Consequences of False Teaching

By Steve Lee

There was a time among God’s people that false teaching and false teachers weren’t tolerated. In many congregations they still aren’t. One example that we can cite in the Scriptures is found in Galatians 2:1-5. Paul, referring to those who were teaching error concerning circumcision, said in verse 5, “To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” It is a shame that can- not be said about some of my brethren today. We hear a plea for tolerance by those who are either teaching error or by those who have been caught up in the error. While I believe that we should be patient with each other (2 Thess. 5:14), there is a big difference between patience and tolerance.

An analogy that I like to use, is with my own children. I can, and must, be patient with my children as they grow up, but I cannot tolerate bad behavior. They must know the difference between right and wrong, and I must patiently teach them those things. I can, and must, be patient with those who are newly converted to the Lord. I need to help them as they mature to full grown Christians and I would expect other Christians to be patient with me as I grow to maturity. I also must be patient toward all my fellow men. Being patient though doesn’t mean that we can’t, and don’t, correct someone when he is wrong. Such was the case with Apollos (Acts 18:24-26). However, I cannot tolerate someone who is teaching that which is contrary to the will of God. The word “tolerate” means: (1) to allow; permit, (2) to recognize and respect (oth- ers’ beliefs, practices, etc.) without sharing them, (3) to put up with; bear (Webster’s New World Dictionary). If I can tolerate error concerning the divorce/remarriage question, or the issue of fellowship, then why can’t I tolerate the error taught by the Baptists, Methodists, or any other denominational group? Some brethren would probably contend that we could. The word of God teaches us to reprove and rebuke (2 Tim. 4:2; Eph. 5:11), not to tolerate error.

There are some consequences that fall out as a result of false teaching. I have made some observations and I would like to notice a few of these.

It Causes Folks to Depart from the Lord

One of the things that amazed Paul was that so many of the Galatians were so soon removed from the Lord (Gal. 1:6). As a result of the false teaching that was going on at Galatia, people were starting to go back to the law of Moses (Gal. 5:4). When error is taught today, folks have to make a decision. Are they going to follow the Lord or follow the false teacher (2 Pet. 2:2)? A lot of the blame lies at the feet of those who teach error, but some of the blame must also go to those who follow it. Brethren, we need to ground ourselves in the truth, so that we won’t be “tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14). When we start demanding book, chapter, and verse (1 Pet. 4:11), then I believe that we will stop the departures from the truth. The thing that appeals to many Christians is the “good words and fair speeches” (Rom. 16:18) that are being used by so many preaching brethren. When lessons that are brought from the pulpit are filled with stories and cute little sayings, then we can expect some who don’t want to hear the truth to depart from the Lord. Then there are other Christians who do not have the courage to confront the error and just go along with it to keep the “peace.” It is amazing to me that folks, who should have been grounded in the truth, have left it and are willing to follow those who teach error.

It Gives People a False Sense of Security

When some “religious leaders” (i.e., the Pope, Billy Graham, etc.) teach things that soothe the conscience of those who hear them, the hearers have a false sense of security. When Billy Graham teaches that a person can be saved without baptism or that he can put his hands on the TV and accept the Lord as his Savior, it gives him hope that he is saved, when in fact he is still lost! The same thing happens when a gospel preacher teaches error concerning divorce and remarriage, or the issue of fellowship, or the deity of Christ, or a myriad of other subjects. It gives people a false sense of security. Folks who are caught up in adultery don’t want to hear that they are in sin (Matt. 14:3-4; 19:9), and that they must get out of that adulterous relationship in order to be saved (1 Cor. 6:9-10). So, there are some gospel preachers who will teach what they want to hear (2 Tim. 4:3-4). It is shameful that some brethren have taken a simple passage like Matthew 19:1-9 and made it so complex and difficult for some to understand. Just as there are many in the denominational world who believe that all a person has to do in order to be saved is have faith, I am sure there are some so-called Christians who have believed the error taught concerning divorce and remarriage and are still living in adultery even though they have “obeyed” the gospel. We don’t have the space here to get into all the error that is being taught about divorce and remarriage by some brethren, or all the other error that is being taught about other subjects. Suffice it to say however, that all who teach, believe, and practice error have a false sense of security.

