This is war

I don’t believe God wants us to be nice.

Well, not always nor to everyone, anyway. Sometimes a little righteous anger is called for. And I’m here for it.

I think one reason conservatives have found ourselves on the ropes in the current, crazy, culture war is because we’re too nice. We’re afraid to be aggressive because of our commitment to God’s commands to “love your neighbor as yourself” and “turn the other cheek.” We see Jesus as “meek and mild” and if we’re to be like Jesus then we’re not to retaliate or go on the offensive.

But do we really think Jesus would gently ask abortionists and the women who come to them to please stop killing babies? Would he confront liars, looters, and child mutilators by inviting them into his warm embrace? Are we to imagine that the One who is the Truth would look kindly on all those who stubbornly deny and distort it?

We need to stop compromising, placating, and/or retreating into our religious communities and start fighting back. We are in a war, after all. We need to be like Jesus cracking a whip in John 2 or verbally attacking the Jewish leaders as hypocrites, serpents, and a brood of vipers in Matthew 23. This is Jesus militant and mad. And there are times and situations when this should be us too.

Wars are not won without a good offense. It’s past time to stop worrying about being offensive and go ON the offensive. For the sake of our children, grandchildren, and our country.