Last Sunday, a 46-year-old man was attacked by a shark while swimming at a popular California beach. He punched the shark in the nose and was then rescued by fellow swimmers. He was bitten on his left hand, arm and torso but was not killed. Now, consider his story as a spiritual parable. We will never face soul sharks, but we may face enemies who are “like roaring lions, prowling about, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). When Satan attacks, the swimmer teaches us to do two things: fight back and ask for help.
The Bible tells us to “resist him, standing firm in the faith” (verse 9), trusting that “the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will restore, strengthen, strengthen and establish you” (verse 10).
This week we are exploring ways to redemptively respond to Pride Month and the growing cultural opposition of our time. We are first learning to see our opponents not as enemies but as victims of a secularized culture and Satan’s deceptive attacks, and then, through a daily transforming experience of God’s Spirit, to become the change we want to see.
Let’s be a little more militant today in fighting our spiritual enemy. What does “hold fast the faith and resist him” mean for us today?
Disturbing new report
This morning’s daily article is motivated by two factors.
First, a disturbing new report suggests that 40 percent of British Christians do not want to disclose their religious beliefs. Is it any wonder that Christianity is in steep decline in the UK?
But what about in the United States, where evangelicals make up the largest religious population?
Across the Atlantic, 52 percent of Christians believe it would be “offensive and disrespectful” to ask someone to change their faith, and two-thirds of American Christians say they are unfamiliar with “how to tell others about Jesus.” It’s no wonder Christianity is in steep decline in America.
Doctor’s very personal questions
The second factor is a personal experience I had yesterday.
My mother died 16 years ago from colon cancer that spread to the lungs, so I have been getting tested regularly for the disease, including a colonoscopy yesterday afternoon. I won’t go into details, but I do want to tell a relevant story to back up my point.
My mother was diagnosed with this disease while we were pastors in Midland, Texas, and continued her treatment while we were pastors in Atlanta, Georgia. When we moved to a parsonage in Dallas, Texas, my mother and I met with a gastroenterologist who would take over my mother’s care. Even though my mother had had surgery and chemotherapy, the doctor would not initiate a conversation with my mother when we met with him.
Instead, he turned directly to me and asked me when my last colonoscopy was, and when I said I had never had one, he urged me to make an appointment before leaving the room, and then, finally, he turned to my mother and began to work out a treatment plan for her.
That doctor may have assumed that I understood my familial risk for colorectal cancer and would personally undergo a colonoscopy, or he may have been worried about upsetting me by confronting me directly. But he rejected the former assumption and cared enough about me to take the latter risk, and I am forever grateful for that.
In teaching cultural engagement and evangelism at various seminaries over the years, I often tell my students, “You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re standing next to a lost person before God and they’ve been condemned to hell, and then they turn to you and ask why you didn’t share the gospel with them, and you have to say, ‘I didn’t want to offend you.’” (I don’t know if you’ll ever actually find yourself in that situation before God’s judgment, but you see what I mean.)
What Francis of Assisi never said
You may have heard Francis of Assisi say, “Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary, use words.” But there are two problems here.
First, Francis never said anything like this, and he was in fact a very persuasive preacher, like Jonathan Edwards or Billy Sunday.
Secondly, it is always necessary to use words.
Paul asked, “How can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?” (Romans 10:14).
To become a Christian, we must first understand that Jesus died to atone for our sins, ask Jesus for forgiveness, and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior. None of this can be understood without words. Good examples, deeds, and good pioneers are not enough to convey the truth of this proposition.
How would Ronald Reagan talk to an atheist?
Ronald Reagan died 20 years ago on this day, and among his greatest quotes, this one is pertinent for today’s conversation:
“When I meet an atheist, I sometimes want to invite him to the most gourmet dinner ever, and then, after he has finished eating that sumptuous dinner, I want to ask him if he believes in having a chef.”
Who will we introduce to Cook today?
Quote of the day:
“Fight the good fight of faith, and God will give you spiritual mercy.”—George Whitefield
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/SergioYoneda
Release Date: June 5, 2024
Dr. Jim Denisonis a cultural theologian and founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. Denison Ministries include DenisonForum.org, First15.org, ChristianParenting.org and FoundationsWithJanet.org. Jim speaks biblically about important cultural issues at the Denison Forum. He is Daily Articles He has written over 30 books, including The approaching tsunami, of Bible Insights into Difficult Questions Series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.
The views expressed in this commentary are not necessarily Crosswalk Headlines.
For more information about Denison Forum, visit www.denisonforum.org
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