My dear friends, we live in perilous times. I fear that American Christians have lived with ease for so long that we may be the least prepared believers in the world for these times. All around the globe, Christians have been persecuted, imprisoned, and murdered for their faith. The American media have hidden this information for years.
Believers throughout the world have practiced wisdom and self-control as a means to both survival and effectiveness in proclaiming the gospel. When Jesus discussed facing persecution, He said, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
The Lord has spoken to my heart for several days to remind you of the value of walking in wisdom. Wisdom always pertains to practical application that fulfills the purpose. I am so sad to say that’s almost the last thing I see in American Christians. Wisdom would result in us protecting ourselves while also delivering our message effectively!
The Apostle Paul said it like this, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:5-6).
I have always been amazed at how shallow incompassionate believers have been in sharing their faith. I watched Christians fight over their petty doctrines until it would escalate to a physical confrontation. It was this very dogmatism that turned my heart away from the Church as a child! And it is this unkind, unreasonable viciousness that makes the world hate both God and His Church!
When social media exploded on the scene, I knew it would initially be a productive tool for the kingdom. Still, I also knew it would quickly devolve into arguments and slander for believers and non-believers.
Before I dive into the next part of this letter, I want to say that I am so proud of you. I don’t see you being petty and argumentative like so many groups. But I still want to equip you for effectiveness and personal safety as this demonic train “barrels down the track,” running over all who foolishly make themselves a target.
Plans are currently underway for our Federal Government to create crime prevention legislation. If you’ve seen the Tom Cruise movie Minority Report, you have a general idea. In the movie, oracles would foretell crimes that were going to happen. Their special unit would arrest people who had not actually committed a crime but were considered at risk of committing a crime.
This actual crime prevention program will comb through your social posts, see who you voted for, and assess your beliefs based on their findings. If your beliefs do not align with government policy, you will be a potential criminal that should be arrested and placed in a reeducation camp (a nice way to say prison camp).
So I want to make few suggestions:
On Facebook, your account is probably limited; very few people actually see your posts. Most of those who see your posts probably already share your beliefs. Therefore, your posts are like, “singing to the choir!” You’re probably not changing anyone’s mind. But what you are doing is revealing your innermost thoughts.
Too often, we assume that expressing our opinion is a form of ministry or encouragement. It’s not! Attacking what we are against is not ministry. Attacking other people’s views is not ministry; it’s just attacking.
Maybe we should extol the goodness of God, share the love of God for the world, or provide solutions for real problems without attacking or arguing. The world needs to hear what God has done for them through Jesus. They really don’t need to hear how wicked they are!
It is probable that very soon, preaching the gospel will be deemed hate speech. Sadly, to some degree, that accusation will be true, based on the way believers attack the world. Remember, “Gospel” is always good news!
If our speech is filled with grace and seasoned with salt, they will always empower (grace) and preserve (salt). According to Paul, our commitment to these principles equip us to know how we ought to answer.
We must remember that the very world that hates us is hurting and afraid. As Peter said, we should be the people who are so full of hope that even the unbelievers want to know the source of our inner peace and hope!
I want to encourage you to use wisdom when you share with anyone, but especially when you publicly post your views. When we operate in wisdom, we will see fruit: new converts and avoiding persecution.
Now is the time we need to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We are moving into a time when we will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. This will turn the hearts of the world to God and usher in the return of the Lord Jesus and the beginning of the Millennium!
Thank you for all you are doing personally, financially, and prayerfully to usher the return of Jesus to Planet Earth!
Together we are…
Changing the way the world sees God!
P.S. I have been looking forward to World Changer Weekend. My heart longs for fun, fellowship, and group worship with people of “like-faith.” However, this morning I was awakened with a clear sense that we should not have a live World Changer Weekend in Huntsville this year. I understand many of the underlying reasons, but whether I understand anything or not, I’m always going to follow the direction of the Lord.
I will preach the series Always Above, Never Beneath: The Biblical Secrets to Always Winning. I will give you more details as they unfold. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
P.P.S. We will shortly experience one of our longtime goals: our online Impact Community. That’s right! This means we will host Ultimate Impact, CyberChurch, and various training programs on our website. This will open so many opportunities to encourage, train, develop, and minister the Word.
Just imagine having a community where you aren’t bombarded with all the fear-mongering, negative, political arguments. I’ll be sharing more over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!
Matthew 10:17-20
17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (NKJV)
Matthew 5:13-20
13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.