Results day is always an emotional rollercoaster. The importance of the day cannot be understated. For some, the day is full of joy, for others disappointment. The heightened emotions were all the more exacerbated this year as hundreds of thousands of students would be receiving their A-Level or BTec results without actually sitting in an exam hall. Whether you’re elated or saddened by your results, one thing I do know is this: despite the outcome, God still has great things in store for you.
It’s OK to Feel
It’s ok to feel disappointed with your results. You shouldn’t brush your feelings under the carpet. Take the necessary time to process how you feel. Speak to those you feel comfortable speaking to and communicate your feelings out in the open. Disappointment and sadness only become a problem when you allow them to consume you and dictate the course of your life. The reason for assessing how your emotions are is that you may eventually address how you feel and move forward rather than remaining in a rut.
Submitting it to God
One December evening I was sat at my living room table, physically and mentally drained. Semester 1 of 1st year had really dealt with me well, but I hadn’t done myself any favours either. Though I had chosen to study in Manchester, my heart was elsewhere. I was wallowing in self-pity. Then it dawned on me. I had an epiphany of some sort. As I was tired of feeling sorry for myself I realised things had to change. “My God is not a God of coincidence,” I told myself. “I’m in studying in Manchester for a reason. Therefore, let me submit to God and enjoy what He has in store for me.” Since then I’ve never looked back.
God Knows What He’s Doing
With the wonderful experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the growth I’ve experienced as a man in Manchester, I can look back and see how it was God’s will for me to study in the city. While we can only see a small fraction of what is happening, God sees all. Although you may have come to a diversion in your journey, remain hopeful. Times of disappointment test the strength of faith. Whether you’re hurting or rejoicing I challenge you to trust in God’s goodness. Believe that you’re not studying or working in ‘x’ place by mere accident, but it is part of God’s perfect plan for your life. He weaves everything together and works it all for your good. Trust in what He’s doing.
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted”
Job 42:1-2
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
Seize Every Opportunity
God has great things in store for you. Therefore, I plead with you to seize every opportunity. Throw yourself into the environment in which He’s placed you. Apply yourself as diligently as you can in your work or studies, knowing that much is to be gained and enjoyed. Also, seek out godly community in which you are stretched and challenged. You can really and truly be transformed in the next stage of your life. Yield to God and take up all that He brings your way, grateful for all that He is doing.
Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 11:14
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
I pray that your excitement may be sustained and expectations exceeded as a new chapter of your life is on the horizon. I pray that anxiety may be converted into joy as you submit to God and seize every opportunity as you begin to see what God is unfolding in your life.
The Bible challenges our presumptions, testing our emotions and worldview. I have often indulged in “scriptural pick and mix”– choosing to accept some parts of the Bible as God’s truth, particularly those which are easiest to stomach and least at odds with our culture at large. Treating the Scriptures as such undermines their timelessness and authority as God’s complete truth communicated to us – the Word of God in its written form. We must assess how we view Scripture which in turn reveals why we must have an unwavering commitment to God’s Word which authoritatively speaks to all past, present and future events and our very way of living.
All of the Bible is God’s Word
Jesus and the apostles viewed Scripture, both the Old (OT) and New Testament (NT) as God’s word, thus requiring us to do the same.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
In verse 15, Paul is referring to the “sacred writings” of the OT. Therefore, in verse 16, the apostle is affirming that all of the Old Testaments writings are “breathed out by God” (ESV) , spoken by God Himself and communicated to us by human writers.
The apostles also viewed Christ’s words as Scripture itself (1 Timothy 5:18), God’s very own words and their own writings in the same manner, with Peter identifying Paul’s epistles as “the other Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15-16).
The Source of Scripture
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21
Although Peter is specifically speaking about the “prophecy of Scripture”, it is perfectly reasonable to suggest that he also viewed the entirety of the Old Testament being spoken “from God” with his fellow apostle Paul, affirming that it is “breathed out by God” – the very Word of God itself.
Peter explains that God was the ultimate source of the prophetic writings as they wrote under the inspiration by the Holy Spirit. He informs the readers that they must give heed to the Old Testament Scriptures, carefully reading and receiving its teachings as the context suggests that the false teachers he has in mind (2 Peter 2:1) accepted their inspiration but perverted their meaning to suit their own false teachings.
This is a crucial lesson for all of us. We must stand upon the entirety of Scripture as God’s Word as its source is none other than Jehovah Himself. He is the One who does not and cannot lie, thus leading to a natural conclusion that it must be without error (Numbers 23:19; 2 Samuel 7:28; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). His Word is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89) and every single word of God proves true (Proverbs 30:5). A failure to accept the Bible as the complete and authoritative truth from God may make us extremely susceptible to false teachings and doctrines which affect our understanding of the God whom our Bible so beautifully reveals to us in the vastness of His character and attributes.
The Utility of Scripture
Not only does the Bible present to us God’s authoritative and complete truth, free from error, but it is vastly useful and effective for the life of faith because it is living and active.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
This here refers to the spoken or written Word of God as opposed to the Logos of John 1. God’s Word possesses inherent power. It penetrates through the soul and spirit, bringing about supernatural transformation, effective for salvation. His Word is not dead, but alive. It convicts us of sin by judging the attitudes of our hearts. Furthermore, God’s Word is a mighty weapon to wield when confronted by temptation, shattering the enemy’s lies and accusations with the Truth of God as masterfully displayed by Christ.
Jesus possessed a reverent view of the OT Scriptures as the words of God. He used them to fend off Satan when tempted in the wilderness, declaring, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”(Matthew 4:3). Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 and the entire discourse sees Jesus fend off the devil using Old Testament scriptures which “came from the mouth of God.”
