In The Only Cause That Matters
I've always enjoyed a good debate, be it online or in person. I enjoy the challenge of iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). It is also how I learn and grow. Some people think I am just being contentious, but I find no better way to test my ideas than to have another person who vehemently disagrees with me working to disprove or punch holes in what I am saying. Contrary to what others may think, I do not look at disagreement as a contest. For me, it is a way to have my thoughts tested and refined.
With the advent of the internet and social media, there is no end to opportunities for dialogue. It does, however, often have the undesired effect of generating more heat than light. And, if I am candid, I too easily slip into pride and leave the noble task of seeking Truth to the ugly desire to win. When that happens, people no longer matter. All that matters is that I prove to myself that I am right. Nothing good comes from this, and far too often, relationships are hurt or even lost because of it.
Over the last several years, I engaged in posting provocative comments to stir the pot. I fought about masks, BLM, politics, and not a few Biblical subjects. Not once did I change anyone's mind or make any real difference. I have, however, had people "unfriend" me on Facebook, which, in the larger scheme of things, doesn't mean a whole lot, except when the person doing the unfriending was once a friend in the non-Facebook meaning of the word.
I've concluded that there is only one cause that matters: the cause of the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't get me wrong; the gospel has deep and profound implications for subjects such as justice, tyranny, liberty, etc. Anyone who stands for any cause, be it Biblically based or not, does so from a Biblical perspective. Let me explain.
Even those marching for PRIDE are assuming Biblical justice. The very concept of "justice" has no meaning apart from the self-attesting Bible and the self-existing Trinitarian God who ultimately authored it. Apart from Him, there is no such thing as justice, morality, meaning, liberty, etc. Those decrying injustices are doing so because God wrote justice (law) on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:12-16). In a chance random universe where humans evolved, what is justice but the survival of the fittest?
I'll take it one step further. In the words of Dr. Cornelius Van Til, "antithesis presupposes theism." This means that for an atheist to deny God's existence, he must first acknowledge the preconditions of intelligibility of Biblical Christianity. What does that mean? OI(*%jlij97876H&^&%$#$%^ I typed the following group of symbols by a chance random process. I closed my eyes and let my fingers fall where they may.
They make as much sense as a consistent atheist. However, my illustration is practically impossible because even the symbols themselves have meaning. I see in this random string, progression. There is sequence; one character follows another. There is a beginning and an end. There are individual symbols that already have meaning, like dollar signs ($), percent (%), letters (H), and (&) and so on. In fact, it is impossible for me, in God's universe, to be truly meaningless and random.
An atheist uses meaningful language as a vehicle to communicate the statement, "There is no God." He uses letters, concepts, grammar, meaning, order, philosophy, and so on. He uses them to make a logical universal negative statement, "There is NO God." As soon as the atheist opened his mouth to utter his statement, he has disproved his whole world view. The God of the Bible is the Author of letters, concepts, meaning, logic, etc. And the atheist thinks nothing of borrowing from Him to deny His existence.
But few people think like I do, and few will take the time to follow my argument. And even if they did, my argument will not convert them from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:13) According to the Bible, the only one that can convert the atheist (or anyone for that matter) is God the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. (I Corinthians 1:21; Romans 1:16; John 6:44-45)
However, God has ordained that means by which the Holy Spirit converts a human being is through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:14+15) This proclamation takes many forms. I think it means actual preaching like a preacher does on Sunday morning. But I think it also means the many and various ways people proclaim the Bible. I believe this includes conversation, street preaching, written devotionals, Biblically-based movies, reading the Bible to children, talking to your kids about Christ, and so on. I think it even includes blog posts like mine.
I want to change the world. I want to make a difference in people's lives. I want others to know the Truth. I've concluded that the best way to do this is not by drive-by Facebook posts where I shoot at people who believe differently than me.
But I've concluded that there is only One Cause that Matters, which is the promotion of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To ask a person to change their lifestyle or their sin or change their minds on a controversial subject without calling them to a fundamental change in their being to believe in, follow, obey, and worship Christ is counter-productive. And even if they do make the revolutionary and regenerating decision to follow Christ, it doesn't mean we will see eye-to-eye on all matters. But it means that we both commit to submitting our lives to the one and only cause that matters - the gospel of Jesus Christ.