One thing Satan is known to be very good in is: the lie. In John 8, the Lord Jesus calls him the ‘Father of lies’. ‘He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.’
We see it again with the whole same-sex-marriage plebiscite and the following process to legalise same-sex-marriage.
Several of those who most vehemently promote it as ‘love’ and tolerance and acceptance, are the ones who most strongly exhibit their hatred for all those who don’t agree with them. What about tolerance? What about love? Love has become selfish love, only for those who are on your side. Even so much so, that some ‘yes’ voters start seeing it now too.
It was supposed to be the ultimate victory for love, so why has Australia’s joyous embrace of marriage equality resulted in so much hate?
With these words Joe Hildebrand started his article on news.com.au. Joe confesses to be a ‘yes’ voter in this article. But he also writes ‘I have never seen a more hateful celebration of love in my life’.
In his article he describes the vilification of Lyle Shelton, the Christian lobbyist. Thereafter he also mentions the vile treatment of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was even a supporter of the legalization of same-sex-marriage. Even though I am certainly not a fan of our Prime Minister and disagree with Joe Hildebrand in much of what he believes, he does have some astute observations about the way many in the gay community have turned hate into love. More and more it becomes clear that those who promote ‘love’ do not promote the true love which the Bible teaches us, but the ‘love’ which Satan teaches them. This love until recently was called ‘hate’ or selfishness’.
Times have changed. Again. But it should not surprise us, Christians. Those who know history, have seen it before. Those who know the Bible, should have no difficulties recognizing this. This is how Satan works, already from the beginning.
How do we respond to this as Christians? In the way the Lord Jesus Christ taught us. Not by repaying evil with evil. Not with fear. But by showing love even to our enemies. Some of those who pour out their bowls with vitriol over all those opposing them, do so because they are filled with hatred. Many of them do so out of fear. Deep in their hearts they may still feel that something is not right. They may still have a conscience that accuses them.
If we respond with evil, the first group will see it as vindication, while the latter will be confirmed in their opinion and see it as a reason to silence even that last bit of conscience. But if we respond with love, then maybe their conscience will speak up and they may open their eyes. As Peter says in 1 Peter 2:12 :
having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.