Bill Nye Thinks I'm an Idiot - And I Don't Care

Bill Nye, the Science Guy, made headlines recently when he declared those who believed in Creationism were intent on setting science back. In holding off progress. In fact, his opinion isn't new, and he will be far from the last to voice such an idea. Christians are backwards. We lack so-called "common sense." We're judgmental, or stupid, or just plain dangerous.

Assault after assault after assault on our faith, our beliefs, and our intelligence, all with one goal: to make us recant. To get us to turn our backs on our belief in Jesus Christ as Savior. In Muslim nations,  they have a more direct approach to dealing with those pesky Christians. But in the United States where religious freedom is at least nominally honored, the Enemy requires a more subtle approach. Rather than attack us bodily, we are allowed a relative safety, and even a feeling of majority, until we are all but asleep. And then, the Enemy attacks, not with swords, but with words. And all too often, the weight of those words, the work of that constant barrage, becomes more than we can bear in our weakened and lackadaisical state.

But, you know, it's not as though we didn't see this coming. Jesus Himself told us we'd be hated for His sake.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”(Matthew 5:11-12)

Notice, he didn't say "if," but "when." Satan doesn't come after us because we are wrong, but because we are right. And if God allows him to do so,  we must see it as a refining fire. A chance to grow in our faith and understanding of His word. Rather than allow those words to make us question God's Word, we can learn to defend it. We can increase our knowledge of why we believe what we believe. We can grow in our walk with God and learn how to become even more effective in His ministry.

And let us not ever forget that our Lord suffered the ultimate persecution and humiliation for our sakes. Can we not shoulder a little name-calling for His? And remember, we don't do it alone. He is with us. Always.

Frustrated?

Being a kid can be frustrating. No longer being seven, I sometimes forget that Second-graders have real problems, too. I was reminded of this yesterday when, in the course of correcting my son's behavior, I asked him if anything had been going on at school.

My son is a passionate boy. He's quick to love, but can also be quick to anger. So as he was telling me about some playground issues, my heart hurt, but I was also worried that he might let those passions get the better of him. Now that he's old enough to understand these things, I've been working on remembering my role as Dad is as much teacher as it is administrator. More so! So instead of admonishing him to watch his step, I asked him to pray when he was frustrated.

Remember, I told him, Jesus had -- and has -- more reason to be angry with us than we've ever had to be mad at somebody else. He was beaten up, and mocked, and finally killed. And He is God. He could have freed himself of those chains. He could have asked all the angels in Heaven to teach his antagonists a lesson. But He didn't. In fact, even as He hung on that cross and watched as soldiers divided His clothes among themselves, he lifted His eyes to God and said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

God knows we can get angry and frustrated. He understands. So who better to ask for help, when it all becomes too much to try and control our anger?

So, I told my son, pray. God gets it. He can help you. Just ask. "Oh," said my son, and almost moved me to tears. "I sort of do that sometimes now."

I am grateful he knows that God is there, and listening. And I pray he remembers as he goes through life that God understands his anger. And I pray that, as often as I need it, I remember, too.