Angela Chininin Buele

Animals have PETA, trees get hugged, the earth has lawyers, The Sierra Club works to keep U.S. Navy activity from disrupting ocean wildlife, and the USDA has a task force to address air quality. These organizations all work to preserve resources from careless destruction, and this is an honorable aim. What is less than honorable is the redemption attributed to the attainment of their goals. There is no love offered by any of these groups because their hope for legacy and security is centered around a gift that has been exalted to the status of Giver. This exchange is actually worship because the benefit of the defense these groups offer is never a blessing for –but rather a warning against– humans, except, arguably, in the case of the atmosphere.

Those who are wooed by these causes seek to re-enter the Garden without approaching or acknowledging the Gardener. Value of all things has been reassigned, and the periphery, the backdrop, the landscapes have been given center stage. It’s as if the crown were given reign over the kingdom instead of being passed from the head of one ruler to bestow authority upon the next. When you submit to the creation, there can be no demonstration of grace. It is simple and tragic idolatry.

Of course, the human causes can be skewed as well. Popular Coexist bumper stickers cleverly demonstrate the common symbols for different categories of people (Islam, Wicca, male, female, Judaism, Buddhism, Karma, Toaism, and Christianity). The chorus line arrangement is supposed to demonstrate that living side-by-side we should all be able to get along. At least, some of the graphics and memes lend to that intention. Other representations, however, claim that the unity is, in fact, an eternal bond of shared rightness across the board. This might be referred to as Universalism, which essentially tells everyone they are simultaneously doing good and wasting their time.

With all of this protection and preservation, this unity and affirmation being touted, it is truly heartbreaking to see who doesn’t make the “protected status” list.  The unseen. The unseen are denied safe passage and face certain, violent murder under the guise of security and autonomy while the killings are recorded as victories.  Could we be talking about unseen undocumented immigrants, you might ask.  Or perhaps refugees fleeing imminent danger?  How could this be tolerated – even celebrated? Because, just like all successful historical massacres, blame is assigned to evoke justification, and carnage is hidden so the problem appears to be resolved. What is most shocking, however, is that we are actually looking at the unnamed travelers -living, moving targets- in wombs across the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Where is the camaraderie between human and human? How have the inanimate and the four legged outranked people?

All talk of tolerance and coexistence is meaningless without reconciliation and humility.  True coexistence can only occur when real peace is found, when real reconciliation takes place.  The only place you can find that precious resource is at the foot of the cross, where God and man are reconciled, where salvation is possible because God who became a baby who became a man was unrighteously killed by his fellow men and rose again.  He offers salvation to every last one of us humans. He is making all things new even now.  Will you be reconciled?

There is no more beautifully diverse path than the narrow road of Calvary (Galatians 3:28)

Key Question: Do you want your passions (the causes dearest to your heart) to change the world for your good, or do you want the Passion to change you for the world’s good?

Unshakable Truth: “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than that Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen” (Romans 1:22-25).

These words matter because they come from God, and He has true authority over every part of us because He is our Maker.  We have the honor –instead of the obligation– to obey Him because in His love He is a Father and not a cold slave driver. To reject Him in order to throw ourselves down at the feet of creation is grave foolishness.

The Real Choice: Will you prepare to enter into the true Utopia of God’s Kingdom or will you try to establish a throne for yourself in this world before you leave it?