Hey Christian, Do You Feel Marginalized?
Do you feel your beliefs can culturally marginalize you? Is that why you don’t boldly proclaim or declare your faith?
Why am I so affected by the culture? Why is it that I am reticent to boldly proclaim my allegiance to God, but can proudly proclaim my allegiance to the country?
I can understand when a King, sovereign ruler of a nation or ultimate authority with punitive power, demands that kind of obeisance and that a “subject” complies with such a demand. BUT, when there is no greater power than the Creator God, nothing that warrants or merits true obeisance other than to that Holy God, why are we as Christians not shouting from the rooftops? Too many of us are feeling like Isaiah 40:3
“A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God”
Why are not all Christians proclaiming with insistence that the culture is missing the true essence of Jesus? And this is not fanaticism, this is simply believing the Word, taking Him at His word. Actually, doing what He taught us. It seems that being committed to many things outside of marriage, family and work is considered to be fanatical.
(AI Overview) A fanatic is someone with extreme, excessive, and often irrational enthusiasm or devotion to a cause, belief, or person, typically in religion, politics, or a hobby, characterized by a closed mind, lack of perspective, and unwillingness to debate. They are often called zealots, extremists, or true believers, displaying intense passion that can border on obsessive, leading to actions beyond normal interest.
I read that and wondered, “How can that have a negative connotation to it when you are referencing the source of all creation?” Why would one man disdain another for being committed to God; the Creator, the Savior, the Helper?
Certainly, one of several answers could be arrogance. The quality of having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities. The belief there is no one greater than themselves, and certainly if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist except in the minds of those lesser beings who are weak and need to rely on something other than themselves. Aside from that perspective, or some related permutation, I have not met many who deny a creator.
Since none of us would be here without the Creator, it is seriously beyond me how someone could take themselves more seriously than God. I am not naïve. I understand that the most common cause of real arrogant behavior is insecurity. I understand that much of the culture’s abhorrence to anything other than what might be considered tolerant attitudes, behaviors and practices is by definition exclusionary. I am not ok personally with being, or even labeled, exclusionary. Jesus included us all. If I am truly following what he taught I am going to love everyone, including my enemies (still a tough one for me), take care of widows and orphans, and love God with all my heart mind soul and strength.
This is the essence of Christianity. It takes me back to one of my first questions:
“… when there is no greater power than the Creator God, nothing that warrants or merits true obeisance other than to that Holy God, why are we as Christians not shouting from the rooftops?”
So, back to the original question about feeling marginalized. Yes, I have felt culturally marginalized and have been reticent to proclaim my faith. And not just for the purpose of evangelizing. My friends know that I am not an evangelist by nature or gifting, I am a discipler. My reticence does not stem from a lack of trying to win someone for Christ. Rather, when I see a hurt, habit or hang up my reticence is in not sharing that I know an answer that works. But because of the idea that I might be butting in where I am not invited and therefore offensive, I say nothing. So, I realize this is the proverbial “pot calling the kettle black”, but that just puts me in the middle of the question. If I discover any good answers to this, or even better discover how to implement a solution, I’ll let you know. But I wouldn’t hold my breath. If you feel you have some answers or comments, put them in the comment section of the website. I look for to reading them.
