BrainOut!
The mumblings of a Christian autistic husband, dad, IT guy and amateur radio operator - Will Brokenbourgh / AF7EC
Standing Alone
"Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you." - 1 Peter 4:4
Sorry I haven't written much lately -- based on my site stats, it appears that only bots view this site with only the infrequent human visitor. But even if just one person benefits from something on my site, it's worth it, so here we go...
Being a devoted believer of Jesus Christ in these days and times is pretty unpopular. Just recently a young man named Harrison Butker stood before a graduating class in a Christian school and said nothing that should have been considered controversial. Briefly, he gave glory to God, mentioned that men should take their proper roles and extolled the virtues of women becoming wives and mothers. He did not say women shouldn't have a career and he didn't say women should just stay home and be a slave to the household. Unfortunately, an innocent and truthful speech ended up causing no small storm of criticism from folks who have wildly different opinions. Instead of civil and constructive dialog, these people decided to absolutely blast Harrison, calling him all of today's favorite insults including 'bigot'. I've seen that people who react to things like this have a lot of growing up to do -- I know, I was like them in my past.
I say "Well done!" to Harrison, if my praise meant anything at all. He boldly spoke the truth and didn't fear the shrieking and writhing masses that may get their delicate feelings hurt. He seems to be a well-adjusted young man with a bright future ahead of him, provided the adherents of toxic and deviant behavior don't pitch-fork him into oblivion.
Today's culture, at least here in America, is absolutely caustic. If you talk about the goodness and wholesomeness of traditional living, where there's an actual biological man married to an actual biological woman, and they have babies, and they love Jesus and love their family, friends and neighbors, you often are treated as if you're muttering a racial slur, something sexist or something just fantastically horrible! These are the sad times that we are currently living in, and something needs to move -- to the correct side.
Standing up for Jesus, standing up for what's right and standing up for the values that God set out for us will often cause alienation, division and bad feelings. True devoted Christians have no choice but to do what God has commanded us. We do it willingly, not as mindless minions or robots. True Christians have seen God move powerfully in their lives so they aren't going to shrink away or back-pedal because someone who is living a deceived life yells at them or calls them bad names. Sure, the bad names can hurt, but letting God down hurts more.
Unless they have other Christians around, being a believer of Jesus can sometimes cause times of isolation. I personally have been rejected by former friends, close family and others, sometimes making me feel alone. But praise be to God on the highest, because believers are not ever truly alone! As long as we stay faithful, God never leaves us, although he doesn't always immediately rescue us from every single situation. As a Christian who is also autistic, sometimes the isolation and rejection can be even worse because folks are already mad that I love Jesus and then they also sometimes can't understand thoughts and concepts I'm trying to convey.
"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you." - 1 Peter 4:12
While the country and the rest of the world are burning all around us, it's important to remember something -- God is the only true anchor for our souls. Buying into the current culture's untruths, buying into the popular beliefs and swearing allegiance to those who approve of the killing of unborn babies, the mutilation of children and the telling of lies about someone's identity will only drive a wedge between you and God, if you even care about God at all! He cares about you, but he's not going to force you to love him. You have to really search for him, and want to have a relationship with him. As the Bible says "Draw close to God and he will draw close to you".
I remember when I was younger -- I didn't know the truth. My experience as a young person was confusing and full of hatred and sadness. I considered ending my life because I could not make sense of the world around me and I felt that my loved-ones would be better off with me gone. I'm so grateful, though, that God prevented me from taking my life. Despite making constant stupid mistakes, getting involved with girls that I had no business being with and making other foolish choices must have frustrated more mature people in my life. I just didn't know I was struggling with autism -- instead thinking I was defective or losing my mind, so on top of the already challenging times of young adulthood, I was trying to cope with feeling like I was insane. I can imagine a lot of young people, either on the spectrum or not, are lost in a sea of emotions and need a true and loving anchor in their lives. This could explain a lot of the monumental confusion so many young people are experiencing right now -- they just don't know God and don't know how much he desires an intimate relationship with them. Instead, they latch on to whatever collective is nearby, bad or good.
With each passing decade, the culture in the U.S. and other places in the West have become wilder, filled with rebellion, anxiety and a plethora of mental health issues. The farther we've moved away from being a God-fearing society, the greater the price we pay. Marriage is mostly viewed as disposible, with divorces being an everyday occurrence instead of a last resort. There is a staggering number of single-parent households with children paying the price. The more God is removed from things, the worse off they are, and the current times are a sober example.
If you're a believer in Christ, be encouraged because Jesus told us that he has overcome the world. If he has overcome the world, since we are in him, we too can share in that victory, even when our circumstances stink. If you're not a believer in Jesus, I humbly and gently ask you to stop the abusive speech, the persecution and the senseless hate. Unlike some other belief systems, true Christians don't force people to believe in Jesus. True Christians don't torture people, we don't throw them in jail or execute them for having beliefs that are different than our own. Think about that -- many in this world today will absolutely destroy you if don't celebrate and play along with their beliefs -- true Christians would never do that to someone else. Instead, true Christians will share their faith, pray for others and try to be an encouragement. Big difference!
