As You Wish – What Jesus Would Not Do

Here’s what drives me crazy about what’s happening in Indiana. It’s a smoke screen. It isn’t real.

I know that will come off as disrespectful to people with skin in the Indiana game but seriously, it’s a child playing with a bullhorn convincing people there’s a genuine authority barking orders.

It’s true that the earthly rights of freedom of religion and freedom of speech are rapidly eroding in America. It’s true that that’s a dangerous trend for all Americans. It’s also true that discrimination is wrong and too often misguided believers have vilified certain types of sins over others.

But, the grandstanding, the bill passing, the boycotts, and the drama are just that – theater – all of it – with a script created in smoky backrooms where evil functions in the dark, convincing us the solution is cake.

As real as this world is, it’s not as real as the kingdom of God. Here is the greater truth in all this for every Jesus follower: Our rights we gave up to Christ at the cross and our freedom doesn’t come from the Supreme Court but from Christ. Period.

Think about it. Jesus could have taken the Romans. Jesus had a world of backers – scores of angels at His command and Zealots with swords. The rights of His people were severely compromised when He arrived on the planet and fixing that was within His power. But Jesus never let anyone else decide His agenda. As heavy as Rome’s boot was that fell on His people, it was not as real a danger as the one from which He came to save them.

Jesus kept His eye on the Kingdom of God, not the agenda of this world.

Our local radio personality kept asking today (sarcastically), “What would Jesus do in Indiana?” I don’t have to speak for Jesus because He spoke for Himself in Matthew 5:38-41

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

In other words, we should love the world the way Wesley loved Buttercup.

In The Princess Bride, the beautiful Buttercup relishes bossing Wesley, the farm boy. Every time she gives him a command, he responds, “As you wish.” In his heart, whenever he says those words, what he means is “I love you.”

Wesley loved with a persistent, enduring love and, as we all know, love wins out.

Every time the world says, “Take your light somewhere else. We don’t need it here.” What if we answer, “As you wish?”

We still travel in the light. We still live free. Our rights are secure in Christ. The world, however, ends up swallowed by darkness. At some point, some people will seek the light.

Truth cannot be legislated away. God’s love cannot be outlawed. Light cannot be murdered – permanently. It will rise.

I know what Jesus would not do. Jesus would never let the crowds, or Rome, or His enemies, or Satan run His agenda. He took His instructions day-by-day, moment-by-moment, from His Father God. When the world told Him to climb up on the cross and die, He replied, “As you wish.”

And freed us all.

As You Wish – What Jesus Would NOT do http://t.co/WytNU6Mab7 #Indiana #maundythursday #ThePrincessBride #ReligiousFreedomRestorationAct

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) April 2, 2015