Christians are outraged on the campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio, after an atheist group held an event encouraging students to trade in their Bibles, Korans, and other religious texts for pornography. Members of the group, Atheist Agenda, say their "Smut for Smut" campaign aims to call attention to violence and "misogyny" in the holy books. "You are better off having porn, which isn't nearly as smutty," one member said. Is this a harmless PR stunt, or a blatantly offensive cheap shot at religion? [Link]
I'm tired of seeing my fellow believers try to stop things like this. Yes, this is a dumb and silly movement, but getting publicly upset over it is not helpful. These people want church goers to whine and complain because they know there is nothing anyone can do about it. Gripe all you want, these types will merely rub your face in the fact that you can't stop them. In fact, this sort of thing would get much less news if we would just ignore it. (I realize the irony of saying this while I talk about it on my blog, so don't bother pointing that out.)
A few months ago, PETA launched an ad that featured a naked woman holding a cross as if she were an angel (no, I'm not going to link to it...); it's unlikely anyone would have noticed another racy PETA ad if certain Christian groups hadn't made a fuss about it. The media went out of their way to look for people who were complaining about this just to make news out of it, and PETA was counting on that reaction in order to get their advertisement seen by a broader audience.
Don't be the rube. Next time you see someone launching an anti-Christian crusade just ignore it. Respond by showing love to them when you see them, and don't play into their hands by griping about it. If you show them love (or, if you had simply been nice to them in the first place) they will think twice about railing against people who are their friends. That is how you combat this sort of thing - not through whining.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
-Romans 12:17-21
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
-Romans 12:17-21
