I find it absolutely shameful that so many Christians are attacking Chip and Joanna Gains because they featured a gay married couple with two children on their program. I can’t help but wonder how many of these same Christians voted to put a sexual predator and con man in the White House.

To be clear, I am not bothered that Christian people have convictions that marriage should be between one man and one woman. I commend them for this, but what I am bothered with is the rush to judgment and the lack of wisdom that so many are displaying.

Rather than exercising patience, too many rush to judgment before they consider, thoughtfully, the matter. Others seize the opportunity to create Christian video content and stir the pot to get people riled up. Well, that may be good for clicks, but not for demonstrating spiritual virtue.

Rather than taking a step back and prayerfully listening to have an understanding as to why the Gains made this decision, people just have knee jerk reactions and air their grievances. This is not how we are instructed in the New Testament to react to such matters.

One comment I read said, “speaking the truth is love.” That is true, but the wise seek to speak the truth the right way and in the right timing, because love is patient, and love is kind (1 Co 13).

The scriptures instructs us to forbear one another in love ~ Ephesians 4:2, 

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. ~ Colossians 3:13

What makes the public backlash from culture war Christians so awful is that there are two boys involved, and regardless if we are opposed to gay married couples having children, airing those grievances is a display of a total lack of wisdom.

Imagine being 10 years old and seeing the people who were kind to you and your parents being raked over the coals. Would you want any part of their faith when you were older? Probably not.

It does not matter if we are opposed to gay marriage and do not believe that children should have same sex parents, we’re here! Let me say that again: We are here! And we need wisdom as to how to navigate our witness for Christ in an upside down world. We have to do a better job navigating in these situations. Culture war Christianity lacks wisdom, because culture wars turn those who should be the church’s harvest, into our enemies.

In the past couple of months or so, a gay couple with three children moved into the house next door to where I live. Rather than acting self righteous, I have been kind to them, and they have responded to my kindness in positive ways. They too have been very kind to me, actually kinder than some Christians. Does this mean I condone same sex marriage? Not at all! What I do not condone is hate in the name of speaking the truth.

We need patience with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and we need wisdom in dealing with the complex issues that face us such as gay marriages with children, and we need faith in Christ in us. That is why I am not threatened that my new neighbors are a gay married couple. I have faith in Christ in me and I trust the Spirit of the Lord to guide me regarding how to love my neighbor as myself without compromising my convictions.

I’d rather my gay married neighbors think of me as a kind and patient man who cares about them as people than to think of me as a religious homophobic and self righteous bigot. At some point they may need prayer, and I want my light (Christ in me) to shine so that if and when that day comes, I will be ready.

We have to do better and we have to stop with the culture wars and start becoming fishers of men. They are not our enemies, they are our harvest. Let’s grow up and act like Christians and truly care about real people Jesus died for.

Psalm 2 is the first of the Messianic Psalms, and is referenced multiple times in the New Testament in relation to the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus ( Acts 4:25-26; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; 5:5). Echoes of it can also be found all throughout the New Testament and especially the book of the Revelation.

Psalm 2 speaks strongly to the truth that God’s appointed One, the Messiah, is the rightful King and the rulers of the world are not.

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying… ~ v. 1-2

This is quoted in Acts 4 when the believers lifted their voices to God because of persecution against the apostles, Peter and John.

And being let go, they (Peter and John) went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. ~ Acts 4:23-28

The spirit of this world, and those who are ruled by it are in opposition to the Lord God, and his anointed One, the Messiah. This is why prayer is so important. Prayer petitions the true King to intervene with righteousness and true justice. After the believers in Acts 4 lifted their voices to God in prayer, we read that God answered their prayer with his power.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. ~ v. 29-31

God overturned the unjust verdict of the rules of this world who condemned his Son to death when he raised him from the dead and exalted him at his own right hand. The resurrection of Jesus is not an afterthought to the cross, it is the declaration that Jesus is the Son of God, the rightful heir of God’s glory, and God’s appointed King!

I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. ~ Psalm 2:6-7

… when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? ~ Hebrews 1:3b-5

Jesus is the King of glory, enthroned on God’s Holy Hill in Heavenly Zion. The scepter of His Kingdom is a scepter of righteousness (Hebrews 1:8), and by his righteous standard God judges the rulers of this world.

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. ~ Psalm 2:10-12 

Sometimes it can be difficult to keep our focus on the Lord of glory when we see so much evil and injustice in our world, but know that God has set his King on his holy hill, and we have an audience with him.

Blessings…