Get a Job

In public discourse and private conversations, there will be disagreement.  And, we should be people of conviction, who have developed Biblically-informed opinions and express them in a way that is not demeaning, not resorting to name-calling, and not making it personal.  The way we engage with culture should be unique and becoming of someone who bears the name of Jesus Christ.  The Bible in Colossians 4 (ESV):
3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

By now, you are probably familiar with Riley Gaines, the All-American swimmer, formerly of the University of Kentucky, who placed tied for fifth in the NCAA Championships swim meet with a male swimmer by the name of Will Thomas, presenting himself as the female, Lia Thomas. Gaines was told to step aside and allow Thomas to receive the fifth-place trophy.  Of course, he had no business competing in a women's meet.  Gaines has become an outspoken opponent of males competing in female sports.

She has become quite an adept social commentator; she is also a professing Christian. Recently, according to FoxNews.com, on X, she posted a picture of newly-elected New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.  The caption was: "We’re being destroyed from within."  This elicited a reply from Ocasio-Cortez; she posted on X: "Maybe if you channeled all this anger into swimming faster, you wouldn’t have come in fifth."  Well, at least she acknowledged Riley's rightful position.  The Fox article goes on to say:

In the latest exchange, AOC took another hit at Gaines, telling the new 25-year-old mother to "get a real job" after her latest appearance on "The Ingraham Angle" challenging the New York lawmaker to a debate.

The University of Kentucky alum replied on X, "I have a real job. I'm a mom. It's the most important & rewarding job in the world.  I think if you had a baby girl like I do, you'd understand my positions a little better."

Fox also examined response to this ongoing exchange.  The article goes on to relate:

Allie Beth Stuckey, another conservative influencer, defended Gaines' reply.

Stuckey posted on X replying to a tweet by AOC from 2020 where she wrote, "Sex work is work."
 
"Being a mom & women’s advocate isn’t a ‘real job,’ but prostitution is," the Dallas-born social media star wrote. "Girls having access to private spaces and fair competitions isn’t women’s rights, but murdering babies is. Noted."

This is the type of back-and-forth that is common on social media, where the game of one-upmanship is played.  And, while I approve of Riley's stand on the issue of males in female sports and her outspokenness, I'll leave it to you to decide if it was the wisest course of action. Certainly, Mamdani, with his outspoken support of socialism and his promises of "free stuff," his apparent disapproval of the state of Israel, and too-close association with elements of radical Islam, represents a threat to New York City.  Sanders and AOC are representative of other far-left politicians whose ideas have gained an outsized level of approval in American society today.

So, Gaines is right to call them out.  And, she has taken the exchange one step further - and I really like this - Fox reports: "'I’ll debate her anytime,' the Tennessee-born collegiate swimmer said. 'She can defend socialism — I’ll defend capitalism. She can defend removing God — I’ll defend a biblical worldview. She can defend child sacrifice — I’ll defend the sanctity of life.'"

I would really like to see that - and it could be highly productive to be able to see the contrast. But, AOC, unfortunately, has said so many unhinged things in the past, it might be hard to really have a coherent debate.  But, give Riley credit for trying.  Because, culture needs to see why Biblical ideas are superior to those of the world.  We are the people who defend the family and God's view of it - and our families should reflect the glory of God.  We can also make sure our lives are built on a firm foundation of a relationship with Christ and the development of a Biblical worldview, which includes what the Scriptures teach about life, sexuality, gender, marriage, parenting, and a host of other issues.  

Rather than develop our opinions around the ways of this world, we should possess opinions and express them based on our knowledge of the Scriptures.  We can read and study the Bible and determine how what we are reading applies to us.  And, act accordingly, as the Holy Spirit empowers us.  We can determine on which principles we are to engage and converse, even debate with others, and make sure that we are always expressing ideas without demeaning a person.  God wants us, I believe, to build our thinking around His principles and use whatever avenues He allows us to have in order to speak truth.