Once we begin to esteem the Bible as such, standing upon God’s Word as our final authority to which our conscience is bound, we begin to see how God has revealed Himself in the pages of His Word and fall more deeply in love with Him. This is seen through the Psalmists eloquent description of God’s Word in Psalm 19:7-13 which testifies to its authority and sufficiency.
Our Response
God has remarkably chosen to reveal Himself to us in His written and spoken Word presented to us on the pages of sacred Scripture. What a joy is it to be known by God and to know Him through His Word! We cannot allow the culture to dictate how we view Scripture, but rather, allow Scripture to shape our theology and worldview as God’s complete and authoritative truth through faithful study in its context and accurate interpretation. This should capture our affection, driving our speech and conduct to agree with the Psalmist:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
In essence, this is worship. As we do so, our souls will be satisfied and joy made complete (Psalm 19:8-9; Luke 11:28).
All over the world COVID-19 is spreading at an alarming rate. The Government has asked everyone to avoid gatherings, crowded places and unnecessary travel to stop its spreading.
As of the 30th of April 2020, more than 5,000 people in the UK with COVID-19-related deaths in the UK currently at 233. Across the world, a similar image emerges, with over 319,134 confirmed cases and more than 13,697 deaths.
Spreading at the same rate is something just as deadly and fatal– FEAR. We are seeing the proliferation of confusion and disillusionment; people lost with nothing sure and secure to cling onto.
As believers. we believe it is our duty to act and so we want to share with you what we propose to do about this.
What is the solution?
The Hope Campaign.
The Hope the world offers is the hope that things will get better materially. We aren’t seeing gospel proclamation as we have never seen before. If the government are coming together to provide support for people then why can’t Christians get together at this time to proclaim the hope we have.
Not just that things will go back to normal but in a living God who is in control. We believe that the answer to the hopelessness we see in the world is the infallible Gospel – we believe in all its simplicity, beauty, and saving power. Understanding it. Enjoying it. Sharing it. We, therefore, aim to provide an interactive online and offline space where people can engage with sound teaching about God, gain skills to share the gospel more effectively quickening their pursuit of finding joy in Jesus.
We believe the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, and we have found a way of expressing its truths to a millennial generation in a language they understand.
In these difficult times, we can rejoice because we have a living hope but many do not and in this season; they are feeling the effect. Because of COVID-19, we have seen many stories of people coming together to provide support materially, celebrities donating money and funds being created.
We want to help people build an iron-clad hope that won’t be put to shame
Because of this, we are looking for 60 backers who have this hope inside of them and want it for other people. 60 backers who are willing to partner with us to make this Hope Campaign possible.
Where will the donations go?
1. Skilled and passionate staff -Bringing on board passionate and skilled staff to work on digitalising our content. A dedicated resource to ensure the impact of the charity is constant and growing in a sustainable way. Make it possible for individuals to pursue an exciting paid role focused on giving hope through impactful gospel-saturated materials
2. Greater outreach through articles – Over the last few years, OGGM has published many free articles online and reached close to 100,000 readers. This is gospel-rich content that engages directly with live issues affecting the culture (especially the UK). Currently, OGGM releases 2 articles per week (avg. 300 readers per article). The fundraiser will enable OGGM to publish 6 per week, projected to increase readership to 1,000 readers per article, totalling over 200,000 annual readers by the end of 2020
3. Dedicated learning course – A one-stop shop for people who are confused about or curious to explore various aspects of the Christian faith Key topics which are in the pipeline include:
– “Gospel 101” – what essential things must you know when you become a Christian? – “Equipping yourself to fulfil the great commission?”
4. Websites and Podcasts – Online web series from the UK dedicated to addressing current, tricky issues with the gospel.Mini-documentaries showcasing what is like to do missions across the world and in the UK Interesting, challenging, and thought-provoking podcasts being released more often and with greater reach
5. Partnering with Churches – Online and physical resources to be shared with churches to help them with their gospel proclamation in a digital age. Publication guide for individuals who have just come to faith. Providing training and teaching to churches to remain mobile and active across social media networks
Why partner with us?
We know that as children of God we must remain teachable. Partnerships are therefore welcome in consideration of our growth and Our God-Given Mission will continue to collaborate with churches such as Tenerife Family Church and the Living Room Tenerife whom we have been working with for 4 years as of 2019. It is no secret that through charity, God has allowed us to touch thousands of lives. However, we believe that sound partnership will further enable us to co-create the emergence of a world that is not shrouded in darkness, but open to our he light of the gospel of Christ to the world.
Partner perks include the following:
Monthly Zoom calls – Updates and development – We want you to be part of the journey and to watch as the campaign develops.
Partner Fountain Pen – Memorabilia to commemorate your membership.
End of the year Gala – Celebration at the end of the year to celebrate the campaign.
As Christians, we must understand that when it comes to growing in Christ, there is no graduation. Whether you have had a relationship with God for 50 years or you are just starting out, it is vital to understand that you never graduate. Growing in relationship with God is the very heartbeat of our faith so we must keep on pursuing God, and have the mindset of lifelong learners, always yearning for a deeper and deeper knowledge of Christ.
We are all called to be disciples, meaning we are called to learn! If we look at various scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Colossians 3:16, 2 John 1:9) it is clear that God designed us to be lifelong learners.
We must resist the temptation to be short-term learners where we spend some time learning about Christ and then spend the rest of our journey satisfied in our residual knowledge of Christ. To stop learning is to stop your heartbeat. To stop learning is to stay in shallow waters.
