Thought for Thursday
And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 2 Peter 2:2
In 2003, an American author, Kimberly Blaker, wrote a book called ‘The Fundamentals of Extremism: The Christian Right in America’. In this book, she accused conservative fundamentalist Christians in America of indoctrinating young people with ‘oppressive views of women, minorities, and LGBT persons through mind-control tactics and intimidation’. At the time Blaker wrote her book, her views were considered radical and outside societal norms. But that has changed. Blaker and many others like her have succeeded in getting their devious message across to the American public. Opinion polls now show 83 percent of people believe it was wrong for Christian bakers to refuse to provide a homosexual couple with a ‘wedding’ cake that had a message that promotes same-sex marriage. The majority also believe it is wrong for Christians to take a public stand against any form of homosexuality, immorality, abortion, and so forth. But they don’t have the same problem with anyone taking a stand against Christians, the Bible, and morality. Growing numbers of influential people are attacking Christians as troublemakers and opponents of ‘progress’ in society. We are living in a day in which the way of truth is evil spoken of. And many are following those who teach it, just as our text says.
What we are seeing today is not new. Christians in the early centuries were often branded as troublemakers. When Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra, they triggered a violent demonstration against the Christians (Acts 13 and 14). Christians in second-century Rome were accused of being arsonists and were savagely persecuted. During the centuries in which papacy ruled the so-called Christian world, little bands and communities of true believers were stamped as evil heretics and were quickly slaughtered. So we should not be surprised at the way in which the false teachers of today have twisted the minds of the people to view us as those in the wrong. This reality confronts us with two great challenges.
The first challenge is to understand the pernicious ways of those who falsely accuse us of evil, and not be fooled by them. Just because those around us accept the lies is no reason for us to question or doubt the Word of God and its firm declarations of truth and godliness. Lies will never become truth nor will evil ever be good just because they are accepted by the majority. The second challenge is for us to take a stand on that which the Bible declares. This will mean paying a cost for what we believe. Christians already are ridiculed and mocked for our beliefs. Some are already being persecuted for refusing to go along with evil practices. More and more of us will also face real persecution in the days that lie ahead.
What is our response when the way of truth is evil spoken of? – Jim MacIntosh