Here’s this professor. A man who wants nothing to do with
Christianity or the morals that are promoted therein. He writes a letter to a
professing Christian, likely expecting to be ridiculed, as that seems to be a
pattern for Matt Walsh based on the six blog posts I viewed. And Walsh did not
disappoint, depending on your perspective, that is. My perspective is this:
when someone who doesn’t know Jesus interacts with me, I want them to walk away
having seen at least a glimpse of who Jesus is. I want what Jesus wants in II
Peter 3:9. “[The Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone
to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Can anyone honestly (honestly, now) tell me
that they believe that Walsh’s response will lead to repentance for this
professor- to a greater understanding of a loving Savior? How about even a
greater understanding of the benefits of a monogamous relationship? It
certainly wouldn’t if it were me. I’d be so angry that this guy I don’t even
know had the gall to call me an imbecile, after claiming to have a personal
relationship with a God who is love, that I wouldn’t care if he had irrefutable
evidence that monogamous relationships are superior. And I definitely wouldn’t think,
“Oh, ok. NOW I get it. Now I see why Jesus is appealing. All it took was for someone
to insult me publicly and call me names!” (See? I told you I appreciated
sarcasm!) Seriously, though. When was the last time someone treated you like a
moron, and you walked away thinking, “I should take a lesson from that guy.”
Several passages of Scripture keep re-surfacing
in my mind. First up is Ephesians 4:29. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come
out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according
to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Maybe I’m not up
with the times, but I wouldn’t really call that response “building up.” Nor
would I call it wholesome.
Next up is Proverbs 15:1. “A gentle answer
turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” I already touched on this.
This kind of response is definitely
going to stir up some anger. How powerful Walsh’s response could have been if
he had simply reflected on the beauty of marriage without the anger!
Some of you may be ready to cry hypocrisy
because I’m criticizing Walsh for his criticisms, but hear me out. Criticism in
and of itself is rarely a problem. Where we so often fail is the way we go
about it. We are called to speak the truth in love. Why does Proverbs say that
the wounds of a friend are faithful? Because we are to speak truth, even when
it’s awkward and painful, for the good
and edification of those around us. The pain is temporary, but the personal
growth that results will last forever. Christ Himself had his criticisms
recorded, and He even got angry about
it. But a monumentally important question is- who was that anger directed
toward? Those within the church, not those outside of it. He was a friend of
sinners, but He reserved his harshest judgments for the religious elite. It is
not my intent to call Matt Walsh any names or insult him personally, but I just
cannot sit idly by and watch him represent Christ in this way. If we truly want
to be fishers of men, then this is not the bait we should be using.
The last but certainly not least applicable
passage is I Corinthians 13:1-2. “If I speak in the tongues
of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or
a clanging cymbal. If
I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and
if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Nothing. It’s all in vain. All the best arguments. All the witty responses. All
the truth spoken in a condescending manner. They’re nothing without love. Yes,
you’re right, Matt Walsh. Monogamy is beautiful. It is to be celebrated. But
why? Because it is based on love. It is evidence of love. Marriage is the very
best representation that Christ could give us of the unconditional love that He
offers to each of us. The very heart of the issue you’re trying to defend here
has been omitted completely from your response.
The word love has been misrepresented and
sometimes perverted by our culture, but God takes the time to define it in the
same chapter. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not
boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres. Love never fails.” I can’t judge Walsh’s heart and
his motives. Truly I cannot. What I do know is that the harsh words he has
chosen do not meet up to this high and beautiful standard that God has set. God
is love, and we are His body. His
hands and feet. The salt of the earth. The light of the world. A city set on a
hill. When the world can’t find God, they look to us. So let’s be who Christ has called us to be. Let’s
love how Christ has called us to
love. The fields are white for the harvest.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these
three; but the greatest of these is love.” I Cor. 13:13
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