Target, Transgenderism, and the Toughest Love

What you applaud you encourage, but beware what you celebrate... 
~Ravi Zacharias

We went to an Amish nursery the other day. And we bought some flowers and we walked around and we petted the sweet puppies that this simple hard-working Amish family is selling. 

And I quietly marveled at the order and the neatness and the attention to detail and the unusual beauty of it all. 

Another world. 

I wanted to linger there awhile. 

I think that the Amish understand something that most of us have lost -- something that my mom often reminds me of--

That underneath the pavement, the concrete, the constructions and buildings and noise  (and the wild rush and race of "progressive" civilization) is dirt. 

Simple, unassuming, real, gritty dirt. 

A reminder of where we have all come from and where our physical bodies will eventually return. 

Every person -- from dust to dust. 

And what we do here with this tiny span of life given to us -- minute in the hush of the infinitesimal song of eternity -- matters. 

We get so caught up in sipping our Starbucks and planning our next vacation and worrying about clothing, food, shelter, and what we will do for retirement--

That we forget that what we do here matters, really matters.

I signed a petition the other day. 

I signed a petition, but I had already stopped supporting Target some months before, after it had taken an activist stance supporting LGBT marriage. 

I don't like Wal-Mart; I never really have -- but I have been shopping there for awhile now. 

Because my conscience was pricked -- and I could no longer in good conscience push those sleek red carts at Target and hope for a sale on over-priced clothing. 

My conscience was pricked -- as much as I am able I try not to support businesses that openly push an agenda that brazenly and pompously flies in the face of God's express commands. 

Christ's sacrifice  was too costly -- and I cheapen grace when I make light of His Word by supporting those who do--

And I realize that it is impossible to remove our financial support from every secular institution that runs in some or in many ways, contrary to the Word of God -- we cannot live in a bubble and there are times when we buy meat in the temple. 

But for me, as much as I am able, I would rather support businesses and individuals who align themselves more closely with value systems that are not death-producing. 

I realize that this is not possible in every circumstance -- but we have to humble ourselves before God and before our fellow Christians and ask ourselves as individuals and as the Bride of Christ, purchased with His blood -- Are my actions/decisions pointing people towards Christ and His truth, or away from Him? 

We do not need to be afraid of transgender individuals -- people just like us -- in sin just as we were before Christ,  who desperately need Him and we hold the Word of Life -- Who will bring it to them? 

We do not need to fear "giants" like Target, who try to push and push and push their liberal agenda until it suffocates and kills us--

But I have to ask--where are the Davids who will stand and hurl the stone of the Word of God at its ugly, leering, menacing head?

And I didn't decide to stop shopping at Target because I'm afraid of a transgender individual molesting my child -- I will be honest (although I understand that there are legitimate concerns about a child's safety in these new and unusual situations in our "brave new world").

What I fear more than these things is Christians who make light of supporting or not supporting businesses who are taking an activist stance regarding issues that are black and white--

What I'm concerned about is Christian modesty blogs continuing to advertise for companies like these who are openly paving the way for Christian persecution and encouraging others to buy their clothing and accessories. We have to be honest with ourselves: Do we love money or the Word of God? 

What I'm concerned about is our witness to our weaker brothers and sisters in the Lord who, by observing our support of businesses that are taking an open, activist stance against the principles in the Word of God, may think that we agree with them and may think that what they are doing is at best "not a big deal," and at worst, OK. 

For a long time now, and we are all guilty of this as believers, we have at first shyly and then increasingly brazenly lived as if nothing really matters outside of the express commands of God--

But things like this matter -- and the world is watching. 

Because there is a point when a store crossed over from its usual secular agenda to an activist one -- when it is brazenly taking a stand against the basic principles of God's Word--

And it is not the transgender individual that we need to be afraid of -- it is our own complacency. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says--

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.

Sometimes we need to just step back and look at the dirt. We need to remember Who made us. We need to remember where we came from -- We need to press His truth and His Word and His principles to our hearts and ask ourselves whether we love Him enough to stand -- or whether we are clutching the concrete of this world. 

There is evil enough in this world to stand against. 

So stand. 

We need to stop wavering between two opinions -- the world doesn't need wishy-washy Christians -- it needs the Truth -- spoken in love, lived in love-

So stand. 

