I have been reading a new book by Phil Cooke and Jonathan Bock called The Way Back: How Christians Blew our Credibility and HOW WE GET IT BACK. There has been a lot of underlining and highlighting as I’ve read because of how true so much of what they write has been. It has been informative. Convicting. Educational. Challenging.
They quote English crime writer Dorothy Sayers from the 1940s. She warned of a fast-approaching church that would be too comfortable and tolerant to make any waves:
In the world it calls itself tolerance; but in hell it is called despair…It is the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive only because there is nothing it would die for. (p.101)
Long story short; there comes a point in time when we have to make a stand. The church (as a whole) and many Christ-followers have bought into the “tolerance agenda” of the vocal minority. But one thing is true: the truth doesn’t change. Whether we agree with it or not; whether we can stomach it or not; whether we try to debate it away or not; that fact still remains. The Truth is the truth.
I was quite intrigued by this quote: “I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward…how much to you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? “ Now…here’s the kicker. That quote is by magician and entertainer (and atheist) Penn Jillette
Maybe…just maybe…our silence is deafening. Maybe we ought to stop bowing down to the “tolerance police” and start standing for Truth. Those are my thoughts. What are yours?
Amen, amen, amen and amen.
Did you say Amen? 🙂
Amen, Betty!
Amen Bill!
I’d say Amen Pam but that might be a bit redundant. 🙂
What a powerful message today, Bill, and ironically, posted on the day Billy Graham, one who was never afraid to speak the Truth, passes away. May his legacy inspire us to break our own silence and witness to the world.
Blessings!
I’m honored you would say that Martha. I wrote this before I knew. And yes, he spoke the truth and was without pretense. May his tribe increase.
I think believers need to be somewhat careful in public as far as telling people what they believe. A lot of people, like myself, think Jews, Christians, and Muslims are delusional. In the workplace delusional is not a good thing. If you feel the need to share your delusions I simply suggest you be very selective as to whom you share it with. Most everyone has heard the Jesus story. Some buy it and most don’t. Trying to sell it in public can expose a defect you may not want to expose.
I agree with having the right approach jeff. Too many want to “blow the doors off people” and then fail to have much good come out of it. I think Jesus put it well when He said, “We need to wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.”
Awesome note, well said. It reminds me of what my grandma always said, tell people the truth, whether they like it or not, it is the truth, and they will deal with the truth. No one ever thanks you for telling them a lie, or leaving them in the dark because you were afraid to tell them the truth. This truth applies to the Lord on every level possible. All God ask is that we plant seeds, he is one that will make them grow. The truth is, no one really wants to meet the Lord, and say I never heard the truth, and have the Lord correct them.
Your grandma was a wise woman. And your words at the end strike a note. Even if you doubt His truth, that does not change the truth.
This comment needs a triple amen, amen, amen too…that Grandma had great wisdom.
Wow. Let that sink in… That preaches, brother!
This reminds me of an interview I saw with Kathie Lee Gifford regarding the passing of Billy Graham. She said she is often asked why she is so bold about her faith. Kathie Lee replied, “If you had the cure for cancer, would you keep it to yourself?” It’s the same with sharing the good news of Jesus. He is the cure for what our hearts need…we just need to remember to show others the grace we have been given as well.