Ask The Pastor

By Pastor Scott Denham of Harvest Fellowship, Shambaugh, IA

  

Dogmatic Christians

 

Dear Pastor Scott,

            Why are Christians so dogmatic and opinionated? They come off with a “holier than thou” attitude that bugs me.  --B.R.

 

Dear “Bugged,”

            It is true, that there are those among us who have not always represented Christianity the way that God has intended. This is not a failure of Christianity, but of humanity. For that, I too am disappointed. And there are others, who are not trying to be offensive, but their core values, bring them into conflict with the culture.

            We live in an age of moral relativity, where absolutes are shunned, and where model citizens are (supposedly) tolerant of all belief systems. [Note the irony of intolerance toward those of firm moral position].  This has become so systemic to American society, that many people no longer have a moral anchor. They no longer posses uncompromising morals and standards, but have drifted along the tide of popular opinion, and what is culturally vogue. No one seems to know what to believe anymore, or what they need to impart to their children.

            So, along comes a Christian with a clear sense of what is right and wrong. He’s the one guy in the harbor with the anchor down while all the other boats are carried along the tide. He believes in absolutes. He has a fixed point of reference. He knows “why we’re here.” He believes life has purpose. He believes that truth exists and is knowable. He believes he is responsible to live those values and to impart them to his children… and that’s downright irritating in the age in which we live.

            Often, Christians are confronted and challenged at every level of society, to “give in” and to “go along” with what is morally objectionable. Then, because they are forced to explain themselves, they are labeled “dogmatic” and “opinionated.”

            Peter Marshall said, “Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.”

            Jesus said; "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  Now, there’s an anchor! “The way,” provides direction, “the truth,” a fixed reference point, and “the life,” the promise of salvation and heaven… now, that’s something worth standing for!

 

--Pastor Scott

To submit your question for Pastor Scott, you may write to: Ask The Pastor, PO Box 98, Shambaugh, IA 51651, or on the web at www.askpastorscott.com