It Will Cause People to Be Eternally Lost

The charge, “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (stricter judgment, NASB) (Jas. 3:1), should stir all of us who teach to “take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: (emphasis mine SL) for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16). Those of us who preach and teach have a great and grave responsibility. We are helping to shape the hearts and minds of those we teach. As a direct result of what we teach, people will either be lost or saved. If we are teaching the truth, it will cause people to be saved (John 8:32). If we are teaching error, it will cause people to be lost (2 Thess.

2:11-12). To think that we had a hand in teaching someone the truth and they obeyed the gospel and were saved is a thrilling thought indeed! But to think that I taught error and it caused people to be lost is a discouraging thing to think about. Someone may ask, “But how will I know if it is truth or not?” Put it to the test (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). If someone teaches something that is contrary to the will of God, confront him with it. It may be that he accidentally taught that which is wrong or it may be that you misunderstood. Or it may be he just blatantly taught error. This is serious business! Souls are at stake!

Conclusion

Just as “the gospel is the power of God to save” (Rom. 1:16), error is the devil’s power to cause folks to be lost. There will always be some who will depart from the truth and teach unwholesome words, so we must not lay our swords by. We must continue to fight the battle against the devil. Let us be determined to teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

Heirs According to the Promise

By Eric Norford

The book of Galatians is a book that deals with the difference between the Old Law and the New Covenant. The Old Law was limited in its scope. It pertained to the Jews only. The Old Law was limited in forgiveness of sins. It required the blood of animals as sacrifices on a daily basis to remit sins. However, in the New Covenant, Paul tells us that a person must come in contact with the blood of Christ in baptism to have forgiveness of sins, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death. Therefore we are buried with Him in baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4). A person who is baptized becomes a child of God (Rom. 8:14-17). Romans 8:17 makes this point clear, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ . . .” Paul also said in Galatians 3:29, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according the promise.”

The word “heir” according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon means, “to possess of Christians, as exalted by faith to the dignity of sons of Abraham and so sons of God, and hence to receive the blessings of God’s kingdom promised to Abraham.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says the word “denotes one who obtains a lot or portion.” It carries with it the idea that all children of God are heirs to an inheritance that is yet to come. When do Christians become heirs? They become heirs when they put Jesus Christ on in baptism and are born again to be adopted by the Father (John 3:3, 5; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). If you’re a child of God, then you are an heir according to the promise of God. We are currently waiting to receive our inheritance of heaven.

God’s Promise

In order for us to understand the great promise of God we must return to when the promise was originally given. The covenant and promise was given to Abraham. God promised that through Abraham’s seed a nation would inherit a land that God would give them. He also promised that through Abraham’s seed all nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). God renewed the promise of a nation and land in Genesis 15:3-6. The heir to these promises first was Isaac. God renewed the covenant with him in Genesis 26:3-4. The heir to Isaac was Jacob. And God renewed the same promise to Jacob that he had made to Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 28:13-14). It was through one of Jacob’s sons that the seed promise would be fulfilled, that son was Judah (Gen. 49:10). The seed promise made by God was the Messiah coming to bring salvation.

Genesis 15:6 declares that Abraham believed and obeyed the God of heaven. Other New Testament passages show that Abraham trusted in God’s word and was obedient. Thus, he was called a friend of God (Rom. 4:3-6, 20-25; Gal. 3:6; Heb. 11:8-17; Jas. 2:20-25).

God promised that through Abraham’s seed all families of the earth would be blessed in the Messiah. The promise was for those who follow the Messiah, they would never die, share in the blessings, and would receive an inheritance (John 3:15; 6:35, 40; Heb. 1:1-4). Paul said in Ephesians 1:10-14, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” We know that this promise is sure and true because God cannot lie and sent Christ to purchase our souls (Gal. 4:4; Tit. 1:2).

