“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14
Recently I saw someone in a Christian group on social media asking for advice on what to do in a particular situation their child was facing at school. Their child was being punished at school because they failed to refer to a transgender classmate by their preferred pronouns. This parent was seeking advice on what, if anything, should be done in this particular situation. The general consensus was that they disagreed with the punishment the child had received. However, they were unsure what they should do about it or if it was actually worth doing anything at all. After reading some of the proposed solutions, I began asking myself the question: What would you do?
As that question is considered, I believe it is vitally important that we begin with the reminder that, as Christians, we are representatives of Christ in all that we do. Discussions involving LGBTQ issues in our society have become a polarizing topic that rarely lend to civil discourse. When Christians engage in conversations in this vein, they are often met with significant opposition and are viewed as intolerant or bigoted in some fashion. Acceptance and affirmation are seen as the ultimate goals to be attained by those who stand diametrically opposed to the Christian worldview. Christians would do well to remember the words penned by the Apostle Paul when writing to Timothy, “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5, NIV) We will undoubtedly be met with resistance; however, it is important to maintain our composure as we speak to those whose views stand in opposition to ours.
When considering the options available relative to this particular situation, there are a few that come to mind. One possibility would be to ignore the problem. However, for the follower of Christ, silence is not an option. Neutrality is not an option. Too many have fallen prey to the idea that we can just keep our heads down, go to church, and practice faith in our homes, and then their opponents will leave them alone. The unfortunate reality is that this is not the case. In the world today, it is not enough that we refuse to be hostile and keep to ourselves. The world today expects Christians to bend their knee to the demands of society. Neutrality is not an option. What will you do when your daughter is lined up beside a biological male at her track meet? Will you applaud when he takes the winner’s platform? What about when your employer puts in a new policy that requires everyone to display their preferred pronouns and insists you adhere to that policy when referring to your co-workers? Will you bear false witness and call the biological male or biological female by their preferred gender pronoun? Neutrality is not an option. It is time Christians took a stand for what they believe in public arenas.
The other option is that you stand for what you believe. This is not likely to be an easy task. In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes, “Enemy occupied territory — that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed in disguise and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” The task of the Christian is to fight an uphill battle. We are called to speak the truth in love. We cannot remain silent. If we are silent, other voices will rise to the top.
So, the question remains: What would you do? As Voddie Baucham has written, “We cannot continue to send our children to Caesar for their education and be surprised when they come home as Romans.” The most important job a parent has is the education of their children. If you send your children to the public sector for education, don’t be surprised when they come home having learned ideas that are opposed to the Christian worldview. You might ask, what should I do if I don’t have the option of homeschool or Christian education? Regardless of where your child goes to school, the primary place for discipleship is still the home. The parent must be intentional about ensuring their child is given a solid biblical foundation. This isn’t just important for those who are going into a public educational setting. It is important across the board. So, what would I do? I would make sure that I am completely involved in every aspect of my children’s education and discipleship. I would be quick to ask questions and be prepared to stand my ground when the time comes. I would not make a habit of remaining silent. Silence ultimately equals acquiescence. I would prepare myself and my children to defend their faith using the logic and reason that God has given them.
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