In so many aspects of life, church, social, religious, political, we are told to have a "big tent" mentality. Okay, I'll buy that...
The question though is, "who's tent?"
"Big Tent" thinking sounds really good. Let's face it, on the surface, everybody "wants to get along." Everybody wants to see eye to eye. We don't want this bristling of competing ideas and feelings. Yet that's what exactly is happening. And especially among conservative leaning people.
We are told by the "powers that be" that we "have to be inclusive," we have to be "more broad-minded," and have to accept "other peoples' thinking." It sounds good, but, you know, I don't think so. The other side can continue to be narrow in their thinking or approach, it's their way or else. Yet conservatives are consistently bashed over our "narrow-mindedness."
Let's take a look at a couple of examples. Two lightning rod examples! Politics and religion. And then a practical third.
In politics, we are continually being told that we're too conservative. And we, like dumb sheep, acquiesce and agree with them. Certain "right leaning" politicians are lauded at their "bravery" or their "unselfish willingness" to "cross the aisle" in order to come alongside the opposing opinion in order to reach a "compromise" that serves "everyone."
A great example of this is the McCain-Feingold (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002) which sought to limit "influence" from contributors to respective political campaigns. Senator John McCain from Arizona, the "moderate" Republican and Senator Russ Feingold the liberal Democrat from Wisconsin, brought together a meeting of the minds. Sounded really good. Monetary influence would be diminished. The campaign would be cleaner. McCain the moderate was the darling of the establishment bringing good will and harmony to all. Fast forward to 2008. John McCain is nominated as the Republican Presidential candidate. Barack Obama the Democrat. Now keep in mind that McCain-Feingold is somewhat voluntary when choosing how your campaign will accept financing. McCain obviously had to abide by this idiotic law; it had his name on it. If he chose not to accept certain provisions, the liberal-leaning media would have given him the political colonoscopy of a lifetime. Enter the Obama camp. They choose not to work with the Federal funds and therefor bypass McCain-Feingold. Check and mate for Barack Obama. McCain looked like an absolute fool.
By the way, when was the last time that Liberals or Progressives offered a Big Tent that welcomed opposing views? For all of the Democrats bluster over "transparency," Republicans in general and conservatives in particular, were virtually shut out of all recent negociations, regarding federal funding and especially the so-called Health Care reform. Not until the issue was forced by the general public was there an open meeting which thankfully showed the true hypocrisy and narrow focus of the liberal agenda.
The moral of that story? The wicked will always find a way to bend the rules to best suit their own needs. Worse yet, they don't care if anyone calls them on it. Just look at any scandal involving a Democratic big wig: Barney Franks' live-in boy friend's drug issue, then there's Ted Kennedy's drive in Chappaquiddick. Remember those?
The other example is conservative, orthodox Christianity. Orthodox, Bible-based Christianity, is constantly called upon to be more "big tent." To be more accepting of others. To not be so "judgmental" of people and their lifestyles. To be tolerant of gays or abortion or prostitution. The fact is, we Bible-believing, evangelical, fundamentalist Christians are tolerant. We want to be able to speak to these other people to warn them of their deviant behavior. It's the behavior that is harmful to themselves and therefore to the rest of society. Gay "marriage" undermines the very underlying fabric of a civilized society. Throughout history, as homosexuality "flourished", the society that "tolerated" it floundered until the society fell apart - decayed - from the inside. The gay lifestyle is an absolute poison to itself with the spread of AIDS and other diseases putting added stress to an already overworked healthcare system. We Christians sound the warning because we don't want to see these people, created in the image of God Himself to be harmed. The same thing can be said in regards to legalizing drugs, prostitution, pedophilia, etc. What's wrong with living a lifestyle that honors the correct, God-ordained sexuality of men and women? Imagine how stable and strong our society would be if there were 50% less divorces. This all plays into the ideas of the unbelievers world view.
As believers in Christ as the Savior of the world, our desire is to see people live long, healthy, content, rich and full lives. Lives free from self-inflicted physical harm and disease. Lives that are freely able to reach out to the downtrodden and hurting to help lift them up. Sometimes saying "no" is a very good thing.
Which finally leads me to the final big tent. God is a "big tent". God loves ALL of His creation. God loves every single man, woman and child that walks this planet earth. Why does He love everyone? Because all of us bear the image of God. All of us bring Glory to God when we act (behave) in a way that reflects the majesty and the beauty of God including His attributes of grace, mercy, justice, holiness, and love. But the only way to recapture these God-given attributes - recapture because of our inherently lost condition - is to renew and refresh our personal and individual relationship with God. We do this only through believing and accepting the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross which removed our individual sin and restored our friendship with God.
In fact God's tent is SO big that He welcomes every single person that has lied (includes "white," non-harmful lies), stolen (from a cookie to the biggest bank heist), raped (men or women in thought or deed, and let's also include wanton sexual behavior), insulted God (fancy word is blasphemed), murdered (whether it's a desire or we've actually committed the act, whether it's one person or the attempted annihilation of a people). All of us fit into one of these categories of sin. And because God's standard is perfect holiness - which none of us can think about coming close to - we all fail miserably. No one is Holy. No one is Perfect. And God knows it. That's why he provided a door to Himself. God is actually giving out tickets and the great thing is that there is NO entry fee. He's standing there holding out tickets - it's a FREE Gift.
But there's only ONE door. That door is Jesus Christ, God the Son, the second person of the Triune God-head. He doesn't "make" people come in if they don't want to, but He is the only way in. Isn't that "narrow-minded"? Yes, but who's universe is this anyway? God sets the rules and Jesus is the way. In fact Jesus was very clear when he stated, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) Every other "religious leader" poses that they are "one" of the ways to get to God. Jesus states without hesitation that He is the only way. Jesus has the tickets of salvation.
What do you have to do to get a ticket? Two things. When you walk up to the door, just say, "Jesus, my name is _____. I have sinned against you. I accept what you did for me on the cross and I want you to be my personal Lord and Savior of my soul." Jesus will then hand you a ticket, but you MUST take it from Him. We accept this free ticket with thankfullness. Only then may you come into the tent. And no one can later chase you out.
By the way, invite a friend. There's always room for one more.
