Red Flag! Don’t Fall for this Guilt Trip.

Audio By Carbonatix

Look at this. I saw this comment on social media this week.
The world will say it is brave, truth to power, and compassion for all.

“Hi. Just wanna say that a person’s very existence cannot be “against your beliefs.” That is called bigotry. Thanks.”

It’s not. It’s rotten. Subtle, but rotten.
This is substitution and manipulation that seeks to control the responses of others, absolve oneself from responsibility, and preserve a facade of wisdom and righteousness.

Here’s why—I know zero people who object to the EXISTENCE of others. I know many who object to the CHOICES or ACTIONS of others, and my own for that matter.

But by defining “choices” as the essence of identity, by defining choices as existence, I can shame anyone who objects to my choices. Instead of having to address the objection and evaluate if it is deserved or valid.

“______ people exist. I disagree with their choices…with the behavior, the thinking, and the values revealed by both.”

This is not at all the same as “_____ people should not exist because I believe or value different things.”

Fill in the blank with whatever person or opposition you imagine. Here is an imperfect but relevant example.

The existence of illegal immigrants doesn’t go against my beliefs. That would be such an ignorant, arrogant thing to even articulate. Illegal immigrants exist. Period. Whether I believe it or not.

I have no objection to the existence of such a person, in fact I have much compassion for the refugee or those seeking a safe, productive life. But I object to the CHOICES and ACTIONS of a system that was purposely corrupted. I object to the leaders of a nation CHOOSING to sabotage itself by crippling communities, budgets, schools, and healthcare for reasons that have zero to do with good care or compassion.

Hi just wanna say that a criminal’s very existence cannot be “against your beliefs.” That is called naive. Thanks.

Traffickers exist. Terrorists exist. Violent gangs, cartels, thousands of educated young Chinese people picked up in commercial sedans exist.

They don’t want us gracious.
They want us gullible.

“But that conversation is too dangerous to have. It can’t be allowed, we can’t talk about facts, finances, or the future…it would make too much sense.

Let’s make it about the hate—the bigotry of one and the unfair hostility towards another. It will be impossible to object or criticize because people will fear the labels we threaten with more than the outcome of our choices.”

How very Screwtape, Screwtape.
Argue the case no one is making—to avoid the argument that you would lose. Also…I don’t even think bigotry is the appropriate word here.
Exist however you like.
Identify however you like.
But when you act on those self-contained notions in ways that affect the rest of us in the container?
We will have opinions. We will have value judgments.
This is life, not bigotry.

Only a child, an infant, would have the expectation of unlimited will AND unconditional support.

This goes double when the choices we disagree with are matters of morality or holiness. Our flesh guards those areas like crown jewels. We do not object to the existence of sinners…lest we object to ourselves right along with them. But we should object to sin–and in our own hearts first. Our identity is in Christ and that sweeps out a whole lot of pride and ego to make room for humility and transparency.

But then as the Lord leads and wisdom allows, we should encourage others to pursue holiness too. Was Jesus a bigot? Did he object to the existence of woman at the well? Certainly, not. He honored her existence by even coming all that way, at that time of day. And then He honored her even more by declaring her no longer a slave to sin.

Get over it, friends.
They hated Him.
They will hate you.
I would rather be called a “bigot” or “transphobic” by the world, than be called “stranger” or “unfaithful” by my One True King.

Don’t be bullied into disobedience.