Kim Davis is all over the news now. And, rightfully so. When all things are added together she really does seem to be on the side of religious liberty on this topic.
She is frequently being pegged as an extremist from the “far right” for doing much of what people of other religions have been doing for quite some time now. As the link provided shows, there is a strange interplay between the law of the land and religious freedom. Yet, time and time again it seems that religious liberty is held as important and is not violated unless absolutely necessary.
The thing I want to discuss is the reaction to her. Kim Davis has been labeled a hypocrite for a reason that seems right. She has been divorced, not once but three times. With a record like that the hypocrisy label stuck quite nicely. And you have likely seen pictures like this one floating around online.
But, as I did a little digging, I found that it shouldn’t have stuck at all. I hope that you are a little shocked by that. Adultery and divorce are against God’s Word and so is homosexuality. Why is it that she can be against homosexuality and at the same time be a great defender of marriage that has been divorced three times.
Conversion
Conversion is moving from one belief system to another. You can convert from atheism to Christianity or any religion to Christianity and it is defined as a conversion.
Over and over, as I looked for a timeline of divorces vs. when she became a Christian I found something. She was not a Christian when she divorced. She was not a convert to Christianity yet. Let me say it another way.
How can a person be hypocritical about not acting according to their Christian Convictions before they had Christian Convictions?
The Church Holds Some Of The Blame
So, in my estimation, the problem is that those accusing her of hypocrisy don’t know what that word means or don’t know her history. Yet, I am convinced that part of the reason for their failure lies on the shoulders of those who are to be delivering the message of Christianity.
Think about it. Why is it that the lost world that is calling her a hypocrite does not understand the idea of conversion? And, why would they be so quick to not know or understand this type of argument for Kim Davis? It is likely because they have heard the morals of Christianity and not the central message of Christianity.
The central message of Christianity is that God sent His Son to die on a cross and pay the full punishment for our sin. Three days later He rose from the dead, showing that God approved of the sacrifice made. Our response is to convert to Christianity, or repentance and faith. We turn from ruling our own lives and entrust ourselves into the hands of the One who accomplished our salvation for us.
Notice what Paul says in 1 Corinthians.
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV
Yes, Kim Davis’ sins are on that list alongside the sin of homosexuality. But, she was washed, sanctified, and made right with God by the Spirit of God. She has converted from the way of life that leads to death, to faith in Christ and life.
Conclusion
Kim Davis has a life littered with bad choices, “and such were some of you”. There are many arguments that could be made about her actions. And there have been many arguments made about her actions. But one that doesn’t make sense is that she is a hypocrite.
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