The Law of Moses

God not only promised Abraham the great promises, but said that his descendants would spend 430 years in captivity (Gen. 15:13-16; Acts 7:6; Gal. 3:17). When they escaped Egyptian bondage, they received the Law of Moses (Exod. 20-34). The Law served two purposes: (1) It was added because of transgressions or sins (Gal. 3:19); (2) It showed us the promise to come (Gal. 3:21). But the Law of Moses was not a perfect law, “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should  afterwards  be  revealed. Wherefore  the  law  was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith, but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:23-25). The faith is a reference to a better testament, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been fault- less, then should no place have been sought for the second” (Heb. 8:6-7). The Law could not take away sins. It was an imperfect of faith, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not ceased to be offered? Because that the worshipers once purged should have had no conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb. 10:1-4).

The Perfect Sacrifice of Christ

Since the Law could not take away sins there had to be something better. Jesus Christ came and was the perfect sacrifice for sin. His death made possible the forgiveness of sins, even the sins of the whole world. He bore them all — the sins of those under the Old Law and those who were living during the Patriarchal age (Isa. 53:5, 8, 10-12; Heb. 10:12). The Old Law was given till the seed should come — that seed was Christ (Gal. 3:19, 26). He offered himself just once for all time (Heb. 9:28; 10:8-14). Christ’s death opened the door of salvation for all mankind — the perfect, great salvation (Heb. 2:3; Eph. 2:11-22). Jesus’ instructions were for people to believe, repent and be baptized (Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47). The apostles followed those instructions by preaching it (Acts 2:38-40). The Jews on Pentecost believed it and obeyed it (Acts 2:41). When we follow those same instructions, we become heirs as all who have obeyed the Lord (Gal. 3:27-29). Those who obey share in the blessings (Eph. 1:3; Rom. 8:28-30). We become members of the body of Christ — the church (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). The body is where God wants all to be one (John 17:20-21; Gal. 3:14; Eph. 3:6). The inheritance will be given when Christ returns or if we should die first and after we face God on the Judgment Day (2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 2:10; 1 Pet. 1:4; Heb. 4:9-11).

Can we not see how this all ties together? If in Christ, then are we Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Our responsibility is to proclaim the great message of salvation to all (Matt. 28:18-20). God’s promises are sure and true, our hope is tied into them (Heb. 6:13-15, 18-20). We wait for the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Pet. 3:9-13). Those who obey can receive the blessings and become “heirs according the promise” as well. Brethren, let us remain faithful and loyal to God and keep the promise of the inheritance.

Reading, Writing, and Reflecting

By 

Steve Willis

 

Correction?

In my last “Reading, Writing and Reflecting” I reported on the male rock singer who goes by the name of Marilyn Manson. My information was, taken from an issue of the Alberta Report which read: “Manson, 28, a skinny, chin- less Floridian who wears androgynous make-up, Nazi-style clothing, and fishnet stockings, is a Church of Satan minister. He drinks his own blood and has (had oral sex with) male groupies during concerts.”

Since then, Manson has come to Alberta. With reports like the above abounding, his act was shut out of a performance in Calgary, though he did appear in Edmonton. Articles appeared in the newspapers, both for and against the performance. In one of the articles, it was revealed that the American Family Association was helping to spread the an- ti-Manson news by distributing “affidavits from two teenage girls who allege they saw live homosexual acts, child abuse and animal slaughter on stage at one of Manson’s shows.” When Manson’s lawyers sued the AFA for defamation, “it backed down and admitted the ‘affidavits’ were fabricated” (from Medicine Hat News, July 12, 1997, B6).

Now if he didn’t do the acts, I certainly want to withdraw the allegation that he did do the acts. Perhaps there are no affidavits to say he did. However since that issue, there has been another issue of the Alberta Report with Manson as the cover article (July 18, 1997). Manson’s guitarist is quoted from Rolling Stone magazine, as saying, “We’ve done much worse things than that. I had my 11-year-old brother onstage in one of the shows completely naked. It was like child pornography” (34).

I’ll leave it to the magazines to sort all that out. It seems clear enough from other things reported that this is not a musical group that you’d want your children to see, or probably hear.

Don’t Do as I Say!

One recent phenomena in music is the spoken word set to music or sound samples: Rap. There are several varieties of this format. One is called “gangsta” rap. Some songs exhibit brutal feelings of men toward women. Others are against the police and have advocated killing the police.

