What would you do if a group of hooded strangers walked into your church service and asked who would be willing to take a bullet for Christ?
This is the premise of a popular internet parable. In the parable, most everyone runs away. Then the strangers remove their hoods and announce that they were only getting rid of the hypocrites.
The intent behind the story is good. The premise is flawed.
Christ calls his followers to be faithful, not stupid. Standing up and letting a hooded stranger take pot shots is plain stupid.
And even Christ himself, who gave his life voluntarily, did not allow his enemies to dictate the terms of his sacrifice.
When trials do happen, there is no one-size-fits-all response. Wisdom is required, as well as courage. Did not Jesus advise his disciples to be wise as snakes and gentle as doves? In other words, be harmless but have street smarts.
Perhaps the Wizard of Oz said it best in his remarks to the Cowardly Lion. The Lion thought he lacked courage. The great wizard told him, “You are confusing courage with wisdom.”
Everybody wonders at one time or another, “Would I be brave in the face of adversity, or would I be a coward?” One can never answer that question until it happens.
There is another fundamental problem with this parable. Dying for one's faith is one thing; “taking a bullet” for Christ is something else entirely.
Secret service agents must be ready to “take a bullet” for the president, to save his life. Nobody can take a bullet for God. Besides, didn't Christ take the bullet, so to speak, by laying down his life?
Jesus rebuked Simon Peter for his well meaning attempt to “take the bullet.”
Now I feel pretty sure that the person who composed this parable did not mean to suggest something arrogant or idolatrous. But words do have meanings, and I think that a lot of people today feel as if they need to defend God.
Too many lines are being drawn in the sand in the name of God.
Mark Buckner is a member of Spring Hill Baptist Church in Ruckersville.