are more likely to follow laws as written. Romans 3:31 “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means. On the contrary, we uphold the law”.

We just have to look at what is happening around us. Christianity is banned from our schools. Many schools won’t even allow a Christian club or prayer group. But Islam IS being taught in our schools and Muslims ARE allowed to pray in school. Sports teams are sued to prevent them from praying before, during, or after games. They aren’t allowed to even show signs of thanks or faith such as looking skyward or bowing their heads. But Muslims are allowed to pray in streets, blocking traffic. Nativity scenes at Christmas are restricted or banned. Cross memorials are being taken down. But, why? What is the downside of Christianity?

I remember a time when being a Christian was a career enhancement. It has become a career ender in these days of social justice. But why? May I remind everyone of #27 of the Communist Goals read into the Congressional Record in 1963, “…..replace revealed religion with social religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a religious crutch.” and #28 “Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in schools on the grounds it violates the principal of separation of church and state.” Good job, Progressives, you can check those off.

Christianity teaches forgiveness. Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you.” Christians understand we are all sinners and fall short in the eyes of the Lord. “Judge not lest ye be judged”. The Bible teaches to “hate the sin but love the sinner”. Because Christians believe marriage is between a man and a woman they are called “haters” with such viciousness no rational discussion can continue. But let’s discuss it anyway. Does believing marriage is between a man and a woman mean Christians hate gays? Of course not. Many have gay friends or family members that they care about and want to be happy. But the Bible says homosexuality is a sin. Christians are being persecuted for believing the Bible. The Left is demonizing the Bible. It must be removed from hotel rooms. Removed from schools. Not read, not quoted. Christians can believe homosexuality is a sin and still love gays. And they can forgive the Left for judging them. Without forgiveness people carry the burden of anger, resentment, revenge and sorrow that prevents them from living a full, happy life. It has been my experience that people able to forgive are free of that burden. What is the downside of forgiveness?

Christianity teaches the sanctity of life. Psalm 127:3 “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Do Christians seriously need to defend that? If a society no longer believes life is scared there is little they won’t accept. For a civil society to survive there need to be values, principals and guidelines to live by. The secular Left wants us to believe until birth an infant is just a lump of cells and it’s mother has a “right” to abort it. Christianity doesn’t take away a woman’s “right to chose”. There are numerous choices a woman is able to make BEFORE aborting a child. She can chose to abstain, she can chose to use birth control, and as long as Roe vs Wade is law, she still has three months to chose abortion. But why would she chose to abort a viable child when she could give birth and give the child to a couple desperate to love and raise her child. What’s the downside of protecting life?

Christianity teaches redemption. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Christians know if they admit their sin and ask forgiveness they will be redeemed. Recognizing what they did was a sin prevents them from repeating it. The problem Progressives have with this is that they don’t want anything to be considered a sin. They don’t think anyone should feel guilt or shame. If an Islamist kills hundreds of innocent people, it’s because they were provoked. If someone turns to crime it’s because they had a bad childhood. If protestors damage property, loot, or burn businesses someone treated them unjustly. But the property owners didn’t treat them unjustly. How do you solve injustice by being unjust to others? Justice needs to be equal to all or it isn’t justice. For a civil society there need to be rules to live by. There need to be behaviors that are not acceptable. Christianity gives us those rules and forgives us when we fall short. What is the downside of redemption?

And Christianity teaches there is life after death. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. Even if atheists are right and this is it, there is no more…..nada, nothing. What is the incentive to live an ethical, moral life? Why not lie, cheat and steal? What have you got to lose? And, how unfair life would be if you were born with a birth defect, you were born into slavery, you were one of the millions murdered by dictators, you were maimed in war, or contracted a deadly disease? How meaningless life would be. People need to believe life has meaning. Losing a loved one is one of the most painful events in our lives but believing you will be reunited with that loved one makes their loss less painful. The belief in life after death is comforting and reassuring and it inspires Christians to live kind, moral, unselfish lives. Even if atheists were right, you’d never know, would you? But believing inspires you to be a better person, so, what’s the down side of believing in life after death?

While there have been violent and evil acts done in the name of Christianity, they have been done against the teachings of Jesus, not in accordance. Christianity’s offer of forgiveness, redemption, love and everlasting life attracts followers. There is no need to mandate belief in Christianity. You are free to believe or not…….so what is the down side?