Many include offensive language, and are marked as such in stores. One producer, Sean Combs, was questioned about gangsta rapper Biggie Smalls, who was gunned down in LA. Smalls had been in a verbal feud with another rapper who was also killed in gunfire. Combs was asked: “You’re a father. Do you think hard-core rap records should carry stronger parental warnings?” He replied, “I don’t have no problem with that. I think kids shouldn’t be able to listen to some albums till their minds are fully developed and ready to digest an album with certain realities on there. There are realities that may be too harsh for young ears. Even though it’s a reality and needs to be said, it may not need to be said to a 10-year old.”

The follow-up question was, “What about a three-year old? Do you let your three-year-old son Justin listen to gangsta rap?” Combs reply, “Well, he can’t listen to the Biggie album (the recently released “Life After Death”). Some things on my album he can’t listen to. He just listens to the singles. The clean-up singles” (Time, Aug. 4, 1997, Canadian Edition, 44). How about a few more “really” cleaned up songs?

Passive Smoking Can Harm You

Passive smoking is defined as smoke you breath when another person is handling the cigarette. Many recent studies have found that smoking is bad for one’s health. This year airline stewardesses filed legal claims that they were physically harmed by having to work in past years in planes where people smoked. Also, tobacco companies made a major a $368-billion capitulation in court cases involving U.S. states health insurance claims. Some companies are even turning in evidence against the others that smoking is harmful and company leaders knew just that.

What is the effect of second-hand smoke on you? Last summer, Time reported, “Get out the gas mask. A major study concludes that non-smokers double their risk of heart disease when regularly exposed to the thousands of chemicals in passive smoke. The researchers warn: if you can smell it, it can harm you” (June 2, 1997, Canadian Edition,

16). So, can you smell it?

Later, under “Where there’s smoke” Time reported, “Boys born to moms who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to exhibit aggressive, destructive, or other problem behaviors. Nicotine may disrupt fetal brain development” (August 4, 1997, Canadian Edition, 10).

Does the love of tobacco or the love of Christ control you? (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14).

What’s Quicker than a Quickie Divorce?

Married couples in Utah, California, and Arizona can now get a quicker divorce than the “quickie” divorce. All they need to do is find the closest Quick Court machine. It resembles an automatic bank teller machine, and will produce divorce papers about as fast. After the papers are later certified by a lawyer, their divorce is official. This process started in Arizona with three machines in 1993. It became so popular in that state that it plans to have 150 machines by the end of 1997.

Compare that to Louisiana’s recent attempt to make marriages more permanent by instituting “covenant” marriages which limit the reasons that a couple can be divorce. I thought Matthew 19 limited the reasons to one! (Info from Alberta Report, Oct. 6, 1997, 43).

More Divorce Statistics

“If your parents divorce, you’re also more likely to do so” says an article in the August 25, 1997 issue of Time. “Now a study finds that if you experience more than one divorce as a kid, you’re four times as likely to go through multiple marriages as an adult” (Canadian Edition, 12).

Homosexuals on TV

Last Spring, ABC’s Ellen show was featured on many magazine covers as lesbian Ellen DeGeneres’ character on the show decided it was time to make her homosexuality known. Here are a few of the “outing” covers: TV Guide, “Ellen’s Big Outing: Another TV Taboo Comes Tumbling Down as Ellen DeGeneres Opens the Door to Prime-time’s First Gay Lead”; Time, putting words into DeGeneres’ mouth, “‘Yep, I’m Gay’: Exclusive: Ellen DeGeneres ex- plains why she’s coming out/The changing nature of sex on TV,” Out (a publication to “outing” homosexuals) “Come on Out, Ellen! The Water’s Just Fine!” Well, it’s not just fine, according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 6:9).

TV Guide cited a poll that 63% of regular viewers of Ellen were not planning to watch the coming out show (Alberta Report, May 12, 1997, 29). Yet, the TV show was nominated for one of many Emmys. These nominations and voting for awards was by the Hollywood elite — remember the people who plan, write and act in shows on TV. This year the Gay and Lesbian Alliance is bragging that there are 30 (thirty!) homosexual characters featured in U.S. network series this fall. Spokesperson Chastity Bono, daughter of Sonny and Cher Bono, said that the number of homosexual roles is up 23% from the start of TV’s last season. She said that the outing of Ellen’s character opens possibilities for characters other than the “odd recurring character” (Alberta Report, September 1, 1997, 50).

