With increasing frequency, social media can be expected to blast anyone that cites or indicates any belief in the Holy Bible.
Within the past few days, the politically left-wing Right Wing Watch tweeted, “Rick Wiles is angry that his network is struggling while Christians give money to @benshapiro, who ‘has the spirit of Antichrist because he denies that Jesus Christ is the son of God.’”
Right Wing Watch doesn’t care about Rick Wiles, Ben Shapiro or the Bible and their intent was clear—divide conservative Americans and mock the Holy Bible.
Predictably, comments on the tweet were overwhelmingly critical and rejecting of the Bible. Attacks on the Bible always disturb me as they should any fundamental, Bible-believing Christian.
I enjoy Ben Shapiro’s podcast which provides insightful observations of news and politics with practical defenses of Western civilization, American greatness, and Judeo-Christian values.
Who can be against that? But Shapiro is an orthodox Jew who denies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Like all lost people, he is an antichrist, is antichrist, and has the spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:3).
There is much to protest in Rick Wiles’ statement and views, but he is correct on this point and the Holy Bible is clear, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22) and “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 7).
Consider the media’s treatment of the climate-change gospel.
Proponents of climate change theories are quick to label those who question them as “skeptics,” “deniers,” and “anti-science” regardless of any evidence. Likewise, the Holy Bible comes with copious amounts of general revelation about its truth. But internal testimony is rejected as circular logic, specific revelation is denied, and the polarizing declarations about man’s sinful condition and eternal destination without Jesus Christ are considered foolish and intolerant at best. To a society that increasingly defends sin and embraces moral relativism, Christians and the Holy Bible will be increasingly mocked, scorned, and rejected.
A Bible-believer’s first inclination is to defend the Holy Scripture.
This is a natural response but is most often fruitless; the lost cannot be expected to understand or accept God’s Word; saying the Bible is God’s Word on personal authority isn’t going change many minds (1 Cor. 2:14). Not many years ago in America, Christians had the benefit of a general acceptance of the Holy Bible as God’s Word. That time has passed.Preach the Gospel.
The first and most important responsibility for Christians is to tell the World about the Saviour that paid for their sins through his perfect life, death, and resurrection. Regardless of the opposition, we are to tell others of God’s free gift of salvation. This will never change no matter how much society does. Give the Gospel just as the Bible declares it and take comfort knowing that God has promised that His Word will not return void (Isa. 55:11).
So how are born-again Christians to reach a world when the foundation of our faith and practice is disregarded and completely rejected?
Preach the Gospel
The first and most important responsibility for Christians is to tell the World about the Saviour that paid for their sins through his perfect life, death, and resurrection. Regardless of the opposition, we are to tell others of God’s free gift of salvation. This will never change no matter how much society does. Give the Gospel just as the Bible declares it and take comfort knowing that God has promised that His Word will not return void (Isa. 55:11).
Use Discernment
The command is clear, “…preach the Gospel” (Mark 16:15). But that command is not accompanied by another command to engage the unbeliever on the age of the earth, discuss the beast and false prophet, consider who was Seth’s wife, or debate how many angels can dance on the head of a needle. If it isn’t central to the Gospel message, the lost doesn’t need to hear it! As a former evolutionist, no one could convince me that Genesis 1:1 was true and they certainly weren’t going to lead me to salvation by doing so. Only after salvation did God work to open my eyes to errors of evolution and the truth of the Holy Bible. You can expect rejection (Luke 21:17), but you don’t have to wear a sign declaring, “kick me!” (Rom. 14:1).
Be Authentic
Mahatma Gandhi said, “I like your Christ, but not your Christianity.” Phony Christians undermine the most faithful of Christians and all of Christianity. We must practice what we preach: know the Bible, pray, be in church, and grow in Christ-likeness demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Remember some of the foolish things you thought and did before you placed your faith in Christ alone. Lost people today aren’t any different; they still need our compassion (Jude 22)
Preach the Gospel
Did I mention that? If God used a donkey, He can use you! In fact, that is His only plan for getting people saved—not donkeys, born-again Christians! If Christians won’t tell of God’s saving grace, no one else will. Christians are not responsible for the response but we are responsible for the “telling.” We are to sow and to water and trust God to give the increase (1 Cor. 3:6).
Rick Wiles won’t save his network by railing on Ben Shapiro anymore than Christians will lead the lost to a saving knowledge of Christ by debating and arm wrestling.
To be very clear, I am not advocating abandoning the Bible in anyway; without it we have nothing.
But when we debate the Bible, the people we are trying to reach go from listening to defending or even attacking. You can teach that 2 plus 2 equals 4 without explaining number theory; you can describe green as the color of leaves without stating that green is between blue and yellow on the color wheel. God’s word is the truth. It does not need defending, explaining, or justifying. It simply needs to be spoken.
The world will increasingly reject Christians and the Holy Bible. But, as David said, “Is there not a cause?” (1 Sam. 17:29)
Rejections should not stop us from boldly declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Only eternity will reveal how short our time is and how trivial the rejections are compared to the importance of the Gospel and eternal ramifications for the lost. In the face of the challenges, never forget we are on the winning side!
Brian Nottingham
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