Acts 17:22 – Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
On FB, some questioned what I wrote yesterday. They were not mean, but sincere and well-intentioned and I am grateful for the opportunity to respond. Also let me say that I believe those who questioned me also love me, and I love them. I felt obliged to response and below is my verbose response. Blessings to all!
Those who questioned what I wrote, thank you so much for doing so. It gives me a chance to respond, which I am ready to do. I know those who questioned, I know that you care for me, and you know I love you. So truly, thank you for the opportunity to respond!
I’m surprised that people who know me would think that what I was writing about was not sharing the Word. In fact, I mentioned nothing about not sharing the Gospel. I love to share the word with believers and nonbelievers. I don’t get as much opportunity to “witness” now-a-days and when I get the opportunity, I relish it! With this fellow I talked with him for over an hour and shared the Word. I was not berating the co-worker, as I had mentioned, at the end of the conversation he felt very positive about our conversation. I was very loving and kind throughout our conversation. Again I love talking about the Gospel with believers and non-believers.
When he told me that he respected my beliefs and then told me that he was sure that I respected his beliefs he was expecting an obligatory response of “yes I do.” I could not do that for the previously stated reasons. Also, someone who was not there can second-guess what I said, if that is what they do, but they were not there. I was absolutely doing what I thought the Lord would have me do…tell the truth. This man I was speaking to was an intelligent man who felt strongly about his position. The worse thing I could have told him was that I respected his position and gave false validity to his position. In fact, being circumspect, it would have been the worst thing that I could have done. After conversing with him for over an hour, sharing that Jesus and the Apostles taught that there is only one way to heaven (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) would I now tell him that his beliefs were okay. No! I would have undone what I had shared. I believed that I helped him by saying what I said to him. For those of you who know me, I’m amazed that you would think I was harsh or unkind with this man. Besides, he was no milquetoast. He was shocked by what I said but he was intelligent enough to understand why I said what I said. We still amicably parted.
Was my answer biblical? Absolutely! For those who would challenge that, look to the Bible. Yes, it was something that may seem like something John the Baptist would have said, but that is great company since Jesus said “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist…” (Matthew 11:11) Jesus called Pharisee’s “snakes” (Matthew 23:33) and “hypocrites” and “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:25-27). I suppose some would criticize Jesus for being harsh or unloving and that would be the furthest from the truth. Stephen gave a righteous and truthful testimony that described the wickedness of his audience, calling them “stiff-necked people and killers” and then they, proving him right, murdered Stephen by stoning. Included among those who there at stoning of Stephen, who heard his testimony, was the Saul who became the great Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul could be tender and also very strong in opposition to false doctrine and teaching. In Galatians 1:6-10 he said that wrong ideas about the Gospel, different gospels, are actually no Gospel at all. He said that these errors were throwing people into confusion and he said that people who spread these errors are cursed and then the Apostle Paul concluded by saying “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” In Galatians 5:1-12 the Apostle Paul, speaking of the freedom of Christ and those who would preach circumcision and thereby oppose the freedom of the saints, said of them “As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves.” Very strong words. You can judge the greatest Apostle if you would like, but I will not.
Family and friends, there were people listening to us talk, so what I said was not only for that co-workers benefit, but for those who were listening. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 famously states “There is a time for everything” and that includes a time of weeping with people, of tender empathizing, and there are times of standing strong, as the Spirit leads. I stand for the Word of God and speak it in love as I can, but I will never compromise my loyalty to God and love for Him to make someone else feel good. I was led by the Spirit of God to say what I said. I remember the moment before I said what I said and how the thought came to me. Then and now I believe it was what that man needed to hear and that it was the Spirit who gave me the words. Sometimes, we need to be told the harsh truth. Telling the harsh truth is much more difficult than compromising and saying something that is not true so that we think we are sparing their feeling. No, I would rather give them a jolt to save their life then flatter them and let them go on their way to hell. Read Ezekiel 3, especially Ezekiel 3:18. Family and friends, I care little for the thoughts that all mankind thinks when I have direction from God from His Word.
Also, please remember, though sometimes what I write is long, I always keep in mind to try to keep it short. That means that I cannot always, in fact rarely, write all that I would like to write. People have advised me to keep it brief, and I think it is good advice, as I can. People on FB don’t want to read a novel, which is why I always post a link to the full message.
So, how can I be judged of those who were not there? I believed then, and I believe now, that I was led by God. As far as sharing the Truth, that is what I was doing. As far as being loving and giving my time, I was and I did.
Finally, I have responded. If someone would like to contend with what I have said please send me a private message. I won’t distastefully argue in public. But I will converse in private, which I think is appropriate. Public arguments are a show I won’t be involved in and I will delete or block as necessary.
Please do remember that I thank you for questioning. They were valid questions and I’m sure they were ones that others may have had. I could go on, but I have written way too much. Happy to continue the conversation in private. God bless you all!
Below is what I sent out yesterday.
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.” What is interpreted as very religious could mean that they acknowledge the existence of God and are seeking Him. Or it could mean that he was saying that they are superstitious and so they endeavor to “cover their bases.” We also see that in our times, we see those who want to “cover their bases.” People who dabble in the varied beliefs of the world. They don’t want to offend any belief lest that is a real one. Not knowing a sure truth, they give respect to all beliefs. Once, about 1980 or so, being rather new in the Lord, there was a co-worker who spoke with me about my beliefs and he shared his beliefs. The conversation remained open and calm although many of his points were what he believed and not based on the Bible, which he did not fully embrace. At the conclusion of our conversation the man said to me, in a very positive way that he had formerly not thought about what was presented to him that day, but that he still had his own beliefs. He told me that he had enjoyed the conversation and he was glad that at the end of the conversation “we respect each other’s opinions.” I replied “It is true that I respect your right to have your own opinion, however I do not respect your opinion.” A shocked expression came over his face. I continued “You see it would be against what I believe to respect what it is that you believe. I don’t think that what you said has any merit in truth but is a commonly held error. What you believe opposes what I believe, therefore to respect what you believe is to disrespect the absolute truth of what I believe. So I respect your right to hold your belief, but to respect what you believe is to disrespect what I believe.” The man left me somewhat shaken by what I said. Know that I still cared about this man, but I would not deceive him by compromising the fact that the Gospel is the only truth that leads to peace with God (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). First is my loyalty to God and my love for Him, and from that comes my love for others. To tell someone that I respect the error they believe is not to love that person. It is giving them a confidence in what they believe. Furthermore, it would be an elevating of myself to be in a person’s favor and a usurping of the love, glory and acceptance of the glory that belongs solely to God. Family, this is no light consideration. I will not decrease the importance of God’s Word solely so people like me. Too many in our day do this now so as to not to offend the sensibilities of the lost or immature in Christ. It is self-idolatry and a travesty against God. God forbid. Let us not be as these Athenians who religiously and superstitiously cover their spiritual bases, but let us be confident and loyal to the Truth, the Son of God. To Jesus, the one and only Way to favor with God, be all glory and praise! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”