Is it no wonder that people are getting fed up with some of the programming and policies of the media companies? Did you realize that the Disney company, originally noted for its family-oriented programming, had purchased ABC’s television and radio networks? Last year one large religious body threatened to boycott Disney for their “anti-Christian” and “anti-family” policies. They have released films that have been anti-religion and anti-family values. Homosexuals have used the Disney theme parks openly for gay pride days. Disney did not respond to the hints of boycott, so, this year the same religious group, plus two others decided it was time to boycott the Disney organization (Christianity Today, July 14, 1997, 72). Not long before this decision was made, the Ellen “outing” show aired, and following that show, were others in which the character and her friends tried to “deal with” her sexuality.

In a show aired in October, ABC at least put up a parental warning, for the script called for “Ellen” the lesbian to kiss another woman. This is not the first time there has been a same-sex kiss on TV. However, it may have been the first since the new TV rating system was revised. This warning/ rating has the real Ellen upset. It was reported that she had threatened to walk off the show — though on Larry King’s show the same night, her mother denied that to be the case. My feeling? Let her go.

While on the one hand, activists say that putting homosexuals on TV has no effect on people, TV advertisers are lining up for the best slots to influence people. Did you realize that the Vice President spoke on the matter too? In Los Angeles, Al Gore said, “So many television shows, songs, and movies have dramatically changed the way we see vital issues. In this sense, the very term ‘entertainment industry’ is incomplete. For while you entertain, you also open minds and hearts. . . . When the character ‘Ellen’ came out, millions of Americans were forced to look at sexual orientation in a more open light” (quoted from the Larry King show on CNN, Oct 16, 1997).

Maybe it is fair to point out that another Vice President, Dan Quayle, also spoke about media’s influence on culture, condemning their influence for showing a single woman choosing to get pregnant on TV’s “Murphy Brown” show. Many, including the President, later said that Dan Quayle was right. We need to consider carefully the influence shows like this have on our families.

DeGeneres began her comedy career with a skit wherein she was on the phone to God. Maybe it’s time she and others actually listen to what God said in the Bible.

Is the Sauce for the Goose Good for the Gander?

Just see if it turns around fairly in the public’s view. A letter to the editor of the Alberta Report, addressed the is- sue of whether or not homosexuals should be allowed to adopt or foster children. So, they turned it around: “. . . Are homosexuals fit to parent foster children? To answer this question, let us take two gay men, dress them up in black suits with clerical collars, and jowl them out a bit. We now have two Christian Brothers from the Mount Cashel Boy’s Orphanage, who sexually abused young boys for years. Defrock these brothers, remove their titles, and a wonderful transformation takes place. They are now considered worthy, by our deluded politicians, to foster children. . . . The homosexual community accuses anyone of objecting to their death style as hating them, but they are sinners like the rest of us, needing mercy. However, they are not fit to foster children and never will be” (Allen Iddings, in Sept. 22, 1997 issue, 3).

False Prophecy

As I was doing a little research on another topic, I came across a “prophecy” about Diana Spencer (deceased), princess of Wales: “. . . I see her married and very, very happy. And there will be another child, a girl. Of that I am certain” (Betty Palko, “clairvoyant”; in March 1995 Miracles and the Extraordinary magazine, 10). Just how wrong can one be? Let us not forget the Bible teaching about such prophets: “And you may say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him” (Deut. 18:21-22).

Just a note: It may seem there are many quotes and references to the Alberta Report. Yes, indeed there are. Since moving to Alberta, I’ve found it a good source to keep up with this kind of information. I hope it is useful to you also.

“I Plead The Fifth, Lord!”

By Harry R. Osborne

Have you ever noticed how politicians answer questions? Most of them will not give a straight answer. One of their tricks is to talk around a subject for a while, but when they are done, they have not said anything. Another trick is to answer a question with, “No comment.” It is as if they have a natural tendency to plead the fifth amendment regardless of the circumstance. Why would someone try to shun an answer and keep a matter shrouded in silence? Why would one not want it to be known where he stands on a question? The most common reason is the fear of opposition from those who may not agree with the stated view. The safe road to avoid taking a stand is to stay quiet or issue a disclaimer to signal neutrality.

