My German friend
Several years ago, I had a German friend, Demaris. She wasn’t German American, she was German German. She married someone from the United States, and was living in NJ. I’m not sure how the topic came up, but I remember asking her about her extended family. Obviously her family was in Germany during WWII and they were Believers. So obviously they were helping the Jews or minimally against the Nazi’s, right? I was so curious as to how they managed that.
Her response haunts me to this day. She said they were too scared to do anything. There was a real threat to their lives if they spoke out against the government and what was going on. Of course, her family knew there was a lot that was wrong, but they chose to stay quiet for fear for their lives.
Obviously, that’s extremely pragmatic. It makes sense. Why choose to stir up the bee’s nest, when what you do may not even do anything to help! I’m certain that’s what her family was thinking. They had their own family to look after. Why risk it all?
Fear
I remember thinking to myself at the time, “Wait. She can’t be serious. Really?!?” Why yes, really. When people are afraid, they panic and freeze. Rather than doing something, we do nothing. After thinking about it, I realized I can 100% relate. Fear can be irrational, but sometimes fear is most definitely rational and real. So should we listen to it?
Sophie Scholl
The White Rose Resistance by Seth Gruber is really incredible. Gruber is a firebrand and then some. He is not known to mince words, and he unapologetically speaks to protect life. On one of the podcasts he was on, he explained the inspiration to this movement he started. Part of that inspiration was Sophie Scholl, a 21 year old who was killed by the Nazi regime. She famously said shortly before she was killed: “How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause” (emphasis mine). How convicting is that? I’m sure she was afraid, but she refused to let her fear control her.
Righteousness
But here is the rub – what exactly is righteousness? Many would say that Renee Good was murdered for a righteous cause. So too, Alex Pretti. Many progressive Christians would decry the arrests of the protestors at Cities Church in Minnesota. Don’t they have first amendment rights? And how could the government arrest a journalist?
Oh me oh my, do we need to clarify that word, righteousness. Got Questions has a good definition of Biblical Righteousness: “Dictionaries define righteousness as “behavior that is morally justifiable or right.” Such behavior is characterized by accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness. The Bible’s standard of human righteousness is God’s own perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behavior, and every word. Thus, God’s laws, as given in the Bible, both describe His own character and constitute the plumb line by which He measures human righteousness.”
Progressive Christians and the world are measuring righteousness against a secular/world standard while Biblical Christians are measuring righteousness against the Word of God. That’s a very (very) big difference.
It breaks my heart to see how many self described Christians have jumped on the bandwagon of secular righteousness and empathy that is so short sighted. Of course, we should always extend compassion to those around us who are struggling. But I pray we are clear eyed as to what is true righteousness, and defend that no matter what. And yes, even when we’re scared out of our minds for the blow back and possible consequences.
Biblical Righteousness
Biblical righteousness would point us to obey the law when it doesn’t conflict with the Word of God. Protecting our borders doesn’t conflict with God’s Word, so there’s that.
Biblical righteousness would also have us defend the most vulnerable. Whether that’s the child that is trafficked because of open borders, or the family that is devastated because of a hit and run by an illegal immigrant, we must have compassion for our neighbors and those that are truly vulnerable and helpless.
Biblical righteousness would have us not be persuaded to believe propaganda and lies, when the truth is clearly before us. Live Not By Lies speaks to how many people did just that in the past in incredibly difficult situations.
What will we choose?
We aren’t all called to die for righteousness’ sake, but we are also not called to sit back and do nothing. Revelations 21:8 makes it clear that along with the unbelieving, cowards will also be thrown into the lake of fire. We are all afraid. But cowards choose to allow their fear to control them.
Is there a lot at stake? Often, yes. Unfortunately, in whatever situation we may find ourselves in, standing for Christ and Truth will cost us something. Will we choose, like Sophie, to stand regardless? Or will we sit back and do nothing. The choice is presented to us everyday. By God’s grace and strength, let us choose to do what’s right rather than what’s easy.
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