Sunday, June 8, 2014
“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27 KJV).
In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Paul demonstrated that all church leaders should not neglect to tell their congregants all of God’s counsel.
Recently, I listened to a now-saved minister expose the absurdities that he learned in seminary (“Bible cemetery”), while he was in training to become a church leader in a major “Christian” denomination, a cult he served for decades. By God’s grace, the dear man came to realize that his “good” works were nothing in God’s sight: he came to understand and trust the totality of Jesus Christ’s perfect sacrifice for his sins.
Having left that rank spiritual darkness that he was in for many years, he looks back and sees just how lost he really was back then, how he was on his way to hell, how he was so misled, even though he faithfully read the Holy Scriptures to his congregations for all those years. As per his denomination’s instructions, he meticulously followed their “approved” reading schedule of Scripture. Despite all those many years of (repetitive) sermons, he actually read what amounted to a mere five percent of the entire Bible, to all those precious souls in his church! He sees how he was only allowed to read the verses that agreed with the denominational system; they simply ignored the Bible passages that conflicted with their church!
Dearly beloved, there are hundreds of thousands of “churches” worldwide that are just like this, literally spiritually starving their millions upon millions of members, depriving them of the entire counsel of God, yet giving them just enough morsels in order to fool them into believing they are hearing everything that God has spoken to them.
In light of the spiritual darkness all around us, let us never take for granted our soul salvation from our sins and works-religion, our rightly divided King James Bible, our local grace assemblies, and the faithful saints who serve our Lord Jesus Christ in sharing the message of His grace with all the millions upon millions who desperately need it. May we choose the loaf, and reject the wafer!
333 Words of Grace 
Brother Shawn,
I have been witnessing to a former classmate who just completed his “academic studies” in Satan’s Angel of light school (seminary-Missouri synod Lutheran). I sent him various books and pamphlets on dispensationalism to no avail. He mentioned that he knows I’m zealous about my beliefs, and he respects that, then he ask that I respect his beliefs. I am at a complete loss of words to even respond back to him in any way. I understand Paul’s instructions in 2 Tim.2:24-26 we as the Lord’s servants should be patient, yet not strive, apt to teach, after all this man is opposing himself and don’t know that HE DON’T KNOW. (deceived) Then I think of Paul’s various teachings to avoid people like my classmate, which is it? How does one determine to be patient and to keep witnessing or to avoid them altogether?
Hello Brother Thomas.
“How does one determine to be patient and to keep witnessing or to avoid them altogether?” Excellent question! As you witness more and more, and as you mature spiritually, the further experience will allow you to better discern the witnessing situation each time (each situation is totally different from another). In the near future, I hope to write some studies about that topic (I’m sure others have the same question), but I’ll write some words here for you about your specific situation, and I’ll conclude with some general comments.
I think you’ve been quite patient with your classmate. You’ve sent him “various books and pamphlets on dispensationalism to no avail.” You didn’t just send him one book and give up and forget about it; you made repeated attempts and sent several pieces of literature, so you’ve done more than what our Lord expected. You have no further obligation unless he follows up (at this point, he has demonstrated that he isn’t interested in anything but his preconceived beliefs). It’s very tempting to get hung up over one person’s refusal (either for salvation or for Christian edification); I know the frustration, dear brother, but do not despair. Unless he wants you to reply, no response is necessary. In fact, further involvement might make him more opposed.
It’s just as 1 Corinthians 14:37-38 says: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” Yes, it is important to keep 2Tim. 2:24-26 in mind about being patient, yet 1Cor. 14:37-38 is quite clear (if a Christian refuses to acknowledge Paul’s apostleship, the loving action to take is to let them stay in ignorance–yes, we value free will as much as our Lord Jesus Christ does!). Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote that we are to expect Christians to be ignorant of his apostleship to us, and there are Christians who DO NOT want to acknowledge his special apostleship either (that’s your classmate). Your classmate is most definitely “opposing himself,” but he doesn’t appear to be concerned. You’ve repeatedly attempted to alert him of his doctrinal error (he commented how you were “zealous,” so you know that he knows that you did more than enough), but he consistently refuses reproof and correction. Dear brother, it’s high time to apply 1Cor. 14:38. Let him have what he wants–ignorance. He’s not just someone who doesn’t know better; he has had many opportunities to know the truth, but seminary has become Bible cemetery, and that’s what he desires. You’ll save yourself much frustration by not discussing Bible doctrine with him unless he asks. Let him come to you.
The good news is that your classmate knows to come to you with any Bible questions, so just be on “standby.” God the Holy Spirit will use the Bible verses you did share with him, and He will bring them to his memory. God’s Word never returns to Him void (Isa. 55:11). It has been my experience and other Christians, to wait until the opposition has questions, and then THEY will approach us. For years, these Bible-rejecters may not want to discuss anything further about the Scriptures. Then, one day, here they come with questions, either about salvation or for Bible understanding. That’s the result of God’s Word working in them, the verses we shared with them!