Here, Mike Omoniyi encourages and instructs us on how to leave shallow waters and embrace the riches and depth of being in deep relationship with God.
Now more than ever, the Church’s calendar seems to be inundated with worship events, gospel showcases, worship conferences, worship seminars, and worship jams – the list is endless. While these events are not in themselves inherently bad, it does beg the question as to why there is more of an emphasis on experiencing God through long hours of musical expression in worship than there is towards experiencing Him during long hours of arduous study of Scripture?
Theology? Is There a Need?
One thing that should be made clear is that worshipping through musical means is something that pleases God and is also biblically instructed to believers as an ordinance – coming together corporately before Him with ‘psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs’ – (Eph 5:19). However, in recent times there does seem to be a disconnect. Voddie Baucham posits this issue of the modern church succinctly, describing it as ‘producing passionate people filled with empty heads who love the Jesus they don’t know very well.’
This analogy might illustrate what he is pointing to in this remark. Imagine the average Joe is taking a road trip with hopes to reach his final destination point. With not much clue on how he will arrive there, he glances at his map, lays it aside, and then proceeds to turn his music on at full blast, singing intently at the top of his lungs, hoping it helps him figure out how to get to his destination. Ludicrous you might say, but this picture resembles the life of a Christian who neglects studying God’s word in order to spend hours singing along to Maverick City in hopes to experience God and know Him better.
It seems that theology has taken a backseat in the Christian’s car ride, when, in fact, it should be the map on which they should rely on to help them get to the destination of trying to know their God better. Theology is simply the ‘knowledge (or study) of God’, coming from the Greek word ‘Theos’ (God) and Logos (word). Theology should be the concern of every Christian. How can we say that we follow, love, and worship a God that we have not studied to know? Theology is NOT simply reserved for pastors, bible teachers, and seminary academics. Instead, theological study is mandatory for every Christian and vital to the growth of their faith.
The Necessity of Theology
The greatest commandment instructs the believer to undertake theological study:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Matthew 22:37
Theology is necessary for every Christian because of the simple idea that ‘nothing can be in the heart that is not first in the mind’ – R.C Sproul. If you want to truly love God, you have to know Him more deeply. Ultimately, the grace of God’s mercy in pouring out His love through the sacrifice of His dear Son should compel us to love Him by pursuing the knowledge of God in the word with all diligence and effort and delighting in it continuously. Our love for God is not simply recognised by the affection that we feel and demonstrate towards God when we sing these lovely poetic songs (as lovely as they may be). Christ defines love as being one thing – obedience (John 14:15). These ‘loving’ acts of worship are baseless if our love and desire to obey His instruction is small-scale.
Theology is at the Heart of Worship
Theological study, therefore, authenticates worship. The more we study the Word in order to deepen our knowledge of God’s attributes, and the more that the truth of God’s character is revealed to us, the more likely we will hold Him in high esteem. This awe and reverence leads us to trust in Him and delight in obeying His commands, worshipping Him with our whole lives and not simply our lips. If we lean our focus more towards our musical worship than our worship in theological study, we run the risk of revering a shallow view of God, where the wonderful resounding gravitas of the Gospel and its implications in our lives become a faint flickering whisper.
Our primary aim when we read the Scriptures, should not be to read it as so to make ourselves feel better or to even to please God by fulfilling our common duty as a Christian. Our primary aim when we read our Bibles is to study the Scriptures so that we may know our God.
When we read the Word these are some of the questions that we should ponder on in the pursuit of knowing Him:
Who does God reveal Himself to be in this passage?
What is His activity and how do His actions reveal His attributes?
What has He done – in history, in the world, in the Gospel?
What has He said He will do in the future?
What do these verses/chapters or this book say about God’s will and what He wants?
How do these things that are contextually bound to a specific time in history apply to me in the 21st century?
How does this passage point to Christ?
However, it’s not enough to simply know these things, we must both believe and delight in the knowledge of God and His truth. Thankfully God’s divine grace offers us the means, by which we can do as such so that the beauty of His Word is treasured by the believer as being greater and better than the world that we see.
In myprevious article, we established that there is one God, one way to Him and one truth – the person and work of Jesus Christ. This requires us to share the Gospel with all people, those of another and/or no religion.
Maintaining Respect at All Times
It’s easy to be swept up in the heat of the moment when witnessing. Our passion may see us forget to maintain a high level of respect and love for those we converse with. It’s imperative to listen as much as you speak. This demonstrates that you care about the person and what they have to say rather than viewing them as a mere “target to convert”. Kindness must be maintained (James 1:19-20) whilst having sensitivity to their culture and beliefs (below).
Being All Things to All Men
When evangelism is the topic of conversation within Christians circles, you’ll often hear the phrase “we must become all things to all men.” What is the sentiment behind those words? What exactly was Paul communicating to the Corinthians? We must first humble ourselves and meet those we’re talking to at their level of understanding. In demonstrating love, we may observe some of their customs and traditions which are not antithetical to our faith (1 Corinthians 9:19-21). This is all done without compromising the message of the Gospel and with the desire that they may believe in the Gospel of their salvation.
To the weak, I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means, I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23
Learning from Paul in Athens
Luke’s account of Paul’s time in Athens details my favourite evangelistic effort in the Acts of the Apostles in chapter 17 from verse 16-34. The climax of Paul’s visit was his address to the people at the Areopagus (or Mars Hill), describing how he masterfully witnessed before the crowd from verse 22-34. We can breakdown the apostle’s approach into the framework below.
