On Being "Ophobic"
I am not “phobic” about anything. Most Christians are not “phobic” about anything.
The term “phobic” means “afraid of”. I’m not afraid of anything on the earth.
God says this to Christians about fear:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
In an attempt to use words and the opinions of people to control others some out there are labelling other people as “homophobic”, “Islamophobic”, etc. They use these names to label people who have opinions about homosexuality or radical and murderous forms of Islam that do not celebrate either.
This is a form of subtle and often not so subtle propaganda. Their goal is to use emotions and shame to control others who disagree with lifestyles, practices, beliefs, opinions. They wish to quell anything that makes a person think negatively about things that they enjoy with which others….including God…might deplore.
There are many things I find delightful and good. My hope is that the Lord also finds them delightful and good.
There are things that I do not like and wish people would stop practicing because these things kill souls and often physically kill those who practice them and others. God hates these things.
(Please hear me: God doesn't hate those people; He hates things they are doing. I believe He grieves when a person identifies himself primarily in terms of the sin he loves.)
When we are honest and vocal about our thoughts on these things it does not equate to fear.
Therefore, being evidently so does not make one “phobic.” This is why I will never agree with anyone that I am “homophobic” or “Islamophobic” – both of which are made up words. If you disagree with someone’s practices or lifestyle you aren’t “phobic” about it either.
You simply disagree with them.
I’m not “anything-ophobic” and if you disagree with someone else, neither are you.
As far as I can tell, whenever someone calls you any name (like “homophobic” or “Islamophobic”) they are only revealing things about themselves….not you. Most likely, they will be revealing their own spiritual or earthly ignorance about whatever the topic is.
My advice: pray that they learn more about that topic in a way that does not require suffering.
I also recommend that we all take care to express our disagreement about anything in ways that are filled with grace and are designed to draw us together and not propel us apart. Satan does not need our help in destroying relationships.
This does not mean that we should abandon our passion about what we believe, especially as we represent God on the earth.
It just means that when we do that…we do it in a way that honors Him.
May the Lord richly bless you in all things this day.
Pastor Mike McInerney
Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.
Decatur, Texas
© October 15, 2014
(For use with permission)