Those are brief comments about your specific experience with him.
Now, some things to keep in mind about other witnessing situations. It can be very difficult at times to decide whether more patience is needed, or if more distance is needed (it’s not always a “black-and-white” issue, and sometimes you need cycles of patience and distance). While every situation is unique, here is some general advice I always tell Christians in such circumstances:
1. Look for cues.
(They overtly mock the Bible, laugh scornfully, have an angry demeanor, extensive rambling/ranting, have a harsh tone of voice [or shouting], ask trick questions, behave immaturely, refuse to converse with you, put their hands up as if refusing, they say phrases such as “Respect my beliefs,” “Leave me alone,” “You’ll never convince me,” etc.)
If a few of these actions are exhibited, be prepared to end the conversation. The more of this behavior, the quicker you need to end the discussion. Online conversations are very tricky to evaluate, but keep an eye out for the chief signs–sarcasm, numerous sidetracked comments (comments that have nothing to do with the topic), constantly focusing on the same topics (asking the same question over and over, even after you answered it), and EXTENSIVE ALL CAPS and numerous exclamation points.
2. Don’t “close the door on them completely.”
As long as someone is not deliberately trying to confuse you and have you join a cult, you don’t have to cut off all contact with them. You can still visit them, but don’t discuss the Bible unless they ask (or if it’s an emergency like death-beds). Let me give you a few examples of how I approach such people.
I once had a Christian relative who cursed me out because of my stand on Bible doctrine, so I avoid that particular Bible topic (Bible versions) with him now. I make a few brief instances to Scripture in conversation, but nothing deep. In the years since he cursed me out, he’s approached me a few times for Bible understanding (imagine my shock when he even asked me to write some Bible study notes so he could teach in his denominational church’s Sunday School!). Even today, I try to limit myself to a few minutes of Bible discussion with him. He seems to be a little more open to sound doctrine (dispensational Bible study), so the more receptive he is (the less “no’s” I hear from him), the more I talk with him about Scripture the next time around.
Over the years, at funerals or sick-beds, my parents and I have talked with lost relatives about the Gospel of Grace. They haven’t refused to hear it in recent months, so we see no point in keeping quiet right now. If they openly reject it (“I don’t want to hear anymore”), that’s when we go into a “silent mode” for some time (months, for example).
The pastors, the seminarians, etc, whom I’ve dealt with in the past, I no longer approach any of them. They’ll have to come to me if they want to discuss the Scriptures with me. If any of them want to contact me, they know how to reach me.
Some years ago, a professing Christian used to argue with me on Facebook about Bible truths. I simply disregarded him, and we broke off contact for a few years. About two years ago, and ever since, he has emailed me with Bible questions (especially asking me about some false teaching that he needed rescuing from!). While he certainly has other doctrinal hangups, he seems to be more “straightened out” doctrinally now, and open to being taught. I share Bible verses with him every chance I get.
A guy who was confused about legalism, once emailed me, and he was about to give up on Christianity (he told me he didn’t know whether he was saved or lost!). After I responded to his email with various Bible studies, he was silent for four months (I didn’t contact him during that whole period). Then, he emailed me again with more Bible questions about other topics. Evidently, he hadn’t repudiated Christianity, so I still keep the communication lines open with him.
So, see, we don’t want to cut them off completely. Oftentimes, the distance we give them actually encourages discussion.
3. How to begin again with them.
We just need to be ready when our opponents do want to hear and accept sound Bible answers: prepare yourself by studying and memorizing verses that would address their past doctrinal hang-ups (verses that they once misquoted, verses they used against you, verses they criticized, etc–I’ve found this very helpful in my own ministry, and it certainly shocks them when you have answers the next time around!).
Once you share with them the truth the first time around, they know where to come for answers, so try to be as receptive of them if and when they come around. Some people will come back for answers, and that’s fine. Other people will never again discuss the Bible with you, and that’s fine, too. If they begin again to ask you about spiritual matters, a good starting point for you to say is, “If you want to look at what the Bible says, then I’ll discuss ___ with you.” This phraseology is useful in weeding out petty/fruitless discussions–which can be quite a time-saver! When you immediately mention the Bible, it alerts the person that you aren’t going to “beat around the bush” with your opinions or their opinions. You’re showing them that you’re serious about Bible doctrine, and if they are truly interested in learning God’s truth, they’ll agree to hear more. Those who want to waste your time will usually not proceed once you say, “If you want to look at what the BIBLE says.” They don’t want to hear verses, so, they usually will not bother to continue the conversation. That’s when we apply 1 Cor. 14:38 once more!
Again, just move on to those who DO want to listen to God’s Word (they’re the people we really need to reach; Acts 13:45-52; Acts 18:5-6), and be ready to share it with anyone… even with those who once argued with you who are now returning to ask you for Bible clarity. Onward!