Know their beliefs
Acknowledge what is commendable
Challenge the assumption(s) and reveal the truth
1. Know Their Beliefs
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
Acts 17:16
While staying in Athens, Paul observed that its citizens practiced idolatry. The city was swarming with idols. One in particular caught the apostle’s attention – that which was inscribed “to an unknown God”. From this, Paul inferred that the Athenians were a religious people, but oblivious of whom they were looking for in their hand-crafted idols.
2. Acknowledge What is Commendable
Paul commenced his speech by commending the people to whom he was witnessing. In stating “I perceive that you’re very religious” (v.22), he broke any barriers of hostility which may have existed and met them at their level of understanding.
3. Challenge The Assumption(s) and Reveal the Truth
He then proceeded to direct his challenge toward their own assumptions, revealing to them the falsity of their gods and the reality of the Creator, Yahweh (v.23-29) to whom they were all accountable (v.30). Paul then arrived at the crux of his message, issuing a call to repentance, casting the spotlight upon the person, work and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this, He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.
Acts 17:31
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to evangelism. However, by being all things to all men and learning from Paul’s example in Athens, we have a useful framework by which we may engage those of different religions as explored below.
Islam
Know their beliefs – Jesus is a prophet, not God the Son (God incarnate).
Acknowledge what is commendable – the respect afforded to Jesus as an esteemed prophet.
Challenge the assumption(s) and reveal the truth – If Jesus is just a prophet, why does He declare the names of God for Himself, perform acts which only God can do and receive the glory of God?
Surah 57:3 identifies Allah as the “First and the Last” as does the Old Testament where speaking of God (Isaiah 44:6).
Can a mere prophet claim to be the first and the last, an identification ascribed to God? Of course not, but Jesus does.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Revelation 1:17-18
Only God can offer ultimate forgiveness of sins. This was acknowledged by David in Psalm 51:4 and demonstrated in Surah 3:135 which asks “and who can forgive sins except Allah?”
If Allah is the only one who can offer true forgiveness, a mere prophet cannot do the same, yet Jesus does. In Mark 2, the religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy where He declared that the sins of the paralytic were forgiven. He then demonstrated omniscience in “knowing their thoughts” and answering “the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins” (v.11).
Jesus also claims to be the final judge (a role reserved for Allah in Surah 6:114; 40:12 ; 89:21-23 as well as God in Matthew 25:31-32). Jesus claims to be “the Truth” John 14:6, share God’s glory and honour (John 5:19-24)– also in eternity past (John 17:5). Thus, He received worship (Matthew 2:11; 14:22-33; John 9:38; Luke 24:52 and John 20:28).
Jesus claimed the titles of God, performed the deeds of God, shared the glory and honours of God, making Him worthy of the worship He received. These are not characteristic of a great prophet. They are characteristic of God. This validates who Jesus was/is and all He did. Christ is the only way to God (Jehovah), the Truth and the source of eternal life.
Other Worldviews
Space will not permit me to dive into other religions and worldviews such as Judaism and Atheism. For the former, pointing them to the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies, symbols and rituals in Jesus Christ is key. Isaiah 53 is a great place to start and it is also worth explaining the Messianic Psalms, and certain passages in the book of Hebrews.
For Atheists, the existence of God would be the natural starting point. Demonstrate how it is both a rational and logical necessity for the world and reality as we know it. The classical model of apologetics modelled after St Augustine’s approach is extremely helpful alongside St Thomas Aquinas’ traditional proofs, the intelligent design theory and general revelation (Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20). Other matters such as the issue of suffering(Pulse Podcast: Why Does a Good and Perfect God Allow Suffering ) are also crucial.
Closing Thoughts
Religion can be a deeply sensitive topic of conversation. It calls into question the validity and truthfulness of the faith one has devoted their life to. For the Atheist, believing in the existence of God and the truth of Christianity is also an emotional ordeal. It means that they are accountable to God, will face judgement upon death and are confronted by eternity. Before and after we have these discussions, we must pray. It is God alone who regenerates the spiritually dead, gives sight to the blind that so they may perceive their need for a Saviour – Jesus Christ- to whom they must submit as Lord. Keep praying, keep learning and keep sharing.
Sharing the Gospel may feel like a laborious task for those of us who find it more comfortable to share it in specific settings/methods that are convenient for us. However, do not fret and take heart for God has given us more than we need when we feel out of our comfort zone.
The Trusty Notepad
When I was in my early teens, whenever I was talking to a guy I liked – I remember typing out everything I wanted to say to him. I would hide behind long hours of text messages. The prospect of a potential phone call with him would onset nausea and sweaty palms. I could acrobatically flip and twirl my way through long paragraphs of digital converse, but as soon as I would meet him face to face my tongue would go into hiding.
Equally when I’m facing the heat of a debate whether, in the context of apologetics or a disagreement, I often find myself reaching for my trusty notepad, again, writing down everything I want to say to them. Spending hours trying to tactfully predict the course of the argument. Slowly turning into a playwright as I marked out every word and response that could be said.
Put in brief terms, writing my thoughts down makes me feel safe when simply entertaining verbal confrontation, without my drafted thoughts, feels like rocking up to a duel with a butter knife in the face of an opponent who has a calibre pistol.
When it comes to sharing the Gospel off cuff, I have felt (and sometimes still do) that same anxiety. That my unplanned words would stifle the glory of the message. That my verbal diarrhoea and best attempts to string words together would never do the beauty of the Gospel justice. When I’m speaking about the Gospel to a stranger or someone I don’t know well, at my best, I’m an awkward fool and at my worst I’m a nervous wreck. Still I do try to do it, but for socially awkward and anxious personality types like myself, I must admit I don’t always enjoy it.