The recent efforts to speak plainly on the immorality manifesting itself in our local schools have shown this tendency by some in our community. Very few seem ready to boldly oppose immoral teaching and practice even when they agree that it is immoral. They do not want to offend others. It seems the majority of those in places of influence are more concerned with covering up problems rather than correcting them. The disclaimer put on our article in the newspaper was an amusing example of this to me. Instead of taking a stand one way or the other, it was deemed safer and more politically correct to state their neutrality. The fact is that there is no neutral ground with morality and service to God. We are either for the Lord or against him (Matt. 12:30).

In Bible times, there were those who refused to take a stand for God and his truth. They were always condemned for such cowardice. It was the people of courage who dared to stand against the views of those in places of power who God approved.

Elijah vs. The Powerful In Israel

Elijah was a man who stood in opposition to the wicked ways of King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel had introduced the idolatry of Baal to Israel with all of its associated evils. Elijah stood against that system and urged others to oppose it as well. When Ahab came face to face with Elijah, the king’s first words were these: “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17). Elijah replied, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you have followed Baal” (1 Kings 18:18). This man of God rightly understood that the one standing for truth was not the cause of trouble. Those who disobeyed God were the reason for problems and the resultant division.

When all of the people were gathered, they had a clear choice. Who would they believe and follow? Their king who had the power over them or Elijah who spoke an unpopular message of truth in opposition to the king. The Bible records the occasion in these words:

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.” But the people answered him not a word (1 Kings 18:21).

It was a fifth amendment crowd who feared the king more than they loved the truth. However, God gave victory to his truth through Elijah that day when he was used to show God’s power on Mount Carmel. If we wish to be victorious along with God’s cause, we must stand boldly for the truth even in the face of powerful opposition. Silence will not get the job done when the truth is at stake.

The Blind Man, His Parents and Jesus

In John 9, Jesus gave sight to a man who had been born blind. When the Pharisees who opposed Jesus asked the man who had made him to see, the man answered unashamedly even over the objections of the powerful Pharisees. At the first, the man knew by the miracle worked that the one working such a miracle must be from God. Therefore, when asked who Jesus was, the man said, “He is a prophet” (John 9:17). Later, when the Pharisees tried to get him to change his testimony, they ridiculed the man for being a disciple of Jesus whereas they claimed to be disciples of Moses. The Pharisees chided, “We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from” (John 9:29). Undaunted, the man replied:

Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing (John 9:30-33).

This man was not a fair weather supporter of Jesus Christ. He was ready to face the opposition and remain the truth regardless of the cost.

The Rulers Seeking Praise Of Men

In John 12, we see another case of the same thing involving those who were themselves in places of power. They did not want to lose their position by confessing Christ. Notice how the Bible describes these people:

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:42-43).

Their problem was not one of ignorance. They knew who Jesus was, but were to cowardly to confess him before others. What a shame it was that these people loved the praise of men more than God! It is a sad fact that some still do.

Conclusion

If we are to serve God acceptably, we must realize our responsibility to stand for God and his truth regardless of the cost. At times, it will cost us as others ridicule, oppose and even denounce us. But we must always remember that unmoved. The power of the opponent did not make him fearful.

However, the man’s parents did not exhibit such courage. The Pharisees asked them how their son received his sight. The parents responded, “By what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself” (John 9:21). This answer was a dodge. They knew how he was made to see, but they were afraid to tell the Pharisees for fear of what they might do in retaliation. The next verses make that clear in the following words:

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him” (John 9:22-23).

They were cowards who issued their disclaimer to protect themselves from the Pharisees instead of standing for it is the ultimate praise of God that we seek, not the temporary popularity of this world. Like those of Bible times, we live in a world where standing for truth is not popular. In fact, it is so unpopular that we are sure to be opposed (2 Tim. 3:12). What should we do? Remain silent? Go along with the crowd? Issue a disclaimer to truth? No, we must “preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; re- prove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). Those who justify sin and error will oppose us as will those who sit in silence. But God will bring us to victory with his truth in the end!