Tim Wildmon
AFA president
August 1996 – Did the chicken come before the egg? Or, did the egg come before the chicken? This is a question that has perplexed man down through the ages. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas went at this issue during one of their legendary debates, although you never read about it anywhere. The “egg first” crowd showed up for Douglas and the “chicken first” for Lincoln.
The vote was split evenly, so ultimately other issues decided the presidential election of 1860. In a similar vein in terms of what’s more important, the Christian community often divides itself along these lines: One side says it’s more important to evangelize – to change hearts – than to be socially active. The other side says it’s more important to be socially active – to save America while we still can –than it is to evangelize.
It seems that most Christians fall somewhere in the middle here. In other words, it’s a both/and situation rather than an either/or situation.
Jesus Christ clearly gave us what is known as The Great Commission. That is a commandment that his followers spread his message of repentance, forgiveness, mercy and salvation to all peoples. Christians – if they want to be true to their Lord – have no choice but to reach others for Christ – to evangelize. It is of the utmost importance.
On the other hand, we have numerous passages instructing Christians to stand – in a paganistic or hostile public if they must – for the ideals, the values and the virtues that are expressed in the scriptures. To impact the culture around them for good, for righteousness and against evil.
The Holy Bible is truth.
In the current political and social climate of America, those who stand for Biblical morality, especially as it relates to homosexuality, are the ones called hatemongers. Righteousness is turned on its head and we are made out to be the bad guys. We’re intolerant, we’re bigoted and we’re KKK types. End of argument. Often we’re told – in an attempt to really make us look foolish –that Jesus was a man of mercy and not judgment.
But really, he was, is, and will be, both.
For instance, in the case of the woman caught in adultery – while not condemning her – Jesus did pass judgment on her actions telling her to “go and leave your life of sin.” Yes, Jesus used the “s” word. Can you believe it? He called adultery sin, but he extended love and mercy to the sinner. That is what Christians should be about. Call sinners to repentance, but never stop calling sin sin. And sin is – after all – what separates man from God and why Jesus came in the first place – to reconcile a sinful man to a holy God.
Christians cannot hate anyone. Hate is just as much a sin as is adultery, stealing, or immoral behaviors, such as homosexuality. In fact, the consequences of hate are often worse for the individual and for society than are the consequences of other sins. The love of God as expressed through Jesus overcomes hatred.
So we must evangelize and our Christian faith must be the basis for social action. Where God places you to reach others – or what avenue he gives you for expressing social justice – is individual, but all Christians should be concerned with both.
How’s that for a down the middle answer? But I did give you an answer. Which is more than some politicians and even some preachers give us when they split an answer down the middle.
So back to the chicken and the egg. I’ve always gone with the chicken on this one. I figure, God made the animals – including the bird every other animal tastes like –right out of thin air. Poof! Then the chicken began producing eggs. But you know, this is one I can bend on a little. I can hang out with the “egg first” crowd. I would never want to be considered narrow-minded, bigoted or judgmental by the EFLETF lobby (Egg First Love and Equality Task Force). 