So what’s the remedy for the socially awkward Christian posse in the corner of society’s vibrant party get down, who is often left clutching scraps of pre-written lines when he or she is approached by folks from all walks of life; liberals, conservatives, members of the LGBTQ community, atheists, gnostics, other religious groups, all while sounds from the key of life boom through the speakers?
We Speak God’s Wisdom
First of all, it is helpful to ask yourself questions; Why do you feel this way? How well acquainted are you with the Gospel message and the implications it has for our lives? When explaining this message, why does writing things down feel like an easier, more preferred avenue of sharing than verbal discourse? What axis does the fear and anxiety of sharing it with others rest on? Do these conversations expose your insufficiency relating to knowledge of the matter? Or does it reveal your social anxiety when it comes to sharing a message that most likely will not be received well by those who do not share the same beliefs as you?
Paul speaks profoundly to this matter;
‘Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature but not a wisdom of this age not of the rulers of this who are passing away. Rather we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden which God predetermined before the ages for our glory. This God has revealed to us through the Spirit. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom but with the Spirit describing realities in spiritual terms.’
1 Corinthians 2:6-7, 13
At the very heart of Paul’s address to the Corinthians is that our ability to understand and accept the Gospel is inextricably linked to what the Gospel is about in the first place. The only reason we understand these things and accept freely and desire to speak to others about it is because of the fact that God in His great love, through the death of His Son, by the power of the Spirit raised us from our dead-like state where our minds were darkened and only available to futile thinking (Rom 1:21). It was by His saving grace and through the Spirit that He revealed the light of the Gospel to us and the beauty of His wisdom. That tells us two things. That we are unable to convince men with merely our intelligence, fortitude or reasoning and that until God decides in His infinite wisdom to open the hearts of men to the truth, people will continue to consider God’s wisdom and truth concerning salvation as folly, no matter how well put our words are. This should ground us in the reality of knowing that people’s acceptance of the Gospel is a responsibility of the Holy Spirit, He is the One who softens and opens hardened hearts and God is the One sovereign in salvation; not ourselves and should remove the burdens of always needing to have a positive reception from our shoulders. Anticipate disagreement, confusion, scoff and out-right rejection more than eureka, enlightened and epiphany moments. But as you expect the former, yearn and desire for the latter.
Study to Show Yourself Approved
Secondly, we should always be ready to share the Gospel and speak about it. And this includes being well-prepared by studying the Word and learning how the Gospel is presented throughout scripture. Studying the Gospel is not like preparing for a citizenship test. It is not a one-off endeavour or one-stop-shop. The Gospel message weaves into every book of the Bible as God’s purpose and divine plan of salvation slowly unfold throughout. If there are things you don’t fully understand and know seek to understand them well, that you may be able to articulate them to others well.
We must study to show ourselves approved (2 Tim 2:15) In other words we must know what we’re talking about when we share the Gospel, and we must know it well. Read books, articles, sermons – that can inform your understanding and frame your knowledge of the Gospel. Aim to understand the fundamentals then dig deeper. How does the Gospel respond to cultural worldviews? How does the Gospel offer answers to the big philosophical questions of life? You will find that the more you study, the more you will grow in confidence when it comes to articulating the Gospel. This will make speaking and sharing it with those who you know and don’t know, a much comfortable process. The more we allow the Word to readjust our worldview to see life and all its workings through a Gospel centred lens, the more comfortable we will become with sharing our viewpoint on matters while seamlessly sharing the Gospel.
The Spirit’s Counsel and Support
No matter how well you know your stuff, speaking to unbelievers who disagree with our Christian view can still be daunting. The good news is, we have the Holy Spirit, our Counsellor, who is able to guide us and give us counsel on the right thing to say and the right way to say it (1 Cor 2: 1-5), but also He gives us courage and comfort when we know what we should say but feel fearful and aren’t bold enough to say it. At certain times it may seem easier to avoid talking about the Gospel but the Holy Spirit offers support and strength to overcome the temptation to not say anything, and we should rely on Him and seek support through prayer.
Also, both confiding and leaning on fellow Christians, mature Christians in particular, who can guide you can prove to be helpful during times when you feel stuck and reluctant to share the Gospel with others. Practising your approach of sharing the good news with a trusted friend is a great exercise to help you sharpen your interpersonal skills, build your confidence and sharpen your methods as far as speaking to people about the Gospel goes.
The Urgency of Gospel Sharing
Finally, know what works best for you but be open and flexible to alternate methods. You might feel more comfortable in relationships and speaking one on one with someone about the Gospel. Perhaps you prefer to have a conversation over the phone or via text. But be open to the fact that this preferred avenue may not always be available. You might never get a chance to see them again, procrastination might mean you forget to revisit that conversation with your pal. Always be on the lookout for the opportunity that God presents for you to share the Gospel and seize it. After all, it may be the means by which God is drawing that individual unto salvation.
Write down your thoughts if you must, but remember an apt word in season is like honeycomb to someone who needs to hear it, and we all need a sweet dose of the beautiful good news.
In a world which is increasingly fuelled by online commentary, where everyone has a Twitter account or an online platform, it is now more than ever, easier for false teaching to spread. Long gone are the days where messages had to be copied by hand and false teachers would have to travel for weeks on horseback to share their message. Now, through a tweet or the creation of a Tiktok video, false teaching can spread at the press of a button. However, this is nothing new. Since the inception of the Church in Acts 2, the history of the Church has been inextricably linked with Satan’s attempts to defile Her. So, in today’s day and age, how should the Church discern and respond to false teachers?
All Heresies Are Errors, But Not All Errors Are Heresies.
