I'm currently facing a situation in which my actual physical welfare is at risk. I've begun witnessing, with a friend, at a biker bar. We've been threatened. We will return. We will probably be beaten. So be it. (Pray for our boldness.) I tell you this so that you will know I'm not whining when I say what I'm about to say.
A little over a year ago I was fired from a Bible School for standing against the Emergent heresy. One thing has stood out about the experience concerning my friends and those who fired me.
First, those who fired me are orthodox in their doctrine. That is, they would never say that the Bible isn't God's word and authoritative or that Jesus wasn't God or that the resurrection didn't happen. The entire problem had to do with making people angry. All that had to happen for me to get fired was for a few (and I mean less than half a dozen) to contact the school and say that they were mad at me for exposing those inside our denomination and outside our denomination who were calling themselves Christian and yet denying the faith. The issue was that the president of the school would not have the school take a public stand. Nobody could be mad at the school. They want folks on both sides to like them. This is so unlike Christ. They wouldn't pay the price of having someone angry at them, so the school buckled.
Second, though my friends and former students remained friendly to me not one of them, to my knowledge, raised a word of protest about the wrong done me. (There is an exception to this. At least some of the students in my last class went to the college president for an explanation, so not all my students are cowards.) In fact, I have gotten the distinct impression many of them are actually embarrassed to be associated with me publicly. And they wish to be friends with those who have done this. Again, they wanted everyone to love them. Neutral. Both ways.
(Unless they're talking to me, of course--then they're more orthodox than Jesus.)
I've never complained to my friends or about them concerning this, because it's such a small thing to do. Christ suffered without complaining and so will I. And the picture painted by becoming a complainer isn't accurate because I would do this all again. I'm glad I did it. Jesus is worth it. I'm not whining any more than Paul was in Acts 20 when he stated he expected to be beaten wherever he went.
But he went.
No, rather, I'm saying these things because I want you, the reader, to think of something. Namely, just why do we think God is any less insulted when His "friends" refuse to stand for Him?
Jesus said, "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me." Luke 10:16.
If we refuse to take a stand against those who deny Christ, how do you think God feels? Is He so stupid as to think we're His friends? I'm an old bald guy who grew up on a farm and went to a little school house with twelve (that's right, 10+2=12) students in my graduating high school class and I was smart enough to figure this out all by myself. Is a stupid farm kid smarter than God? Would you consider someone who chummed around with your severe enemy a friend? Why do we think we can do such a thing to God? Does He not see? Is He socially inept, unable to understand a simple interaction like this? Don't even kids on a playground know better? How do we disrespect God like this and expect His favor and not the flames He promised to all who deny Him?
Matthew 10:33
"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." In other words, if we refuse to stand for Him, the Advocate won't stand for us at the judgment.
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." In other words, if you're a Christian you signed up to die. What are you waiting for?
Mark 8:38
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." If we're unwilling to be associated with Him and His truth, we're an embarrassment to Him. Yet, we're proud of being inclusive to false teachers! This is our shame before God.
Knowing Jesus said this, how can anyone who calls himself a Christian stay silent inside or outside the church and suppose himself a friend of Christ?
As I watch these men, they have not stayed neutral. No, they've continued to keep fellowship with those who sided with the heretics. Even the school officials who sided with the heretics have not stayed neutral. (As if they ever were.) They have actually started using text books that push new age teachings and that are pro-homosexual. They claim this is only a temporary thing because they have to get along with another school until they get their own accreditation, but why do it at all since they know it's wrong? And my friends have continued as if all is well. Now I'm the one criticized--because I make others feel bad.
So does God. It's called guilt.
Deuteronomy 13:1-4.
If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.
Quiet cowardice now, galloping heresy later. Will you stand?
In Christ,
Phil Perkins. Walk the walk.
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