For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.' - 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (ESV) Even living in a nation that, for the most part, protects its citizens from religiously-driven persecution, a Christian needs thick skin to live joyfully in the center of God's will. As secular, worldly philosophy permeates our society and shakes the moral core of America, the church here is becoming more and more prone to snark, ridicule, and even accusation from those around us. Let's face it - the unbelieving world loves to label the Bible's teachings and Christians as "antiquated," "irrelevant," and "unreliable." Many even blame Christians directly for society's problems, claiming that we spread hatred, violence, and terrorism by our exclusive and intolerant beliefs.
Those accusations could not be farther from the truth. God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4, ESV) Jesus commands us, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44, ESV). Paul instructs us, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." (Romans 12:18, NASB). Peter writes, "Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king." (1 Peter 2, NASB). James commands, "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." - James 1:19b-20, ESV). These aren't teachings of hatred and violence. These are the teachings of a God Who, out of His own love for us, wishes to have an active relationship with His created people and wants His children to carry the hope, peace, and love of Christ in all they do in this life. Anyone who uses the Holy Scripture to justify hatred, violence, prejudice, or terrorism towards others is grossly misled and lives in a state of apostasy. But this is not what the world wants to hear. It's quick to blame Christianity because Christ is fundamentally opposed to the selfishness of man. Man seeks spiritual enlightenment in, as I see it, three distinct ways - in believing that they can appease God, in believing that they do not need God, and in believing that they are or can become God. Almost all monotheistic and polytheistic belief systems throughout history are works-based - requiring that their followers do something or do many things to gain favor with a god or with many gods. They believe they can appease God and earn salvation. Agnostics and atheists alike follow a belief system that either suspends their belief in a deity or else denies that a deity exists altogether. They believe they do not need God and therefore require no salvation. Mystics and universalists either follow someone else's way to spiritual enlightenment or determine themselves what criteria are necessary to reach a state of enlightenment. These people believe that they are or can become God and therefore are their own salvation. In all of these scenarios, man is at the center. Man is perceived to be sovereign over his spiritual state and eternal destiny. The understanding Christian knows that God is completely and totally sovereign. We are not justified by the works of man; we are justified by the grace of God. We are not sanctified by the works of man; we are sanctified by the works of the Holy Spirit. We are not glorified by the works of man; we are glorified by the saving blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. God saves us. We do not carry, or even share in, the responsibility of salvation. We are utterly incapable of saving ourselves. "None is righteous, no, not one," (Romans 3:10, ESV) says Paul, and "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, ESV) "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:4, NASB). This is, by all the world's accounts, complete and utter foolishness. By nature, mankind is proud. Mankind does not naturally desire to be saved from itself. And even when mankind desires to submit to a deity, it tries to do so under it's own authority. So when Christians subvert this pride by preaching that others repent of sin and confess Jesus Christ - born, crucified, resurrected, coming again - as Lord, Savior, and Sovereign God of all, it should be no surprise that the world counteracts with ridicule, attack, and even persecution. But we need not fear or become discouraged. Acts 4 recounts a story: the apostles John and Peter were arrested and were threatened with their lives. The prideful, legalistic Jewish leaders loathed the teachings and the followers of Jesus, and sought to make an example of these apostles through persecution. They were afraid of the crowds, who had just witnessed them performing an incredible miracle, and released them, threatening them further. When they had gathered together again with other brothers and sisters in Christ, they began to pray - not for less ridicule or threat or persecution, but for boldness: "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness."(Acts 4:29, ESV). The result? God granting them exactly that: "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:31, ESV). God wants to give us boldness and courage in preaching the Word of God. He has given us the Holy Spirit in such a measure to His church that we are guaranteed His assistance in carrying His Word to others. After all, this is exactly the purpose for which we have been given the Holy Spirit. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, ESV). We are not called with a spirit of timidity, but with one of power and of authority. The Holy Spirit gives us the boldness and courage and faith to be His witnesses to the world. When the world surrounds us - jeering, scoffing, sneering, mocking - then the Holy Spirit will give us strength and faith to stand amidst it all. If we are to be labeled as fools, then we shall be bold and courageous fools who carry with them the awesome and powerful message of Christ. Whether we are to suffer to death or merely to endure ridicule, the Holy Spirit will give us in that moment the faith to continue on - not barely so, but overwhelmingly so. Incoming persecution will not weaken us; it will instead strengthen us. It is a great blessing to live in a country still so protective of our right to live openly as Christians, but it is equally a privilege to suffer for Christ's sake and endure as a testament to the overcoming power of the Holy Spirit. Pray today that we do not face ridicule with fear or timidity, but that we approach it with faith and steadfastness. Pray that the Holy Spirit strengthens us and emboldens us to take the Word of God to the world despite its unwillingness. Pray that we never think ourselves wiser than we are or seek to dilute the pure truth of Scripture with mankind's selfish philosophies when we are derided as foolish, intolerant, and irrelevant. Most of all, seek that God give us the utmost joy in serving Him, no matter the personal cost we face.
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Clifton J. Gardner lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife, Courtney. He is a Registered Nurse, musician, and writer, as well as an active member of Ezra Baptist Church in Oak Grove, Alabama. Archives
January 2017
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