The first distinction I would like to make in this article is that there is a clear and biblical difference between false teaching and false teachers. There is a distinction between willfully committing a soul-destroying heresy and committing a theological error. Let’s take the example of Apollos who was a man regarded as “competent in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). The Bible even goes as far as to say that he “taught accurately the things concerning Jesus” (18:25). Now, Apollos wasn’t deceitful and seeking to exploit fellow believers; in fact, he was very much sincere, however, regarding their topic of baptism, he was sincerely wrong. It is important to note that he wasn’t treated as a false teacher. Instead, Aquilla and Priscilla, a Christian couple, “took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (18:26). Here was a man found to be committing theological error. I have seen many believers, who similar to Apollos, teach “accurately the things concerning Jesus”, but however may be mistaken on some doctrinal points and then be labelled with the term ‘heretic’ and treated as enemies of the faith.
Aquilla and Priscilla show us the Christian response to such theological error. They should, in love, be taken aside to explore and hear more fully the revealed truth about God. The truth is, just about any Christian, especially ones who are just starting out in their faith, can teach or believe something that is false. The Good news is, as someone once famously said, “we are not justified by precision alone. We are justified by faith alone”. However, on the issue of heresy and false teaching, the Bible plays a very different tune.
The Bible is very specific in its use of the term “False teachers”. So much so that, though strong rebuke around false teaching is expressed throughout, the term “false teacher” only explicitly appears once all throughout scripture. That makes it clear that what is being discussed is no small matter and highlights the gravity of identifying someone as a false teacher. Here is what the Apostle Peter had to say on the issue:
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”
2 Peter 2:1-3
So How Do We Recognise False Teachers?
The first point to make when it comes to discerning false teaching is to acknowledge the existence of false teaching not as a mere possibility but rather a certainty. Peter does not mince his words in relation to false teaching, he doesn’t beat around the bush. He makes the definitive statement that “there will be false teachers among you.” There are two important things to note here. Firstly Peter is writing to the Church and secondly, the use of the words “among you”. Peter is not saying that there might be false teachers in your workplace, schools, or on the TV. But rather that there will be false teachers posing as members in your local congregation; or in online and offline Christian spaces. If this wasn’t enough, the Apostle John warns that “many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The ‘many’ illustrates this isn’t something that is happening on the fringes elsewhere but that it is a pervasive reality everywhere.
This is why Paul warns the elders in the Ephesian church (Acts 20:29–31) and his mentee Timothy (2 Timothy 4:3–4) (1 Timothy 4:1 and 2 Timothy 3:1–6) about the existence of false teaching and false teachers in their church. So the question beckons, how do we spot false teaching?
The Westminster Assembly describes heresy as the following:
“Heresy is a gross and dangerous error, voluntarily held and factiously maintained by some person or persons within the visible church, in opposition to some chief or substantial truth or truths grounded upon and drawn from the Holy Scripture by necessary consequence.”
The Westminister Assembly
False teaching or heresy is any ‘voluntary’ intentional and ‘fictitious’ biblical error so severe that it disputes the fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith. Jesus said false prophets were “ravenous wolves” who dressed in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15).
Here are some fundamental Christian beliefs alongside helpful questions to ask when discerning whether something constitutes as false teaching:
Salvation by faith alone and in Christ alone – Does this teaching encourage us to trust in anything else other than Christ alone for righteousness?
The Trinitarian view of God– Does this teaching so distort the doctrines of either (a) the Trinity or (b) the unity of the Godhead?
The Word of God – Does this teaching so distort the doctrine of Scripture that it undermines biblical authority?
The person of Christ – Does this teaching affirm something contrary to the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ?
The Holy Spirit – Does this teaching affirm something about the Person or work of the Holy Spirit that is false and thus antithetical to His nature?
More can be added but in summary, a false teacher is someone who maintains a view that opposes a chief truth of the Gospel message. Heresy is something that strikes at the very heart of the Gospel and of the truth.
Furthermore, Jesus said you could recognize false prophets also by their “fruit.” (Matthew 7:15-20). False teaching, then, is not simply predicated on what someone may say but also how they live their lives. Peter sheds some light on what this might look like in 2 Peter 2. He says that false teachers in their pride would defy authority (2 Peter 2:10, 12-13,18). In their greed, they will exploit fellow believers for material gain ( 2 Peter 2:3, 14-15). Additionally, in their lust, they would compromise sexually (2 Peter 2:2,10, 12–14, and 19).
So How Should Christians Respond to False Teachers?
The Christian response to false teachers begins on your knees in prayer. As Rod Smith brilliantly says, we pray for false teachers “the same way that you should pray for your own pastor and teachers. Pray that they would not teach anything false or misleading, but only what is true and right and accurate according to God’s Word, the Bible”. We pray that they would turn from their wicked ways come to know the truth of the Gospel and preach the truth of the Gospel. Not only does the Bible inform us to pray for false teachers, but we must also rebuke and call out false teaching. If a Christian truly claims to love God, love His Word, love the truth, love the lost, love the flock and even if you love the false teachers themself, the Christian should expose them publically in order to minimise the spread of their infectious and dangerous teaching (Ephesians 5:11). For far too long, Christians, under the guise of trying to be “loving” have cowered in their response to false teachers. To be apathetic towards false teaching is the opposite of love.
Let’s imagine for a moment, that there’s a shepherd who notices a ravenous wolf and because he doesn’t want to be seen as ‘judgemental’ so fails to warn his sheep. That shepherd is one who should be considered a selfish shepherd who doesn’t love his sheep. A good shepherd would fend off the wolf and warn the flock because their lives are in danger! And in a similar fashion, eternity is at stake and ravenous wolves are running loose in our churches. Christians, especially those in a position of leadership, have a duty to alert, identify, and expose false teachers (1 Timothy 5:19–20). Paul throughout his ministry went on to publically name at least six false teachers (See 2 Timothy 4:10, 2 Timothy 1:15, 1 Timothy 1:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:17).
