The Cost Of Discipleship

US Supreme Court formally petitioned to hear a case touching on marriage equality 

In a petition for writ of certiorari filed last month, Davis argues First Amendment protection for free exercise of religion immunizes her from personal liability for the denial of marriage licenses.

It’s amazing what lengths some Christians will go to in order to avoid the cost of discipleship.   While insisting that LGBTQ people give up their relationships, their livelihoods, their friendships, & bend to the Christian &/or non-classically “conservative” worldview, they appeal to their alleged religious liberty in order to avoid what the Bible very clearly teaches.  

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.  (Luke 14:25 - 33)

If we aren’t willing to give up precious things to follow Christ, why should anybody believe our message?  

And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  (Matthew 5:41 - 48)

There isn’t a “some exceptions apply” disclaimer in the text.  We are called to paraclete people.   If you are a magistrate who can’t stomach the law, then the godly thing to do is model good behavior, accept the cost of discipleship, & step down.   Alternatively, obey Matthew 5:41 - 48.     It’s just that simple.  

We have become a nation full of Christians who think in terms of Situational Ethics & Works Righteousness.   Don’t serve LGBTQ people — you might be in sin!   Never mind that the basis for God’s judgment in that scenario has exactly nothing to do with your own internal volitional mechanism & everything to do with their identity, their motives, & the meaning of their cake, their marriage license, their photos, etc.  

Meanwhile, the President has chosen to militarize the streets of Los Angeles, deny due process to people on American soil, send them to substandard prisons that are serving as de facto internment camps,  & is now seeking to control the nation’s capital with the National Guard while the Epstein files continue to loom large.   Meanwhile, anti-Semitism is on the rise; the manosphere is increasingly shrill; race relations are being set back or are stagnant; Gaza is on fire, & the Secretary of Defense is a follower of Doug Wilson.   

Dear Church, Paris is burning.    May God have mercy on our souls.  

Thank you, & “Go and sin no more.”