The Bleating Lion is an expression of my faith.
It’s my blog about life in the early 21st century in North America from the perspective of a Christian, middle-aged white guy. (Check out my “About Me” page).
Why even mention that? Doesn’t it set a rather negative or contentious tone from the start?
Not in my opinion. It’s the truth – I’m a Christian, I’m 60 years old now (2024), I’m Caucasian, and I’m a man. I mention it only because that’s how people see me. And I’m not ashamed or embarrassed by it, either. Why should I be?
I’m an independent thinker and agree with some political positions on the “right” and some on the “left”. That doesn’t mean I’m a centrist. What it does mean is that I’m willing to listen to other people instead of being utterly closed-minded.
I think about life – all of life – from a theological perspective, a Christian worldview. It’s been said that “all truth is God’s truth”, and I believe that. No Christian should ever be unwilling to hear the truth from any source, including from those we disagree with politically, scientifically, or whatever.
I don’t think anyone should be afraid of the truth. We may not like it, we may run from it, or we may embrace it. The truth really does set us free.
Unfortunately, many people want to believe that truth is relative. It isn’t. More so, it cannot possibly be. Truth is what it is.
I was born in England, not China. A fork is not a knife. A three-ring binder does not contain five rings. Green is not white. A dry cardboard box can burn. An earthworm has no eyes. The space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff on January 28, 1986. Both of my grandmothers died from cancer.
These are truths. Facts. They are what they are. Some we like; some we don’t; some we don’t care about. And how we feel about them doesn’t change the truthfulness of them.
Jesus Christ existed in history, or He didn’t. God exists in reality or He doesn’t. He doesn’t exist for me and not for you. He’s not a figment of my imagination. He is either real or He isn’t. If He doesn’t exist, then all my faith cannot conjure Him up. Likewise, if He does exist, then all your unbelief (if that describes you) cannot destroy Him.
That’s the kind of truth I’m talking about. And we should be able to discuss these things in a civil manner. Agreeing to disagree and letting the strength of an argument stand on its own two feet. The truthfulness of an argument will inevitably win.
Unfortunately, I see a world around me where there is a massive increase in intolerance for people like me. How dare we have a thought or perspective different than the established narrative! A predetermined social or political position must be accepted, or you are the problem. Shouting down and shutting down the opposition has become the status quo without any willingness to listen.
You don’t agree with me? Fine, move on. I’m not interested in any conversation with people who are utterly closed-minded, locked into a mindset that I’m wrong and you’re right, period. What a colossal waste of time. If we can converse in a civil manner, trying to persuade with truth and/or logical arguments, great! That is time worth spending.
I find it incredibly depressing that our culture has degenerated to not just verbally shut down those with whom we disagree, but things all-too often are becoming violent. So many examples…
- The Berkeley riots back in February 2017 over a planned speech by gay conservative activist Milo Yiannopoulos that cost over $100,000 in damage.
- Riots and marches over anything about President Trump.
- Black Lives Matter and Antifa riots in recent years.
- Antisemitic activity on Ivy League college campuses.
- Riots and marches over the Israel-Hamas war.
- Social media suppression of “unacceptable” points-of-view.
Some of these I will be commenting on in due course, and maybe nobody will be interested, or maybe nobody will even see my posts. Fine – there are some things I can do nothing about. But maybe someone will see these posts and be challenged in their thinking. Maybe you’ll be offended or maybe you’ll agree.
Regardless, you don’t need to shut me down. I won’t be doing that to you.
We have a much more righteous Judge to face one day. And He’s the One I’m interested in pleasing.
I hope you are, too.
