Coercion

There has been quite the response among many conservative Christians to recent political/legal events in our nation, especially the decision by the Supreme Court on gay marriage. And while I've not read any Christians using this word, I think that 'coerce' works for how they are feeling. They are now forced to do - or fear that they soon will be forced to do - what they don't want to do. They feel coerced, and they don't like it.

I think that it's helpful to remember that many of the goals of the 'moral coalitions' and 'Christian majorities' of the past had to do with passing certain laws, laws that would, shall we say, coerce people to live in ways that they didn't want to. But now, the shoe is on the other foot.

I don't think that we Christians should be surprised.

The strategy of those now lost culture wars focused on politics. The plan was to vote in 'the right people' and exert pressure on politicians who weren't quite 'the right people'. That plan was pursued in such a way that it became an idol. The hope of 'the good Christian people of America' was a political hope. That was to be the way that we were going to fix things. And God noticed.

He wasn't keen on His people of old when they gave themselves to idols. And nothing has changed on that score. And just as He sent hard times to the Church of that era, it appears that He is doing the same with the Church in America today. And the solution for today is the same as then. Repentance. It will only be as we Christians repent of that idolatry that God will relent.

Jesus said, 'All who take the sword will perish by the sword'. We tried to change our world by the sword of political power and now it is being used against us. We were warned.