"Strange Bedfellows"

 "Strange Bedfellows"


My working definition of the term, "Strange Bedfellows," is the camaraderie of people in defense of a common cause--who would normally be very much at variance with one another.

 

. . . One of the instances of, "Strange Bedfellows," that I find very interesting, is that of politically left-wing people with the Muslim culture.  On the surface, this would seem a very unlikely alliance: people who despise all things "Christian," (the left-wingers), with rigid, women-degrading religionists (the Muslims).  Someone might ask, "Why would a 'left-winger' be united in heart with a Muslim, especially the more radical they are?"  And the answer is, "Because the Muslim culture on the whole is, without doubt, the international 'public face' of anti-Christianity; and anyone who hates Jesus is a friend of mine," (so they would say).  Bottom line: I really believe that this is what it is all about.  We might be able to think of a number of subordinate examples of this same thing in the broader culture--but they are all typified by a fierce heartfelt antagonism against God's Christ, His gospel, and His church.

 

On an even weirder level, we could say the very same thing about non-regenerate Christian hypocrites.  They may know the Bible, they may read the Bible, they may even have the Bible memorized--but, because they are not born again to a living hope in Jesus, they remain adamant opponents of Jesus, His good news, and His blood-bought saints (of His true church).  These people are even worse--especially in God's eyes--than the "left-wingers" and Muslims mentioned above (in the previous paragraph)--with whom they are, in fact, aligned.

 

"Strange Bedfellow-ism" can go the other way, as well.  Is it not odd, that true Christians share a few overt positions with the official doctrine of Islam, in a few cases?  For instance, true believers in Christ cannot countenance the so-called "Pride" movement--and, believe it or not, the Muslims (officially) do not do so, either.  And even though they (the Muslims) possess no power to overcome such impulses, and are largely hypocrites in their practice--to their credit even they can see the truth in this regard.  (As someone has well-said, "Even a stopped clock is right two times a day.")

 

Here is another example of "Strange Bedfellow-ism": do not true Christians and unbelieving Jews accept the same Old Testament Scriptures?  Indeed, we do.  And even though we worship different deities--the Christians worshipping the Triune God through Jesus Christ; and the unbelieving Jews worshipping some other god--we both share the same inspired Books of the Old Covenant.

 

All things come together in the Person of Jesus Christ.  He is the focal point of all creation; and He is the One to whom The Father is directing all people, angels, demons, and beings.  Because Christ is King; and is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (Jn. 14:6)--in Himself, His very being, He is able to bring together infinitely disparate realities.  Christ can unite hopelessly lost sinners to the True God through Himself, since He shed His precious blood for them, and rose from the dead for them.

 

Are not all of us who are born again into the new life of Jesus Christ, "Strange Bedfellows" with the grace, goodness, mercy, and love of God?  Indeed, we are; but God has set His affections on us, and He will never let go of us.  Praise the Lord!


[Addendum on 8/12/26 . . . Indeed, all people outside of Jesus Christ--including politically "right"-wingers, "middle"-wingers, or "left"-wingers--are all together agreeing on one thing: their resistance to the True God, His Christ, and His (Jesus') churched Kingdom.  I only used the "left"-wing as an obvious and convenient example.]

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #128

12 August 2026

 

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com

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