Jesus was not some butch biker slapping around those who sinned. No wonder the lost holds Christianity in such contempt.

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Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12: 14-21 (ESV)

The headline blared, "Jesus Is Not a Politically Correct Wimp." It was a headline designed to draw readers and generate amens from people who fancy themselves Christian but are far more interested in the Babylon our world is than their heavenly citizenship. The article, appearing on Charisma News, is yet another example of Christians with microphones who really need to shut up and read their Bible more before ever speaking again. The author, Bryan Fischer, is the director of Issue Analysis for Government and Public Policy at the American Family Association and "Christian" talk-radio personality. Here are the lowlights from this article:

"One of the perpetual myths well-intentioned Christians indulge in is that if we are just nice enough, winsome enough and persuasive enough, everybody will love us and eventually agree with us."

Fischer sets the stage for his diatribe by creating what is known as a strawman argument. I have never heard any Christian use this rationale as the basis for their faith. We are supposed to nice according to our key verses. We are supposed to bless those who would seek to curse us. We are supposed to be winsome and persuasive according to the Bible:

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, - 1Peter 3: 15 (ESV)

I guess Peter, who asked to be crucified upside down was a wimp according to Mr. Fischer. We are not supposed to be angry and confrontational but rather gentle and respectful. I might add here that our goal is not to have everyone love us. The Bible says the opposite. They will hate us as they hated Christ. We are not seeking people to "agree with us." We are to represent Christ and preach the Gospel. God does the drawing. God does the saving. We need to get over ourselves. Continuing in the article:

"By believing this lie, we have neutered ourselves in the public arena. Rather than winning others to our side, we have earned only their dismissive contempt. Rather than respecting us, they now feel free to punish us by shutting us up and shutting us down, and sending us off to re-education camps if we won't cooperate."

It is not because we believe this made up lie that we are neutered in the public arena. No beloved. We have earned the contempt of the world because of people like Bryan Fischer. People who brazenly say that they represent Jesus Christ but publicly have stated that hospitals should not be forced to care for people who cannot afford to pay. Someone who has advocated that in order to emigrate to this country, you should be forced to convert to Christianity. An equal opportunity hater, Fischer has said that all women are unfit for public office and military service and were designed to be ruled over by men. From the more bizarre side, in 2010 he blamed a grizzly bear attack in Yellowstone on America turning their back on God. I could go one, believe me, but let's get back to the article:

"But we do not serve a domesticated king. We serve the Lion of Judah, who is not, any more than Aslan was, a tame lion."

This is what happens when people use the Bible for their political agenda instead of trying to listen and understand what God is actually saying. Jesus Christ came to us as a lamb, not a lion. He was the spotless lamb. Our final sacrifice that has ushered in this period of grace. Yes He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah but that is a reference to when He comes again.

And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." - Revelation 5: 5 (ESV)

Perhaps Mr. Fischer has been too busy studying the attack patterns of bears to realize that Revelation is a prophetic book. It is filled with things that have yet to come. He also seems to forget that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Not a hate monger spitting at the very people He wants to save. Let us never lose sight beloved that the very people Mr. Fischer is advocating we rail against are the same people God loves and wants to save. Fischer would continue:

"It's time to be done with the "nicer than Jesus" mentality. It never has worked, and it never will work. It only fools us into thinking we are being Christ-like when in reality we are only being wimps."

It has never worked for what? Has no one been saved? Does heaven not rejoice when one sinner repents? What Mr. Fischer actually is upset about is that the unsaved act like they are not saved! That Babylon acts like Babylon! In his mind, and the minds of so many who agree, if the people in the world would just behave better and accept what the Bible says, despite that it is utter foolishness to them, then God would somehow relent the coming judgment? The problem the unsaved face is the same problem we once faced and it is not behavioral. It is relational. They need Jesus Christ and sometimes we are the only chance they have to hear His Gospel. Unfortunately, Mr. Fischer seems to think it would be better for us to "get up in their grill" and smack them in the mouth. That of course will save absolutely no one. He sadly continued:

"Jesus had no hesitation about speaking truth to political power. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were the politicians of Jesus' day. They passed laws that controlled the details of the ordinary, daily lives of everyone who lived in Israel. They could arrest people for violating those laws, detain them, put them on trial, flog them, and even persuade the Romans to put them to death."

