Today, while driving around town, I happened to tune into the Sean Hannity show on my car radio. I could be mistaken, but he seemed to be entertaining calls from people who were his political opposite. One caller, in particular, said something that caught my attention. He was talking about why he supported President-elect Barack Obama in the general election. The reason he supported Obama is because, in his view, the world hates the United States and Obama can help restore the worlds opinion of us. Hannity, in response, asked this individual if he uses the same criteria in his personal life? This was a perfect question. Very few people, at least outwardly, pay much attention to the opinions of others when they make decisions in their life. However, we all seek to be accepted and appreciated by others. Therefore, it should not surprise any of us that a person would want the world to accept our country. But, in my opinion, we don't need to be concerned about what the world thinks about us if it means compromising what makes this country the envy of the world. In most situations, in order to be accepted, you have to compromise that which you know to be true. If you believe the United States to be a negative force on the world, then it makes sense to want to do everything to change that perception. But, if you believe that the United States is a force for good in the world, you do not care what the world thinks about you.
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well." John 15: 18-23
In a column written for Jewish World Review entitled "So, we're hated," author Dennis Prager, said, "To assess the veracity of [America Hatred], all one need do is compare America — a country that has liberated more people from tyranny than any other, and which has been a place of refuge, tolerance and opportunity for more people from more backgrounds than any other in history — with those who hate America." What Prager describes, in general, is freedom. America is hated because of the freedom we have in this country and that we promote around the world. Is not that the image conjured up by the words liberated, refuge, tolerance and opportunity? Many of the people who hate America come from countries and cultures the average person would not consider free. And for those within the country that say America is hated by the world, it is because they believe we are responsible for the bondage others live in. It is not farfetched to link this America hatred to that experienced by Christians. It is a fact of history that the United States was founded by individuals who were either Christians or held the Bible in high esteem. And it is because of that faith in Jesus Christ and the Scriptures that this country has the freedom its citizens enjoy. Why was Jesus hated so much? It was because of the freedom and salvation He offered as God in the flesh. Christians are hated for the very same reason. As ambassadors of Christ, our charge is to share the freedom, love, forgiveness and rest, found only in Jesus Christ, to the entire world. And we are hated because of it. The light we shed on the evil of the world and the bondage so many are in causes them to react, negatively to us. The bondage the people from other countries are in can be traced back to the beliefs they hold. In nearly every case, they believe in a god, and have faith in something, not found within the pages of scripture. And it shows. They hate us because when they measure their god and faith up to our God and faith in Jesus Christ, theirs pales in comparison.
"You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts." 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4
In order to gain the acceptance of the world, you will have to compromise that which has made this country, what many call, "the greatest country God gave the world." We see the compromise taking shape in the form of open borders, the assault on traditional marriage and the sanctity of life, the deminishing of Judeo-Christian values, the limitation of the public proclamation of our faith and the blurring of the line between good and evil. Much of the decline in what has made America the country it is can be directly attributed to the compromise on biblical truth found within the Christian church. In an effort to avoid suffering and being insulted by those outside the faith, who provide strong opposition to it, we have abandoned the truth in order to please men. We have allowed false doctrines to enter the church. We have allowed the definition of marriage to be redifined from being between a man and woman. We have allowed the murder of the unborn to be called "choice." We no longer call sin by its name, but instead call it a "lifestyle." And most importantly, we question the deity of Christ, His death, burial and resurrection and His claim to be the only way to the Father in Heaven. The freedom that this country offers is the reason you have people breaking laws to enter it, navigating shark-infested waters in man made boats to reach it and who will give their lives to defend it. You don't compromise that in order to please those who do not have it just to gain their acceptance. Neither should we as Christians compromise the freedom we have in Christ and the truths of the Bible in order to please men.
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