With the debate surrounding the two cases the supreme court heard this week discussed the constitutionally of gay-marriage, we are reminded again the America is becoming less and less of a “Christian” nation.

Because of this, we are seeing less and less of what many are calling the “mushy-middle.” On the one side you have committed Christians, and on the other you have those are who say they are non-Christians (either following another religion, agnostic, atheist, etc.). The mushy-middle refers to nominal “Christians” who claim to be Christian but do not really believe or live out much of what Jesus or the Bible teaches.

While some are claiming the rise “nones” (religiously unaffiliated Americans) is increasing and that people are leaving the church at alarmingly high rates, what could really be happening instead is that this “mushy-middle” is shrinking because of the growing hostility towards historic, Biblical, Christian beliefs. It’s not that committed believers are turning away, it’s that the mushy-middle is shrinking.

If you have spent any time on Twitter or Facebook this week you have undoubtedly seen those in support of “marriage-equality.” And once again I have been struck by those who are not Christians asking (condemning?) Christians one simple question:

What would Jesus do?

The belief in the specific case of homosexual marriage, but typically every time this question is raised, is that Jesus is all about love, and therefore would not discriminate against homosexuals marrying because that is “unloving.” So what would Jesus do? He would support “marriage equality!”

But there is just one problem.

Would he really? 

Now I am not going to get into Jesus’/the Bible’s stance on homosexuality here, but I do want to encourage fellow believers.* Do not be discouraged when those that do not know much (if anything) about Jesus ask this question in a condescending matter. You cannot expect non-believers to know what Jesus would actually do!

A couple of years ago I had flat tire from a nail that I had run over. I assumed that meant I had to spend about $100 on a new tire to replace it. However, when I got to the mechanic place I was told they could simply remove the nail and patch the whole for only $25.

What I thought I would have to do and what I really had to do was not the same thing. Why? Because I don’t know much about car maintenance, so of course I don’t know what I should do when I have car trouble. I have people who know about cars tell me.

As we see this mushy-middle decrease and the hostility towards fundamental Christian beliefs increase, let us not give up following Jesus. For often what we think Jesus would do is not actually what he would or did do. Because truth and true love does not change, unlike popular opinion.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

-Matthew 7:21-23

*This is a great article on this topic: When Did Idolatry Become Compatible With Christianity?