Sometimes a story makes the news that perfectly illustrates a part of the Christian life. And that happened with the folks from Fixer Upper. The lesson here is going to be simple. If you want to be faithful to Christ then your greatest desire will need to be honoring Him. Be crucified to the world and honor Him.
Chip and Joanna Gaines became popular by fixing up houses together on the show “Fixer Upper.” It was a fun show. I didn’t watch the show willingly, but it was on at our home often. And the relationship between he and his wife was fun to watch. It was good to see that they spoke of their faith in Christ.
Christians flocked to them. And honestly, Chip and Joanne marketed to them. Christian women suddenly wanted shiplap and the Magnolia Homes colors. She wrote books that appealed to them. And many Christians ate it up.
Their Christian faith seemed to get them in hot water on occasion. They faced severe criticism for their church attendance and the beliefs of their pastor concerning homosexuality. At times they responded by distancing their selves a bit from what was going on, but at other times they just embraced their faith.
Christians seemed to be encouraged by their response. They seemed to be struggling in an attempt to embrace Christ publicly. And their family was further embraced as family by evangelicals in America.
In a society that despises Christians because they uphold biblical standards of morality, seeing someone endure this publicly was endearing. But, looking back, maybe they weren’t holding the line. Maybe they were just trying to make everyone happy. Maybe they were trying to sell to Christians.
Then They Wanted To Sit At The Cool Table
Things changed recently. I’m not sure when production began on their new show, but at some point they decided to wrap their selves in gay pride and tell Christians they were being bigots. It happened in the production of a new show. It is called “Back to the Frontier”.
The premise of the show is that three families live like they are in the frontier when people were settling it long ago. No running water, electricity, power tools, etc. They live in a one room frontier home and see if they can make it. It’s a great idea for a show. It definitely sounds like one I’d consider watching.
But here’s the problem. One of the three families is a homosexual couple. It’s two men that have adopted children. I know the kids were adopted because two men can’t make a baby. You can see this clearly in their promotional video.
Christians were immediately frustrated online. And Meghan Basham from The Daily Wire began pointing out what was happening.
The Response
I would applaud a person that repented at this point. But that is not what happened. The Gaines’ stance hardened as can be seen in Chip’s Social Media post on the matter.
https://x.com/chipgaines/status/1944344464215957561?s=46
It’s a line Christians today have heard a lot. Every rainbow flag wrapped wolf in a congregation has said that we are judgmental and that we are being hateful for standing upon the truth. Speak against homosexuality today and this is the shallow response you’ll get.
And this is why I wanted to write a blog post on this. If you’re going to be a faithful Christian in this age, then you’re going to need to be okay with people hating you. I don’t think they are. But you must be.
Glory In Christ Not The Applause Of Men
In Galatia people were trying to impose Jewish customs, ceremonies, and laws upon the new believers. They were telling Christians that they could not be right with God unless they do these things.
Paul’s argument throughout Galatians is that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, accomplished by the finished work of Christ alone. The Judaizers were false teachers that sought to add to that.
Their motivation is where I find similarities with the Gaines. The Judaizers didn’t want to be persecuted.
“It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.”
Galatians 6:12 ESV
It would’ve cost them something to really follow Christ. To believe in Christ alone and not salvation by works of some sort was so appalling to Jews that Paul was run out of town after town by them. It cost him something.
Today something similar happens. To believe in Christ and believe His Word is true will cost you something. In our perverted society that revolves around sexuality.
People will recoil at the claims of the Scriptures. Tell them that homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of God and they will call you a bigot (Leviticus 18:22). Tell them that a person that practices homosexuality will not see the Kingdom of God and they will call you a homophobe (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21). Tell them that homosexuality is a sign that they have rejected God and that God has given them over to their wicked lusts as judgment against them and you’ll be met with “Christians are supposed to love.” (Romans 1:26-27)
Tell the truth and you’ll receive vitriol from our society. But if you are a Christian, you can handle that. Why? Because you glory in Christ and not the applause of men.
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Galatians 6:14 ESV
If you are a Christian, then you are a blood bought child of God. You have been taken out of the Kingdom of this world and brought into the Kingdom of God. The sin that you once loved, you now hate. The applause you once needed, you despise in relation to Christ. The world is dead to you!
The Remedy For Our Lack Of Courage
The remedy for our lack of courage is understanding that pleasing Christ is worth more than the approval of the world.
I don’t think you will ever be immune to people despising you. You will always feel an inclination not to hurt feelings. It’s going to be understanding that faithfulness to Christ is more important that will help you remain faithful.
I still hesitate when I say something that I know people will be mad at me for. And I’ve done that countless times. I’ve stood behind a pulpit and watched ears turn red as people got madder and madder at me. I’ve stood in a room where people responded with hisses and boos at the words I’ve said. I’ve lost friends over words that I’ve said. I’m lot immune to it. I still have an immediate hesitation when this goes on. On good days, I remember that honoring Christ is worth it.
The most important thing is being faithful to Christ. If you are His, then the world is dead to you. And your greatest longing is to please Him.
R. Dwain Minor
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