Double Standard

It seems to me that the current debate over whether the State of Arizona has the authority to pass a law that Arizonans believe will help them protect the borders of their State, reveals a great deal about our country.  Some of the things that have been revealed are disconcerting, like the fact that many Americans apparently believe the Constitution is no longer a document that is an absolute guarantor of negative rights...those things the government cannot do to you, but it is now a document that more closely sets out what the government will do for or to you.  This is a slippery slope for this country, just like the idea that truth is not absolute, but relative.  Once you take the first step towards the slippery slope of relative truth, the hinges come off the gate and the worms come out of the open can (I do realize that I am mixing metaphors, but I really wanted to see if I could fit three idiomatic metaphors in one sentence...and I can!)  Another  issue of note, revealed in the current debate is that we appear to be unable to have a debate at all.  This country was founded on the principals of open debate and discussion.  In fact, I believe, based on everything I can read, the Founding Fathers of this nation had some very heated disagreements.  However, those disagreements were marked by educated and well-thought out discussions that did not routinely fall to the level of the personal attacks and name-calling that are hallmarks of today's disagreements.  However, the real issue that I see in the current debate about the Arizona law is the double standard we see applied.  You may ask, "What double standard?"  Well, I am glad you asked!

For the past several days, I have not heard a news report from any source, that did not at least mention the Arizona law in passing.  I thought I might escape the furor over a law that many would deem unconstitutional (although, few of those speaking out can offer a reason as to why it is unconstitutional!) by turning to the local ESPN radio station.  Alas, it was not to be!  The ESPN telephones were filled with people calling in to tell the world (or at least the sports world in the DFW area) why baseball should or should not be involved in the current discussions.  I was fascinated by the fact that so many people have such strong opinions about the issue.  It seems that many people believe that baseball has no business in politics.  However, there is a vocal minority like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Jeanine Garafalo (who made her the expert on anything?) and Bill Maher, that claim that baseball must be involved with politics, at least in the current immigration debate.  Now here is where the double standard comes in.  Listen to the following comments made by some of the above mentioned folks, "Baseball, as the American past-time, must make sure the voices of these who cannot speak for themselves are heard!; Baseball must weigh in on the side of fairness and equality!; and, Baseball owes it to future generations to do the right thing!"  Now, suppose the debate was over abortion, do you honestly believe the same folks above would make statements like, "The Church must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves!; The Church must weigh in on the side of fairness and equality! and The Church must stand for future generations!"  So, apparently baseball should be involved in politics, but the church should butt out?  I think that if you look up "double standard" in the dictionary, this will be the example you will find...unless of course the dictionary is in a public school classroom; then, all references to "church" will be removed!

So, what is my point?  Simply this, the world hates the Church.  Jesus actually promised us this, so why are we surprised?  So, if the world hates us already, shouldn't we then be more focused on obedience to God and stand for absolute truth (whether it is political or not?), double standard or not?  If pleasing the world is your goal, Jesus tells you exactly how to achieve that objective.  He tells us that the way is broad and smooth to gain the world's approval and friendship.  The catch is that not only will you be loved by the world, but you will end up spending eternity with them, in destruction!