DECEPTION AND PROGRESSIVE “CHRISTIANS"
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If we are going to call ourselves a Christian, we are saying that we are disciples and followers of Jesus.
What does it mean to be a follower of Christ? It's very obvious:
∑ “Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.'” (John 14:23-24)
In response to a Christian who had been arguing against the threat inherent in receiving more Muslim refugees, a progressive "Christian" countered that:
∑ "A religion of fear was not the kind of religion that Jesus had been preaching. His was a religion of love."
However, if we love, we will warn. Jesus certainly did a lot of warning, especially about hell. He also warned a lot about other things. False teachings and practices were also a big part of His warnings, like blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.
I, therefore, chided the progressive that he would not have approved of Jesus' religion. However, he replied:
∑ "Perfect love casts out fear. Since you still fear, you are not walking in love. You claim to follow Jesus, but you really don't believe Him."
He was referring to 1 John 4:
∑ “By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear [of judgment] in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 John 4:17-18)
Notice that John wrote about a specific form of fear - the fear of judgment - and insisted that if we walk in love as Jesus did we will have a greater confidence about who we are and will not fear judgment.
Instead, God purposely created us with a capacity to fear. Why? Because many things we should fear! We should fear the power of sin and even God:
∑ “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him [God] who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
On the same thread, another progressive insisted that Jesus would have received all the Muslim refugees.
Would He? We don't know, but He would have received all who came to Him but would have also insisted that they'd repent, an ingredient which the progressives leave out:
∑ “And he answered them, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.'” (Luke 13:2-5)
Jesus would also have insisted that love has to begin among the brethren:
∑ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:20-24)
In contrast, progressive "Christians" behave as if Christians should be the last ones they help. They advocate for Muslim refugees but don't raise a whisper on behalf of those refugees who are truly in need.
Are these progressives true brethren? True brethren abide in His Word and don't distort it. They fear God and don't play fast-and-loose with Him.
DIALOGUING WITH THE MILITANT ATHEIST
The Bible provides the militant atheist (MA) with a big juicy target. Meanwhile, the MAs conveniently deny that they have any target at all, and that they merely believe that there is not enough evidence to believe in God. They will not even declare that God does not exist, lest someone might counter, "Prove it."
This puts the Christian exactly where the MA wants him to be - on the defensive. And MAs have many challenges in their arsenal:
1. What was God going before He created?
2. How could God be good if he destroyed the Canaanites along with their children?
3. Why doesn't God save everyone?
4. Why does the Bible condone slavery and even rape?
If you are talking to an MA, you need to recognize this. Why? You need to know that your answers will never be able to satisfy him. Besides, we cannot answer these questions, and many like them, comprehensively.
Of course, the MA will triumphantly proclaim:
∑ "You see, you cannot make sense out of what doesn't make sense. Therefore, your faith is bankrupt."
How do you respond? First, you need to see it is their conclusion that is bankrupt. How? It assumes that understanding must be complete in order to be viable.
This is not true. In all areas, we only understand in part. Take science where we admittedly don't even understand the basics, like time, space, matter, and energy. However, despite our uncertainty about these things, no one would reject science.
To apply this principle to Christianity -- it is not at all reasonable to reject it because there is much we don't understand. However, this should not become an excuse to not have to seek wisdom as we ought.
Here is a similar challenge. The MA will hurl at you many alleged Bible contradictions, and when you can't reconcile them, the MA will taunt you:
∑ "You see, the Bible must be the errant words of men."
Here is the simplest way to respond:
∑ "Can you prove that this alleged contradiction cannot be resolved?"
Of course, they cannot prove anything of the sort. But beware, they will try to shift the responsibility for proof back on you to demonstrate that these verses cannot be reconciled.
Nevertheless, for our own edification, we should meditate on Scripture until we can possibly find a solution. When we leave many loose ends untied, it becomes difficult to form a cohesive Christian worldview at the expense of our confidence.
New York School of the Bible: http://www.nysb.nyc/
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