Once upon a time, we were excited to go on a mission trip to South Africa. Some very pious & cynical people said, “Why do you have to go to South Africa? You could just go across the street!” (We had already done that, but I digress…)
I posted recently about Charlie Kirk, and some very cynical people said, “Why post about HIS death? Where’s your post about yada, yada, yada…?”
I’ve spoken up against abortion before & some very cynical people said, “What? You’re just for the babies’ lives? What about the women? What about kids in foster care?”
I’ve praised my friends and family who have adopted kids from other countries & some very cynical people have said, “Why adopt from there when there are kids in America who need to be adopted?”
Why do people argue that doing, saying, or standing up for ONE right thing automatically means you don’t support something else?
To say I love pink does not mean I hate blue!
I can post about my sadness & horror of Charlie Kirk’s death while also feeling sadness & horror for hundreds of other things that I haven’t posted about. Am I required to post ALL of my thoughts or NONE of them? Of course not.
I can go to South Africa to witness to people even though my next door neighbor needs Jesus. Someone has to do it. Why not me? Why not South Africa? And why not my neighbor? Why not witness to ALL that I can? To witness to even ONE (no matter their location) is better than to witness to NONE & criticize those who DO witness!
Posting my support of babies IN the womb does not automatically mean I do not support babies OUTSIDE of the womb. Of course I support them! Why does supporting one mean I don’t support another?
For those who have adopted from ANYWHERE in the world – whether your town or a country across the pond – that’s amazing! To adopt ONE – no matter the location – is better than adopting NONE & criticizing those who are making a difference!
I mean, have we completely forgotten about God’s leading & sovereignty in all of the above?
Do you see the silliness of these automatic assumptions & arguments?
These are straw-man arguments meant to keep us silent & useless. It’s been said, “To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”
You could sit back with your arms crossed and judge Missionaries who chose another country to serve in, you could judge parents who have crossed the pond to adopt, you could judge social media posts that stand up for even ONE truth without having to post about EVERY truth… and you can waste your life judging anyone and everyone who is doing something right.
OR – you could get rid of these weak arguments, be thankful for ANYTHING ANYONE is doing for Jesus, & use your life to do the same!
Considering the brevity of life & the pressing need to use it for Jesus, I highly suggest the latter.
Just a Mom’s View 