You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays,, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology Thursdays, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Count My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, So Much At Home Link Up Party

Love that Wins

“Now, Mr. Great-heart was a strong man, so he was not afraid of a lion.” 

- John Bunyan

It was the first time this week that I've really felt peace. 

Oh, I know the promises. And I know that our God is in control. I know that He allows and orders all things; that nothing happens apart from His plan.

I knew all of these things.

And yet, fear gripped me. Worry threatened me. A lump of dismay lay cold and clammy in my heart, and I felt afraid. 

Afraid when I read about the SCOTUS decision in my "Trending"sidebar. 

Afraid when I saw all of the "rejoicing," when rainbow flags kept popping up, overshadowing the faces of so, so many, it seemed.

Afraid when even so-called Christians appeared to be joining the bandwagon, when other believers said nothing, appeared oblivious to the whole thing, or just wanted to ignore it. 

I felt afraid. 

Felt afraid when they called it "hate," when they labeled me a "bigot" because I cannot, in good conscience, approve a lifestyle choice that directly flies in the face of God's Word, of a lifestyle choice that mocks Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, that re-defines" love" as whatever a person wishes it to be. 

I've had friends who are homosexuals. I've loved them. I've felt genuine compassion toward them; I've seen them as fellow sinners--the only difference between us grace and repentance. I remember a boy who was gay in my high school class -- an outcast, who used to enjoy talking with me. I still have it -- the picture that he drew of me with angel wings. He gave it to me. I hope that he found Jesus and freedom. I loved him. 

This message of #lovewins is a deception -- because true love is of God; there is no such thing as love apart from His Word and His rule. Sin brings death and chaos and loss. Sin will never win, for the "soul that sins will die." 

If anything (ironically), the "hatred" that I've seen has come from homosexuals and their supporters... frankly, I've never seen a group exercise so much intimidation and hateful speech towards those who morally oppose them. But then, we are never consistent when far from God, only consistent in our sin and in justifying our lifestyle. May God have mercy. May God forgive them, for they know not what they do. 

So I have felt afraid. Afraid of the "floods of ungodliness." Afraid of the ambivalence. Afraid of the silence, afraid for my children, afraid of what they may have to face in the future, afraid for myself and for other believers.

Fear. But then, peace. 

I was walking with my little ones, down the old familiar road that we always walk on. 

I looked above us, beyond to the telephone wire near a marsh that houses many different birds. And I saw a dove, a robin, and a cardinal. Just sitting calmly, unafraid. 

Creation itself spoke to me of Him, of His constancy, of His power, of His love. Spoke to me in the midst of my fear  and assured me of His presence. He was there with me. He is here with me. His heart holds my children; our times are in His hands. 

Later, we stood near the ocean where the wind whipped our hair, and I spread out my arms toward the sky . . . It is my Father's world. Nothing can happen to me, to my husband, to our children, to my loved ones apart from His will. All the hairs on our heads are numbered. 

And the battle is already won. 

So I take heart.

And I speak His truth, because truth cannot stay hidden inside. 

And I love my neighbor as myself, gay, straight, old, young, rich, or poor--

And if I love my neighbor as myself than I will not look over his sin -- because love that wins is a love that cares about whether my neighbor will spend eternity with Jesus or eternity apart from Him. The question is not whether I love my neighbor so much as it is do I love my neighbor enough to tell him the truth and to lead him to Jesus?

Because love is not a warm fuzzy feeling, as C. S. Lewis says,

Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.

Love is caring enough about another person for whom Christ died, that we don't want their sin (no matter what kind of sin it is) to cause them to be eternally separated from God. And this is the same love that Jesus had for us. 

I will speak because I do not need to be afraid of those who can only kill the body but cannot kill the soul. 

I will speak love in the midst of hatred towards the Lord Jesus, hatred towards His Word, hatred towards His will and His rule. 

I will speak love.

Because I am not afraid.

There is not fear in love because perfect love casts out fear (I John 4:18)... We love because He first loved us. (I John 4:19)

And loving, stand unafraid in Him. 

You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology Thursdays, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Every Day Jesus, Count My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday, RaRaLinkup