Pray for Elon Musk and for Blinded Liberal Eyes to be Opened

Media was buzzing late Monday and Tuesday with liberal reaction to Elon Musk’s controversial purchase of the social media giant Twitter. It was decidedly negative.

It seems for some, “free speech” only extends in one ideological direction.

On MSNBC, Ari Melber lamented the business magnate “could secretly ban one party’s candidate” or “secretly turn down the reach of their stuff or turn up the reach of something else.”

The exasperated host seemed oblivious to the fact that the current owners of Twitter have long done what they’re fearing Musk will now do.

Many of us are left scratching our heads that Melber and others didn’t even recognize how hypocritical their statements are. It seems they don’t even see how silly their statements sound to those who think critically.

But then again, most of these people don’t believe what we do – and therefore, their vision is greatly distorted.

The late Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and President Richard Nixon’s aide who served prison time for his part in the Watergate coverup, was once asked how Christians should respond to critics who don’t share our faith.

“If a blind man steps on your foot, would you be mad and hold it against him?” he asked.

Mr. Colson makes a good point. Should we really expect non-Christians to embrace what we do? Such high expectations seem misplaced.

Nevertheless, it can be both perplexing and downright frustrating to deal with someone who can’t see what is so obvious and in plain sight to us.

We see a pre-born baby – but they see a blob of tissue.

We see a biological man or woman – but they see whatever gender the person claims to be.

We see mothers – but they see “birthing people.”

We see sin – but they see nothing wrong.

We see heresy – but they see conventionality.

We see radical public educators serving up dangerous propaganda that distorts truth – but all they see are children being exposed to diverse perspective.

It goes on and on.

Given the increasingly secular culture, spiritual blindness is at an all-time high in the Western world.

It was the apostle Paul who wrote and warned, “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!” (1 Cor. 1:18).

He continued:

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:14).

So, how should we respond and react?

It’s tempting to rant and rave – but we’re called to plead and pray for those who are deceived. We’re called to live differently – and perhaps by our own quiet example, those who shun truth will be drawn to the attractiveness of our lives and beliefs.

We need to refrain from mocking or maligning – and challenge those on the other side to reconsider and turn from the error of their ways. It’s not enough to be nice. We must be kind – but bold and unwavering. And we can move ahead with confidence. We have a great story to share, because the story stars Jesus Christ.

We can be hopeful but also realistic. After all, it was Jesus who quoted the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them” (Matthew 13:14-15).

What or in whom does Elon Musk believe? In an interview with the Babylon Bee, Musk discussed attending an Anglican Sunday school. “But I was also sent to Hebrew preschool, although I’m not Jewish. … I was singing ‘Hava Nagila’ one day and ‘Jesus Our Lord’ the next.”  He said he’s read the Bible – and has prayed just once.

So, pray for Elon Musk. And pray for those who cannot see what the Holy Spirit allows you and I to see so very clearly.

Photo from Twitter.