If you haven’t heard, the State of Georgia is considering
passing a bill that has created quite a stir. In fact, if it is passed, Disney
has vowed to discontinue filming at the Hollywood Hot spot “Pinewood Studio’s”
located near Atlanta. Marvel has vowed the same. Many actors and actresses have
also publicly denounced the legislation. So what is this bill that has so many
up in arms?
According to the Washington Post, “The
bill protects religious leaders from being forced to perform same-sex marriage
ceremonies and individuals from being forced to attend such events. It
also allows faith-based organizations to deny use of their facilities for
events they find “objectionable” and exempts them from having to hire or retain
any employee whose religious beliefs or practices differ from those of the
organization.”
What is offensive about that? It’s religious freedom and it’s
what our country was founded on. The only thing that might be offensive is that
individual States are compelled to do this in order to protect its faith
institutions from the loud, obnoxious voices of those that whine about being
offended to our liberal federal government.
While I’m not entirely surprised that Disney would advocate
for the side that is squelching Religious Liberty, I am saddened. They have fallen quite a ways from the beliefs of their founder. Walt Disney once wrote “I believe firmly in the efficacy of
religion, in its powerful influence on a person's whole life. It helps immeasurably
to meet the storm and stress of life and keep you attuned to the Divine
inspiration. Without inspiration, we would perish. All I ask of myself, 'Live a
good Christian life.' To that objective I bend every effort in shaping my
personal, domestic, and professional activities and growth.”
Faith informed
his activities. His legacy, Walt Disney Studios, is trying to make that
impossible for me and other people in a position like me. They would have me
put my faith in the backseat and be driven by the ever-changing winds of public
opinion. I can’t do that. I won’t do that. Walt Disney himself didn’t do that.
So what? What should Christians do about it? Am I advocating
boycott of Disney? Do I suggest we use Social Media to protest loudly and incessantly?
Or what about picketing in front of
various Disney headquarters? First, the short answer to those questions: No.
Now, the long answer to those questions: Noooooo! There is a much more
important way to spend our time and resources, which I will get to in a moment.
Disney’s about-face should be seen as a sign of the times.
We are living in a country that has traded its foundational principles of
religious liberty for secular slavery where the only truth is how one feels and
tolerance is the highest virtue. Thus, if you dare object to the immoral
actions of some, your intolerance becomes intolerable and you are condemned as
a bigot (so much for being tolerant) and become another causality of
postmodernity. But why? How did this
happen? Because we DO NOT live in a Christian nation. I hope by now you see
this.
I also hope that by now you’ve realized that the way to
change things isn’t through politics. If we read our Bible’s, we should know
this. Think about when Israel wanted a King. That made everything better for them, didn’t
it? Of course not. Saul was the first of many King’s that would help destroy
Israel from the inside out. But the solution, and what I believe the Bible
makes crystal clear, does involve a King. The way to true change in our country
and our world is to introduce people to the King of kings and Lord of lords. He
is the one and only who can transform hearts and minds. No matter how hard we
try, how loud we yell, how much we legislate, we cannot do it. Stop expecting
non-Christians to act like Christians. But Christian, do expect yourself to act like a Christian.
And what does a Christian do? Make disciples of Christ. Ephesians
4:12 makes it clear that YOU are to do the work of the ministry! Pastors and
such are here to equip YOU to make disciples. Stop merely coasting through your comfy
lives, watching your “christian” movies, going to your safe and secluded bible
studies, hiding behind the four walls of your home and get out there and tell
someone about Jesus! Disciple a young Christian! Bring the widow across the
street from you dinner. Invite her to celebrate the Resurrection with you this
Sunday. Stop making excuses. Do something now! (Know that I'm preaching to myself here too).
Disney may be a lost cause but that’s okay, I’m more
concerned about the people that make up Disney. And there is a lot of hope for
them as I guarantee that every one of them knows a Christian. Let’s pray that
those Christians and all Christians (including you) start talking up Jesus.
Imagine if every Christian planted a few seeds every day! We may never see an
about-face in our country or in Disney, but we just might see an about-face in
our neighbor or our coworker or our friend at the gym. But it starts with us
making an about-face and obeying the command of our Lord to “Go...” So let’s
go. Are you with me?
Well said Matt. Bravo
ReplyDeleteThanks Nikki! And thank you for reading it :)
Delete