In the early days of my faith, I'd get very anxious and 'act out' because others in my life couldn't, or wouldn't give their approval of my beliefs. It's taken a long time to realize that what others think or say should not shape my relationship with God, no matter how much their lack of love or support hurts in the flesh. Jesus was very clear -- if you try to please man and also try to please God, it's not gonna work out.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.'" - Matthew 16:24
"'I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.'" - Matthew 10:35
If you have to stand alone, apart from friends, co-workers or family to live for God, then so be it. True Christians are to live in the world, but not be of the world. Sure, you can move to the desert and avoid contact with any other human being, but then there's practically no opportunity to share Christ's love nor will you be able to share your faith. While even Jesus took time away from others to pray, it's not healthy to be a full-time hermit and hole yourself up somewhere far removed from civilization. Whether you're near or far from other people, just remember God is the one you are trying to please. Conforming to whatever is 'popular' at the moment will only push you away from God and will run you absolutely ragged -- ask me how I know...
If you are not a Christian and you're reading this thinking "Just another Christian bigot!", I really hope you reconsider that label. Sure, true Christians will have an unwavering devotion to God and that's just the way it is, but hey, he deserves it! What God wants and how Jesus lived is really not that hard. People get all up in arms because being a true Christian requires turning from the ways of the world, having faith and self-control and not wavering from God's commands. True Christians cannot cherry-pick what they want out of the Bible then ignore the rest. It's wrong to be loving to others but approve of or live a sinful life. You can read your Bible every day but not please God by being in a sinful relationship (check, done that before). You can give to the poor and share the Good News about Jesus but displease God by encouraging and approving of people who are in same-sex relationships or who believe there are infinite numbers of genders. The point is, there is a line that shouldn't be crossed. Conforming to whatever radical and ungodly ideology is popular at the moment is being an enemy of God.
"You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God." - James 4:4
The Bible is very clear about a wide range of topics and if we act or live counter to what God tells us in the Bible, we will not be pleasing him and may even lose our inheritance in Christ. If you call me a 'bigot' because I'm living for Jesus and trying to live the way he did, then I guess I'm guilty, but the difference between me and someone who claims that children should be mutilated or that everyone must celebrate sinful behavior and concepts is that I'm not going to punish or condemn you if you reject God -- I will just be disappointed. Those in our culture who are pushing radical gender and racial agendas most certainly will punish those who don't celebrate and comply -- something true Christians would never do to others. So what kind of 'bigot' sounds more dangerous to you?
I can imagine that there is a growing urge in many Christians to just throw their hands up and say "To heck with it!" and give in to what the current culture is pushing. I mean, who actually enjoys persecution and abuse from their fellow human beings? The thing is, though, it may (and probably will) get much worse for true believers in Christ. Our nation's culture is rapidly aligning itself with the trajectory of other culture's religions, especially the aggressive and often violent persecution of Christians. As time goes on, the dividing line will become clearer and clearer. I'm really hoping that cooler heads will eventually prevail so we don't experience a second Holocaust that rounds up Christians in addition to Jews for enslavement and slaughter.
For those who think they are Christians but support and celebrate the beliefs of the current culture, here are some Bible scriptures to think about...
Gender
There are only two sexes.
"But 'God made them male and female' from the beginning of creation." (Mark 10:6) "Then
the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man." (Genesis 2:22)
Same-sex relationships
The Bible is very clear that homosexuality (and other non-traditional relationships) are wrong.
"Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable
sin." (Leviticus 18:22) "And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women,
burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin,
they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. That is why God abandoned them to their
shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in
sex with each other." (Romans 1:26-27)
Following the world's culture
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by
changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing
and perfect." (Romans 12:2) "Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God.
But you don't listen because you don't belong to God" (John 8:47) "These arrogant people who
hate your instructions have dug deep pits to trap me." (Psalms 119:85)
Living in peace
"Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18) "Pray this way
for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by
godliness and dignity." (1 Timothy 2:2)
Lastly, I cannot predict the future. It's my hope that enough conservatives and true Christians will act as 'control rods' for this out-of-control cultural melt-down in-progress. I hope that we finally break free from this incredibly bad time in our history. Although there will always be people who oppose God and his children, I'm hoping there's a future for our kids and grandkids where no one is forced to recite lies about gender or race, where people of every skin color will stop being manipulated and instead just live on this Earth in relative peace. It can happen, but those who push radical and deceitful ideologies need to be eliminated -- by breaking them free from the lies that have a hold of them and and by lovingly making them our friends.
God bless you, and thank you for reading!
About me
First and foremost I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. After that, I'm a blessed husband,
father and grandfather. I do remote computer work for a living although it's mostly
part-time. I'm an amateur radio operator - AF7EC. When I'm not working on the endless
list of house and car projects, I like to tinker with electronics, like to listen to
shortwave radio and write software (mostly open-source) in C, C++, Python and Free
Pascal. I usually run Linux as my main operating system but sometimes I'm forced to
endure macOS and Windows 11 for gaming with my son or testing software. Overall, I am
a big nobody, but always willing to share about Jesus and all that God has done for me
and my family.
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