“The best protection against the darkness of error is the light of truth.”
– John Piper
In the perilous times, we find ourselves in we must resist the temptation to passively let false teaching and false teachers slide in the name of “love”. True love for the Lord and His Bride/Body results in a carefully considered but courageous response to refute false propositions in His name. Instead with knees on the ground and hearts moved by compassion, let love for the Lord drive us to pray for and highlight both teachers and teaching who desecrate His image and worth by the abuse of the Word. Likewise, let love for the Bride/Body cause us to simultaneously pray for the hearts of those projecting false ideas about God whilst warning against their false teaching. In so doing we are protecting our vulnerable and unassuming brothers and sisters, who are the sheep of the Great Shepherd. But also a love which ‘hopes and endures all things’ (1 Cor 13:7) hopes those who espouse these false ideas embrace the opportunity to repent and be delivered from deception (2 Tim 3:13) and ultimately be restored to fellowship with the God of truth.
Do not regard false teaching lightly. Consider what is at stake and insist on the clear teaching of God’s law and His gospel. Do it for the love of God and people.
“Israel gained by education. The Lord was not going to lead a mob of slaves into Canaan, to go and behave like slaves there. They had to be tutored. The wilderness was the Oxford and Cambridge for God’s students. There they went to the University, and he taught and trained them, and they took their degree before they entered into the promised land. There is no University for a Christian like that of sorrow and trial.” – Charles Spurgeon
Why Does Trouble Prevail?
Where do pain and suffering come from? Whenever I hear this question arise, it more than likely stems from trying to make sense of something painful or terrible that has occurred to us. Someone we love or know has died suddenly. We witness a terrible natural disaster unfold or the tragic consequence of hundreds of thousands of people fall sick, or worse, lose their lives at the hands of a pandemic caused by an incurable virus. In the face of tragedy, we start to question everything. Why are these things happening? Why do the young die? Why do the oppressed receive no justice? Why does trouble prevail in our world so frequently and why is it so difficult to avoid? The question that stings the most for many, including myself is: ‘How could God let something as painful and terrible as this happen?’
The question on everyone’s minds, whether it be covert or overt is; ‘who causes suffering?’ In other words ‘who is responsible for the pain that I am feeling?’ Our inclination to make sense of our suffering is often done by trying to work out to whom we can fix the blame for what seems an unfair dose of pain and trouble. Most importantly as Christians we try to reconcile the truth of God’s sovereignty with the existence of our pain and suffering, we struggle to tread the tightrope of wanting to believe that God is in control of everything that occurs in our lives, both the good and the evil, while trying to avoid resentfully blaming God when we are struck with tragedy in our lives. Let’s be honest this rope is not an easy one to tread. But we must be willing to walk it, in order to view the pain and suffering that we face through a corrective lens. So let us walk through it together.
In the Beginning
The first thing that is helpful to understand is that before there was any sin, suffering did not exist. In fact, it was the total opposite. Genesis 1-2 paints a picture of bliss and abundance, a world free from strife. No pain or suffering exists. Most importantly God is the architect of this goodness and He approves it as being good by measuring it according to the standard of His innate goodness (Gen 2:31). Genesis 3 is where we see things take a turn for the worst. We are introduced to a sly and conniving character who sets out to be an adversary to the goodness that God has created. His ultimate goal in opposing the utopian goodness that exists is by convincing man that the good that God has created is in effect not that ‘good.’ From Gen 3:6, we see mankind grow increasingly doubtful of God and His ability to be good and do good for them. Their scepticism of God’s order and choice for their lives means they are enticed away from God’s good choice and drawn to their own ‘good.’ Ultimately by doing so, they reject God and His prized relational goodness and all it entails (abundance, safety etc).
Vince Vitale remarks that ‘wherever there is the possibility of rejecting relationship, there is also the possibility of pain and suffering.’ If we know this to be true, then separation from God’s goodness as a result of one man’s disobedience in rejecting God’s command opened the door to the existence of suffering. Most of us would be quick to point out that the suffering of mankind begins when God punishes Adam, Eve and Satan for their sin (Gen 3:14-19), however, we see suffering enter the picture much earlier. The first signs of suffering we witness are in Adam and Eve’s torment that leads them to attempt to ‘hide’ from God and feel shame from their nakedness (Gen 3:8-10).
But who causes the suffering that we experience? If suffering exists as a result of the sin that has entered the world, does the pain we feel as a result of our suffering come from Satan who perpetuates the sin that leads to our suffering or from God who is control of all things and authorises the suffering that enters our lives?
God’s Sovereignty in Calamity
The book of Job helps us find the answers that we seek regarding these questions. In the opening chapters (Job 1) we get a rare glimpse at the ongoings within the heavenly courts. The sons (angels) of God have assembled as Satan approaches God’s royal court to challenge him. God remarks on Job’s piety and Satan scoffs at Job’s blameless character arguing that he is only upright by virtue of wanting to appease God to receive His blessings. What’s important to note is that in the same way that Satan is permitted by God to challenge Him in His royal court, he is also given permission by God (though limited) to attack Job. The running theme here, that should be understood, is that Satan is subordinate to God. This paints a picture of God’s active sovereignty in relation to our suffering, in the sense that He allows evil to enter our lives. The truth is that God brings suffering upon us whether it is at the hand of Satan and supernatural evil or the sinful consequences of man. The Bible shows the indicative causality of God’s sovereign hand and our pain and suffering (Job 1:21, Job 2:10, Job 42:11). However we must always remember the God in whom we serve, One who’s character is marked by holiness and remains utterly untouched by evil, though he allows the trouble of evil and terrible circumstances to enter our lives which cause us pain and suffering.