This is why it is becoming increasingly clear that not everyone is called to divide the Word of Truth. The Pharisees and Sadducees were not the "politicians" of Jesus' day - they were the religious leaders. You know, like Bryan Fischer fancies himself today. Israel was under the rule of Rome. It was Rome that passed the laws, not the religious leaders. They were able to pass laws related to the conduct of their religion but they had no power to pass any laws that governed the people. Yes, they were able to co-opt Rome to do their dirty work sometimes, but his representation here is completely inaccurate. Jesus did not speak truth to political power. He spoke truth in relation to the religion that was practiced and how it ignored the true Spirit of God. When matters of Rome arose Jesus was relatively dismissive because what the society was doing was not why He came. He came to rescue sinners - not speak truth to politics. Fischer continues:

"So let's not hear any more of that nonsense about how Jesus was not involved in politics. He was involved in politics, and in the end it cost Him His life."

Dear Lord are you serious? It was the involvement of Jesus in politics that cost Him His life? I am starting to fear that Mr. Fischer has not heard the Gospel yet. Is there anything other than the will of God that "cost Jesus His life?"

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." - John 10: 14-18 (ESV)

Jesus laid down His life on His own accord. Even if you want to only look at it from a carnal viewpoint, He was crucified because He spoke against false religion, not the political powers of the day. He even stood before Pilate, who was a high political power, and Pilate found no fault in Him. Maybe Mr. Fischer needs to realize that we cost Jesus His life. My sin cost Jesus His life. Your sin cost Jesus His life. The sins of the very people Bryan Fischer wants us to hate cost Jesus His life. Make no mistake about it though - He laid it down willingly. He is the Lamb of God. The perfect sacrifice for our sins. Not some political operative trying to change society. Fischer concludes this horrific article:

"Bottom line: God has not called us to be nice. He has called us to be good. Nice people never confront evil and error, but good people do. It is the truth that sets men free, and genuine love will drive us to declare the truth no matter the cost. It's time to put on the full armor of God, unsheathe the sword of the Spirit, and go to war."

Let us start by realizing that the armor of God is not for us to go off to war against the world and the unsaved. It is for us to stand firm against the enemy because our battle is not this carnal venture Fischer is selling but rather spiritual in nature:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. - Ephesians 6: 11-13 (ESV)

Stand against the scheme of the devil and what better scheme can he hatch then to get Christians to hold in utter contempt the very people we are supposed to preach the Gospel to. Fischer also uses the reference to the truth setting men free but yet again misses the point:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father." - John 8: 31-38 (ESV)

These verses make clear that the truth Jesus speaks about is HIS Word - not ours. Furthermore what it sets us free from is sin, not some political agenda. As for nice people never confronting error, that is also untrue. I am confronting error right now. This whole article is in error. As for evil and God not calling us to be nice I refer Mr. Fischer to the key verses. God does not call upon us to curse at the very people He desires to see saved. If Mr. Fischer feels "persecuted" I suggest he spend some time in a different country so he can experience real persecution. Yet if he insists he is persecuted by the sinners in this country I would recommend that he wear it like a badge of honor. Jesus said we would be persecuted for His name. At no time did Jesus say to slap in the face those who persecute us. It sounds like Bryan Fischer would have gotten along just fine with James and John:

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. - Luke 9: 51-56 (ESV)

Bryan Fischer sees the way the world thumbs its nose at God and feels righteous enough to call down fire from heaven to consume them. He does not know what manner of spirit he is though. He forgets that Jesus has not come to destroy men but to save them. He forgets that he too once was on the outside looking in thumbing his nose at God. His agenda here is clear. He is stirring up Christian anger against people who do not understand the things of God. In violation of the key verses he writes haughtily. He does not want to live in harmony with people. He has become wise in his own sight and presumes much in trying to turn the Prince of Peace into a violent ill-tempered Savior. He sees the evil in the world and wants to repay it with evil of his own. He leaves nothing for the wrath of God. The only drink he offers the lost is laced with the cyanide of his own personal bitterness and anger. The only food he offers the unsaved is rotting from the inside out, filled with his own derision and forgetting that he too is but a sinner in the hands of a wrathful God.

Reverend Anthony Wade - August 30, 2014

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.