Who Do You Love?

If I insulted your mother would you call me your friend? What about if someone else insulted your mother---PUBLICLY---and I laughed about it---PUBLICLY---would I be your friend since I had become an party to such a “crime” against your dear mom’s character? Stop and think about it. Most of us take family seriously. Most people, with few exceptions, tend to honor, or even venerate, their moms. Why is this? It’s because our mom’s loved us, cared for us, and even sacrificed for us. Therefore, we loyally love our dear sweet mothers.

When I was a younger, unsaved man, a wrong comment about my mom could get you a bloody nose and end a friendship as “blood is thicker than water” and the relationship between a young man and his mom was “sacred.” His mother, my mother for instance, was nothing to be mocked or laughed at.  Even today most people will tell you that you cannot expect to make fun of a person’s mother and get away with it. And anyone who witnessed and joined in the fun (the ancient equivalent of today’s text speak “lol”) could expect treatment equal to that visited upon the offending party. Mom’s are special. Stop and think about it.

What’s my point? I have to confess, my point has nothing to do about moms—mine, yours, or anyone else’s. It has to do with your loyal love for Christ, the Savior, who loved you so much that He suffered the agonies you deserved, dying for your sin (and mine) at Calvary’s cross and with His resurrection provided for you what you could not (and would not) provide for yourself. He cared for you and cares for you in ways no mother can. His loving sacrifice demands our loyalty---His deity commands our worship. The problem is that all too often Christians, particularly younger ones, value their relationship with others more than they do the good name of their God, Christ Jesus. As they come to Christ and they and their friends begin to serve different gods, they allow their friends to mock their God, blaspheme their Savior, in ways they would never tolerate if such friends did anything remotely resembling this to their moms.

Why is this? Well, there could be a number of reasons, none of which are good. First, it could be they love their moms and friends more than they love Jesus. What would Jesus’ response be to such a sentiment? Jesus, making similar analogies say this: ²⁶ "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple”. (Luke 14:26-27 NAU) Second, it could be that they are embarrassed to confront their friend’s blasphemous behavior. They don’t want to bring the word of God to bear upon their friend’s life. To such an excuse, we look to the Scriptures to understand how Jesus would view such embarrassment: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38 NAU) A third reason might be that they don’t want to lose a friend. They want to keep their friend. What would Jesus say to this kind of thinking? He might say this:

³⁶ "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ "For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:36-38 NAU)

Make no mistake about it, I’m not implying that these complacent Christians will lose their soul by worshipping a friendship. I’m just implying they ought to stop and think. Many might object to what I am saying and reply, “Well, they are perhaps trying to keep the door open for evangelism! They are engaging in relationship evangelism.” This is an excuse often given in situations where the believer is more concerned about the relationship with their worldly friend than evangelism. Usually, if not always, there’s a great deal of relationship going on but very little if any evangelism. Besides, friendships with mockers and scorners is offensive to God. James writes that friendship with the world is hostility with God. And so I ask them, “who do you love?”

We can be friendly to the unsaved. But we cannot be their friends and confidants. We cannot bind ourselves together with them. We cannot be bound together with them.

¹⁴ Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵ Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. ¹⁷ "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. ¹⁸ "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. (2Co 6:14-18 NAU)

This doubly applies to those who mock your Christ. So, who do you love? How could a Christian tolerate someone mocking their Savior, when most would not put up with someone mocking their Lord, whom they say they love? What triggered these thoughts? The picture below was posted and enjoyed by two apostates who used to attend my church participated in this mockery of Christ. And after a little stormy weather, their Christian friends continued the friendship.How? This is worse than insulting mom!

Now, it’s not my job to be the “friendship police.” It is my place to ask out loud, “Who do you love?” There are some relationships that a person cannot afford to have.

Posted via email from keithcrosby's posterous