However, in all this, it is the motive that makes the difference. God’s purposes for bringing suffering into our lives always point to His goodness and more importantly His love for us.
“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a] For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
Job 5:17-18
So while Satan strikes out of malice, God allows His people to suffer out of loving concern for His people and ultimately His glory in their lives. And the ultimate glory can be found in that He allowed His only dear Son to suffer for our sake that we might experience the beauty of His grace in salvation.
Though we may not always have all the answers for why our pain and suffering happens in the way that does, encouragement and relief can be found in knowing that God is in control of the suffering that enters our lives. There is safety and security – knowing that the One who is in charge, cares for us and works all things together for our good (Rom 8:28).
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of hosting Lord Michael Hastings during our ‘Gospel in a Broken World’ online conference. We spoke about humility and he gave a lot of anecdotes and examples which got me thinking- with all that we’ve seen recently in regard to attitudes towards social justice, how could more humility play a role in these discussions?
The Epitome of Humility
It’s worth noting humility is one of the abstract terms used a lot in Christianity. It’s always a good thing, we always should have more, but it’s hard to do 24/7 and by the world’s moral standard, it isn’t even all that necessary. As a result, being humble is something that can be elusive at times. Without even realising it we can let pride sneak in and become the more dominant force. Speaking from experience there are times where I have accomplished things out of pride and a sense of competitiveness, but it has been difficult to switch this off when pride became the driving force. The issue with pride is that it is addictive and self-fulfilling. The more you inflate your sense of self, the more likely you are to act in an effort to protect that sense of self.
God opposes the proud and shows favour to the humble.
– James 4:6
Jesus was the epitome of humility and He set the standard. He was the most capable man to have ever walked the Earth, a man with access to omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence, He should never have had to prove Himself or listen to the lowly opinions of those around Him. Were the disciples going to teach the Son of an all-knowing God anything useful? However, as easy as it would have been to dismiss the Pharisees who didn’t know what they were doing, or to grow frustrated with the disciples and leave them behind for still not believing after He had shown them more than enough, Jesus always remained patient and humble. He went so far as to wash their feet just to make this abundantly clear. Jesus could have acknowledged that He had access to more power than anybody in the history of mankind and lauded it over anyone that challenged Him, but instead, He took on the mantle of teacher, patient with His students and pursued a goal of enlightenment.
A Standard Set By Christ
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give His angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”
Matthew 4:1-11
A great example of Jesus rising above the temptations of pride and embracing humility was during His fast in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. When Satan came to tempt Him, you see that it was a play on His pride. What else do you use to tempt a man who is clearly not beholden to bodily desires? This is worth noting for us because sometimes we feel as though because we are not committing any clear sinful deeds, that we are protected from sin but as we saw with Jesus, Satan began each new temptation with an attack on Jesus’ pride, by stating these words, “If you are the Son of God”. It reminds me of school days when someone would instigate a hostile situation by saying ‘oooooh if it were me, I wouldn’t have done that’. This is what Satan is saying to us to draw a response that says ‘If you don’t do this now, you are somehow less’ and this lie is incredibly dangerous. The truth is that refraining from such prideful temptations is the more impressive feat and the standard we as Christians should be aiming for. Even when, in a desperate final attempt, Jesus was promised the world, He was humble enough to put Gods plans and objectives above His own.
Following the Standard
Current events in the world are showing a need for humility now more than ever. While it’s not an easy task, it is the standard set by Christ. At this time, around the world, conversations are taking place that require introspection, unlearning, critiquing your own long-standing opinions, whether in regards to racism, rape culture, human rights and so much more. There is a need for humility to acknowledge that what you thought previously might be wrong, misinformed or unfair. Without this, we cannot grow and these conversations become nothing but debate for sport or shouting matches between the loudest in the room. If you cannot recognise that man cannot live off ‘his own experiences’ in the same way he cannot live off bread alone, you end up with a very lopsided and inconsiderate view of others because you haven’t experienced their lives. We all have blind-spots and areas in which we do not understand the complexities of living and it requires humility to acknowledge these blind spots and want to address them.
For Christians, a key theme of our relationship with Christ is the movement from darkness to light, from chaos to peace, from confusion to understanding. In this way, empathy and understanding for people who do not yet understand the complexities of an issue should be second nature to us. We should be eager to rush into opportunities that help people grow and have a chance at redemption, not to make us feel smarter but from a desire to help. While I understand it is not humane to ask the oppressed to have patience with their oppressors, if ultimately education and addressing a disconnect in understanding is the goal, it will require the humility to sit with your oppressor and impart knowledge as Jesus did with a world that rejected and lynched Him. I don’t think I could call the entire world to sit with people who have systematically oppressed them but I do think I can make the call to Christians, as we are assisted by grace and Christ has given us the role of advocacy and mediation.
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord- and you are speaking rightly since that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done for you. Truly I tell, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
John 13:12-17
We are all now His sent messengers in a world that will not always love us or receive our message. We are sent to be an example of humility, washing the feet of those around us. Not only this, but we were sent by the epitome of love and patience and as He says in John 13:16, “no messenger is greater than the one who sent him.” None of us are above reproach and are above being wrong, none of us have seen from all points of view and none of us are above engaging the with the curious and those looking to grow. Therefore we should look to Jesus, following His footsteps and example of humility, being lights that shine in the darkness of this broken world that seeks self before others.
