Someone once told me, “God doesn’t need anyone to defend Him.” My reply was, “Then why does He send prophets?”
The truth is that God does not need anyone to defend Him, but it is His will that we promote and defend truth, which necessitates exposing error and heresy. However, many professing Christians have been conditioned to believe that when heresy or misrepresentation of God’s word is put forth, they should remain silent. This is because truth is considered a contentious trouble-maker in the world of information. That is true in the religious and secular realms. Thus, one who insists on truth having “the same right to be heard as error” is perceived as a bully. In the secular realm, he or she could be accused of hate speech. It doesn’t help that in nearly every case of a clash between truth and heresy, at the end of the exchange the proponent of heresy plays the victim.
Rather than be considered mean-spirited and unChrist-like, most professing Christians are allowing heresy and other error unopposed access to Christianity. Heretics can now spout their falsehoods, New Age mixture, Freudian concepts, humanist philosophy, and other error, without much more than the rattling of chains from the people who know better. As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult to defend and promote truth in this nation today.
The encroachment by the secular culture aside, a steady stream of rancid heresy flows unabated into Christianity. Relatively few Christians oppose this diabolical flow. They have been intimidated into remaining silent. They believe they must walk on eggshells to even mildly challenge error. Anything they say in opposition to heresy becomes a bone of contention. In most cases, they shut their mouths, back down, apologize, and otherwise grovel to keep peace. They stand by silently while those refusing to compromise endure derision and reprimand.
Here is a short list of don’ts:
- Don’t denounce homosexuality as a sin.
- Don’t say a popular televangelist or telepastor is a heretic.
- Don’t tell anyone that they are wrong for any reason.
- Don’t denounce any heresy (especially if it has been published as a book or a devotional bible).
There is an unwritten “Bill of Rights” for the deceived and heretics, with truth as its main enemy. Heretics or deceived people promoting a heresy insist no one has the right to challenge them. They insist, “I have the right to believe what I wish.” That’s true. They may certainly believe it, but do not have the right to promote it. The moment they do, every true Christian has the right and duty to challenge it. Truth absolutely has just as much right to be heard as error.
The question is, are true Christians going to submit to this chicanery and allow heresy to enter and spread unchallenged? Have we now reached the point where we care more about what people think about us than about defending God’s truth? Are we so fearful of being accused and perceived as mean-spirited individuals that we timidly protest the assault on truth, coddle the heretic, magnanimously give the heresy a pass, and with quavering obsequiousness offer a “possibly, maybe, if you please, respectfully differ, may I suggest, no offense intended,” presentation of diluted, weak, pusillanimous, and blurred truth?
My detractors, professing Christians who actually claim to love truth, would insist that one must use diplomacy when defending truth or opposing heresy. What they actually mean is, it is wrong (even very wrong) to offend a deceived individual or a heretic. Really? Are not the presentation and insistence of heresy an offense to a true Christian? Introduction of heresy is in fact an attack on Christianity and Christians in particular. It is also an attack on God and the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ whom we profess to love with all our hearts.
The fact is, we can’t avoid offending someone if we present truth clearly and completely. Clearly presenting truth is to challenge the heresy, heretic, and deceived individual.
The presentation of truth necessitates the exposition of error; it involves delineating the components of the heresy clearly. Since heresy involves the behavior of people, the person will fall under the same spotlight of truth as the heresy. This is and always has been the issue. How does one expose heresy without offending people? It is near impossible. If you are going to expose heresy, you are going to offend, anger, and eventually they will play the victim. You may as well be prepared for that to occur. If you are unwilling to face the consequences of defending truth, you will allow heresy unopposed access and range.
Christians MUST defend the truth of the bible. Silencing tactics are from the devil. We must love the Lord more than ourselves and anything else that we stand to gain or lose must be weighed against our number one duty; reverence for God! We must stand for the truth, come what may. Do not let their lies turn you into cowering weaklings, knees buckling before the enemy. You will do no one any favors that way. The true prophets spoke up against all opposition and yes, they suffered for it. But it was their calling. And it is ours. And later they were glorified also. Just like during the nazi times, evil triumphs when Christians keep silent. It is a sin. We must speak up. Even if nothing else is gained and we are persecuted, when we stand before the throne of God on that day, it will all be seen in the right perspective and boy, will we be glad!!! I just pray that other believers could see it that way now, and I do and thank God for it!
amen and amen , again!!!
Just became aware of the site through the link from Lighthouse Trails. I will be in touch a little later, C.H.