Jump Start # 1264

Acts 4:18 “And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”

  The assassination of a dozen French cartoonists this week by radical Muslims has brought grave concerns about the Western world. Things are different in the Eastern world. Free speech is not tolerated. One keeps their opinion to themselves. If expressed, it could cost one his very life. The West is built upon tolerance, diversity and freedom to express ideas, opinions and counter thoughts. There is a price to pay with these freedoms. There also comes some responsibility. There are many things in our land that would never, ever be allowed in Eastern cultures. Political talk shows, religious blogs, pornography—you won’t find those things in China, Vietnam, or Iran. Some of the drawings of the French cartoonists were offensive. You poke someone and they may hit you back. The cartoonist used by our area newspaper has pushed the limits too many times in my book. I dropped the newspaper mainly because of the outrageous editorial cartoons.

There is a line between speaking the truth, speaking your opinion and pushing buttons. Kids love to push the buttons with their parents. They succeed in irritating the parents. Some people are offensive because they like to see the reaction of others. Some do not care about others. The disciples came and reported to Jesus that some in the crowds were offended by the things He said. He didn’t change the message.

Our verse today reminds us that suppressing the speech of others is nothing new. The Jewish leadership did not like Peter and John preaching about the resurrected Christ. That message included the proof that Jesus was the chosen one, the Messiah. That message offended the Jews. They had no defense. There was no proof on their side to support that Jesus was a fraud. Their only action was to arrest the apostles and throw them into prison and then order them to hush. They didn’t. They continued to preach. The next chapter of Acts illustrates the growing divide between the Jewish leadership and the preachers of the Gospel.

The spirit of tolerance can be as deadly as the spirit that doesn’t allow free speech. Jesus tells us that people will love darkness more than the light. When the gospel light intersects with error, some get upset. They will point the finger and accuse some of judging, even though they are guilty of the same thing. There are many movements today to shut down the gospel message.

• In many college campuses today, teachings about creation are not allowed
• Saying anything about homosexuality in a negative way stirs anger and resentment from some
• Even subjects like divorce, modesty, social drinking are frowned upon by a younger generation

The atmosphere today desires lessons about relationships, home, and Jesus but leave the doctrine stuff at the door. Don’t tell us what the rules of Heaven are. We want Jesus as a friend, not as a Lord. Studies about compassion, attitude, coping with trials, raising kids, fill church buildings today. But without that foundation that Jesus is the Lord, Biblical authority and boundary lines, these lessons are just shallow. They are little more than cotton candy theology. Cotton candy looks good. They sell it at the ballgames. It tastes good. A person doesn’t even have to chew, it just melts in your mouth. But there’s nothing to cotton candy. It’s all sugar. You can’t live on that. After working hard in the yard all day, you don’t want a plate of cotton candy. You need protein. You want meat and potatoes. You never see the guys at the ballgames selling baked potatoes on a stick as they roam the isles. No, it’s cotton candy that sells. The same is true with theology today. Folks want the sugar coated candy and not the substance that will give them real faith.

The early disciples continued day by day in the apostles doctrine. Doctrine is what identifies us. It is what defines us. The differences among us religiously comes down to doctrine. Some have their own list of what they want in doctrine. Some want the deity of Jesus and that’s all. Others want to include just a bit more. We ought to let the Bible define itself. Notice what the apostles preached. Read what they wrote to the churches. Pay attention to what was important. That tells you. That defines it for you.

The apostles were told to stop preaching about Jesus. They didn’t. What they were doing offended the Jews. They were not poking a fight. They were not ridiculing the Jews. They were not drawing offensive pictures. They were preaching the pure doctrine of Christ. The Gospel message cannot be silenced. It will offend those who live in darkness. The homosexual community will not tolerate what the gospel demands of purity and holiness. It will not accept that God alone has the right to define a marriage. It’s not done at the church house, the court house or the state house. Heaven has already determined. The Gospel message will offend the atheistic evolutionist. He has no room in his mind for a creator. All the sense that the Gospels present are seen as nonsense to the evolutionist. The Gospel message will offend those who want to live together before marriage. It will offend those who want to divorce for any whim they have. It will offend those who want to worship the way they want to, and not as God directs. The Gospel message will offend those who want cotton candy theology. They don’t want rules. They want to play the game and make the rules up as they go. Funny, that doesn’t work in basketball, football, golf or Monopoly. The rules are set before the game begins.

So we have before us two extremes. On one side, is to poke fun, ridicule and try to irritate those we disagree with. That’s nothing more than being a bully. Jesus never did that. That is stretching and abusing the freedom of speech. On the other side, is to remain silent because we do not want to upset anyone. With this, wrong is tolerated, Satan gets a foot in the door, and you don’t stand for anything. The will of the people is a poor way to define what you believe. Somewhere in the middle is where we must be. Teaching, defending, and sharing the Gospel message. Not being ashamed of that message. It will upset some. That is not the target of the Gospel message, that is not our goal. Our motive is to share Jesus with everyone. There is no place for making fun of someone who believes differently. There is no place for mocking someone. There is no place for using psychological tricks to fool someone. God’s word is powerful. It’s a living sword. It will do it’s work without me adding anything more to it. Just teach it. Just show it. Just live it.

There may come a day, even in this land, where things such as these Jump Starts are no longer allowed. There may come a time when churches lose their tax exempt status for not tolerating same-sex marriages. There may come a time when those that teach the pure Gospel will be arrested. It won’t be the first time. Nor will it stop God.

Live your faith. Bow your head in public before you eat. Carry your Bible. But realize, doing those things may bring resistance from some. Don’t get in the mud with others who are obnoxious, rude and closed minded. If someone wants to talk, be kind, direct and sure. If someone wants a fight just to make you look bad, walk away.

Our world is changing very fast. Troublesome times are here, as a hymn begins. It is time for God’s people to not cower in fear but to put their trust in the ever living God. Remember the three in Daniel who were told to bow? They stood. Remember Daniel, who was told not to pray? He prayed. Remember Peter, who was told not to preach Jesus anymore? He preached.

Our faith, our courage, our trust is in the Lord. Those early saints endured much. They are our heroes. We walk in faith as they did.

They can ban public prayers from school, but I assure you, as long as there are tests, there will be prayers in school!

Roger