The Attitude that Wins

Jesus desired for His disciples to have peace, even as His crucifixion was imminent and they would be scattered.  In John 16, He highlights the powerful resources that He had given to them - and gives to us:
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

We can be assured of the possibility of peace in our hearts - even when we are buffeted on the outside, we can abide in His peace on the inside.  Even in tribulation, God has given us the resources to be able to walk in not only His peace, but the joy that comes from knowing that as 1st John 4 says, the One who is in us is greater than the enemy, who is in the world.  We can take courage and develop confidence in the God who walks with us in our difficulty and we can reflect an attitude of His peace and joy to those who would observe our actions.

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In a world that can be described as hostile, we can display hope and encouragement in Christ.  These words in Romans 15 can help shape our attitude:
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

The response to the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell decision legalizing so-called same-sex marriage continues, and it is wise to continue to examine the implications, while advocating for the religious freedom rights of those who do not accept the decision.  And, this decision can be a clarion call for Christians who embrace the Biblical definition of marriage to portray for society the beauty and benefits of a strong marriage relationship.

And, three recent polls show that support of same-sex marriage is actually trending downward.  Dr. Michael New writes on the National Review website:

Within the past couple weeks, three separate national polls have been conducted on the issue of same-sex marriage. Interestingly, each of these three polls shows a decline in support for it. Both Ipsos/Reuters and Gallup conducted polls in early July — just days after the Supreme Court handed its ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. Both polls found a slight decline in the percentage of Americans who support same-sex marriage as compared to previous polls that each firm conducted earlier this spring.

Additionally, a third poll by the AP found that only 42 percent of Americans support same sex marriage. This is a decline of 6 points from the organization’s last poll on the issue in April. It also found a significant increase in percentage of people — 59 percent in June vs. only 52 percent in April — who said wedding-related businesses with religious objections should be allowed to refuse service to gay and lesbian couples.

And, as Dr. New points out, the AP poll shows 31 percent of Americans who neither support nor oppose same-sex marriage!  He offers the encouragement that there is still room for persuasion for those that support traditional marriage.

Attorney David French has written a brilliant piece at National Review.  Writing in the aftermath of the release of those 3 polls and the recent debacle involving Planned Parenthood's devastating videos, he offers this potent paragraph:

The Social Justice Warriors forgot that most Americans just don’t like mean people. And in one two-week span of American life, millions of SJWs helpfully and unmistakably labeled themselves with their rainbow profile pictures, then proceeded to act like hectoring, condescending, arrogant scolds — loudly and publicly, day after day. They were mean. They mocked Christians, celebrated the plight of a Christian baker’s family as it faced financial ruin for refusing to facilitate a gay wedding, and kept pointing at the Supreme Court and the White House as if they represented some sort of cosmic scoreboard — as if the only response for conservatives was to take their ball, slink away, and go home.

He continues later in the piece: "Unable to learn, the social-justice Left is going back to the old, failed playbook of the 1990s — trying its best to silence cultural conservatives on marriage – and in so doing they are once again showing their totalitarian colors. Once again, they’re being mean. Americans don’t like mean."   In his final paragraph, French writes: "The mere act of engaging the Social Justice Warriors is a win. Your words have the chance to persuade, and their overreaction has a chance to repel."

So, there are some great takeaways from this information that has been shared recently.  I'm reminded of the words of Jesus in John 16, as He instructed His disciples to "be of good cheer" in the face of tribulation.  We may face cultural opposition, but we also know a God whose truth and faithfulness are certain.  So, even when people don't see our way and even want to silence, we can continue to speak truth with confidence, knowing that He is with us.

And as New points out, polling data shows that there are many who are undecided on the issue of same-sex marriage.  One-third, in fact.  So, vocal support of traditional, or natural, marriage, is important.  So is the tangible persuasion of making the case for marriage as we in the church develop and display compelling marriage relationships. 

Finally, French contends that the supporters of gay marriage are perhaps overreaching - and they are demonstrating an arrogance that is repelling.  He says that Americans don't like mean people.  I think that's a good word for us as Christians - we have to make sure that in our righteous indignation over the decline of culture that we have not crossed the line into unbiblical anger and come across as mean.   And, don't get arrogant, thinking that our Biblical authority gives us a right to be condescending.  That's the attitude that many have shown toward Christians in our culture. and we're better than that.  We can walk in love and humility, speaking truth and showing grace.