The response to the Wednesday blog was overwhelming to say the least. It was not the popular Christian response of the day, but I hope it was a positive one. It’s also not my usual blog fodder. I usually write about what the Lord is doing in my own small world in an attempt to bring a smile or to encourage, but having two kids working at Chick-fil-a brought what was happening in our country to my doorstep.

I understand that everyone who participated in the Wednesday Chick-fil-a Day did not do so as a part of any “holy war” type activity. (I use holy war a bit tongue-in-cheek here) Freedom of speech is one of the pillars this country was founded upon, and buying chicken on Wednesday was the best and easiest way for many to show immediate support of that right.

So as an American, to stand up for freedom of speech for any or all of us is not only a right, but also a duty. Yet as Christians, we have dual citizenship. So as Christians, Citizens of Heaven even now, should we really have been so surprised that Mr. Cathy, and his right to free speech, was challenged so strongly? Are we not so well acquainted with the Adversary that we don’t recognize him? It is his job to steal, kill, and destroy, right?

It is our job to have a heavenly perspective on what is going on around us. We have to learn to view life, in these last days, though the lenses of Scripture.

Christians have enjoyed quite a long history of peace and tranquility here in the land of the free and the home of the brave, but the Bible promises us that because of Jesus, we will have trouble. Did we consider it was true, maybe, of other places, but not here in the United States of America? Quite possibly.

Doesn’t the Bible tell us that we will be hated because of the name of Jesus? It does… in several places. Luke 21:17, Matthew 10:22, and Mark 13:13 for starters. Jesus didn’t warn Hindus, or Muslims, or Hare Krishnas, or the Pastafarians. (It’s a real religion, Google it) He warned only His followers of what they would be in for if they followed Him. So why are we so surprised when it happens? We do take Him at His word, yes?

The Biblical truths that make so much sense to those of us who have been adopted into the body of Christ seem foolhardy to the world. This, too, is spoken of in Scripture.

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables:

Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. 
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Matthew 10:13-17

So they think, “Who are Christians to think they have a corner on the marriage market? Who are they to define what marriage is?”

They just won’t understand. Can’t understand. It’s intended to be that way. It’s just a perk of being a part of the body. It’s like a secret handshake or something. Only until the Holy Spirit moves, and the scales fall from their eyes, will they see and understand the truth. Protests, pointed fingers and haughty arguments do nothing to change hearts. Those things only build up walls of resistance to truth.

While all the mud slinging does not particularly please me, it does much to reassure me that Scripture is true… even the tough parts. Even the parts that tell me that being a Christian won’t always be a walk in the park. Because as we see those things play our before us, we can also trust in the wonderful parts of Scripture. The parts like this from Romans:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It is because of those kinds of assurances in Scripture that we can face the poisoned arrows and threats to our faith and beliefs. As Christians we have eyes to see and ears to hear what is really going on in all of this.

IF we pay attention.

IF we don’t hastily jump on a bandwagon without thinking first.

If we choose being Citizens of Heaven first then it’s all about perspective and vision. Our American citizenship is temporal. As Christians, we need to hold onto what is eternal first, and act in the temporal based on that.

So how could Christians have made their point about free speech on Wednesday, and still represented their heavenly citizenship well? Still represented their dual citizenship well? One way would have to have gone to Chick-fil-a and given donations for Chick-fil-a to feed the hungry, or bought the nuggets to give to someone who would have missed a meal. It doesn’t have to be either/or. It almost never does.

What are some other ideas of better responses based on our Heavenly citizenship? Because, rest assured, this is only just beginning.