Day of Silence

Today (April 25) is the day for the so-called "Day of Silence" in schools across the country. Never heard of the "Day of Silence"? I hadn't either, until someone called my attention to it. Apparently, this has been going on for several years. It is a day when students take something akin to a vow of silence. Now before all you parents of teenagers start asking, "Where can my kids sign up," let me tell you who sponsors this day and why. The Day of Silence is in its 12th year and is sponsored by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. According to their website, they envision "a future in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression." The Day of Silence is a form of protest against what GLSEN calls "anti-LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools." They believe such harassment forces homosexual students to remain silent about their "sexual orientation and gender expression." So to protest the silence society has forced upon them, and to call attention to the problem of harassment, these people and those who support their cause have chosen to impose a voluntary silence upon themselves today. Those who are taking part will not speak today. Many will wear t-shirts and put up posters advertising the purpose of their silence. Some may hand out cards explaining what they're doing and calling attention to the problem of harassment. This is what this "Day of Silence" is all about.

First, let me say that name-calling, bullying, and harassment for any reason is wrong. Jesus teaches against that kind of thing in so many ways. There is the "Golden Rule" (Matthew 7:12); there is the command to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39); there is the command to preach the gospel to the lost (Mark 16:15-16); I could go on, but I think it is pretty clear that the Lord does not want us to be bullies. As Paul said, we must speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). So I'm all in favor of doing away with the cruel treatment of other people, regardless of who is on either end of the cruel treatment.

But what about the GLSEN and their "Day of Silence"? They want every child "to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression." Let's examine their directive. Should every child learn to respect all people? Yes, if by "respect" we mean to recognize that person as a fellow human being who was made in the image of God. But what do they mean by "accept"? One definition of "accept" is, "to regard as proper, usual, or right." Here is where I have to draw the line. We cannot "regard as proper, usual, or right" all people, "regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression." God does not do that and neither should we.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." (Acts 10:34-35).

God deals with all people equally. He holds them to the same standard: the one He established. He accepts only those who submit to that standard. We cannot accept people "regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression" because God's standard clearly defines the acceptable conditions of sexual expression. Sex is limited to marriage; and marriage is for one man and one woman. Those who seek to "express" their sexuality outside of these boundaries are not acceptable with God, and therefore we should not regard their lifestyles as "proper, usual, or right." This teaching does not single out homosexuality, but it certainly includes it. All sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful, whether it is between a man and woman who are not married to each other, two men, two women, an adult and a child, or even a human being and an animal.

Maybe a day of silence is a good idea. The homosexual special interest groups have become so vocal over the past several years that it is almost impossible to get away from their influence. They complain that they are being discriminated against and denied their civil rights. Their willing accomplices in Hollywood seem to take about any opportunity they can to portray homosexuals in the most positive light, while often portraying those who believe the Bible as bigoted, corrupt, and immoral. If they would all remain silent about their agenda, it would be great. Maybe this day of silence is a great opportunity for those who believe the truth to speak up.

The Vicar of Christ

You've probably seen the news coverage of the pope's visit to America. How could you miss it? I have not really paid much attention to it, but I happened to be watching TV when they broadcast the papal mass at St. Patrick's cathedral in New York. I watched a few minutes of the proceedings here and there and then turned away. Quite a while later I turned back to the Fox News Channel and the pope had finished and he was walking down the aisle, leaving the cathedral. I was interested to see, alongside the pope and other members of the Catholic clergy dressed in their official costumes, a number of security guards, wearing dark suits, walking up the aisle with the pope and his entourage. I knew these had to be security guards because they had the tell-tale wires running out from under their shirt collars into ear pieces they were wearing for communication. Now the thing that really caught my attention was that the pope was waving to the crowd as he passed down the aisle and most people were waving back and taking pictures. But there were a few people who were especially zealous in wanting to greet the pope and they reached out to touch him. As soon as someone tried to reach out to the pope, one of the security guards would position himself between that person and the pope and push his hands away from the pope.

So I started thinking. One of the official titles the pope wears is "the Vicar of Christ." It basically means that the pope is Christ's representative--he operates in the place of Christ. If the pope is supposed to operate in Christ's place, shouldn't he try to act like Christ? Jesus often had to deal with crowds of people who wanted to see Him, to talk to Him, and to touch Him. What if the apostles acted like the pope's security guards and pushed people away from Jesus? Well, there was at least one time when they did. Mark 10:13-16 says,

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

From the ornate costumes, to the elaborate security, the pope bears little resemblance to Jesus. There's a very simple reason for this: the Roman Catholic Church is the product of human ideas and doctrines. When human beings do things their own way instead of God's way, they make choices that bring glory and honor to them, not God.