19 Dec Let us Shine as Lights, Holding Fast the Word of Life

Some years ago, in an Indian University, a Professor in a class of 30 Post Graduate Co-Ed students drew two circles on the floor; and he asked those who considered homosexuality right to stand in one circle and those who considered it wrong to stand in another circle. Except one student, all the others including the Professor himself grouped themselves among those who considered homosexuality to be right. The only student who publicly proclaimed it wrong was a Christian!

It is a tragedy that most of the population especially young people have rejected absolute truth and embraced relative truth.

Necessity for Absolute truth.
Let me illustrate the necessity and importance of absolute truth through the necessity of standard unit of measurement (S.I.). Suppose if there is no S.I. imagine what kind of confusion it would bring within trade and scientific research, throughout the world. Different nations would set diverse standard units for measurement and there will be utter chaos.

What is absolute truth? That which is true for all people, across all times, and at all places. Relative truth meanwhile means that it can be true for one person and not for another. The word of God is absolute truth and Jesus is the Truth. Jesus said: “God’s word is truth” and I am the Truth” (John 17:17; 14:6)

So the Standard unit of measurement furnishes a reference point by which weight, length or capacity of anything can be described. Standard units are  used all over the world for determining a particular quantity that does not change with space and time. It does not change from person to person. It helps to make our judgment more reliable and accurate. It also allows scientists to correlate data and interact with each other about their findings.

Likewise, the Creator God has set a standard of commandments to judge the people of the whole world, in the form of His written word, the Bible. The wisest King Solomon closes his God-breathed sermon: Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty.  God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. Jesus said, all who reject me and my message will be judged on the Day of Judgment by the truth I have spoken.  ((Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14 / John 12:48 NLT)

Popular adversaries to the Truth:

1. Religious pluralism: Religious pluralism accepts many ways to God. According to this belief, all religions are equally valid. Pluralism is more than agreeing on some social issues. For example, Christians and people of other faiths agree and join together in helping the needy ones and fighting against social issues such as corruption and injustice. But their beliefs about God and salvation differ and are often irreconcilable.
2. Postmodernism: Postmodernism has resulted in relativism, the notion that all truth is relative. It means what is right or wrong for one group is not automatically right or wrong for all. Tragically the Postmodernism’s renunciation of absolute truth (the Bible) influenced young people to reject the authenticity and authority of the Bible and led to abominable sins like adultery, fornication and same-sex relationship.
3. Inclusivism: It is the belief that people can attain God’s gift of salvation only because of Jesus Christ’s redemptive work on the cross but also the followers of other faiths and even atheists can be saved by responding to God’s revelation in creation or through the fragments of truth contained in their own non-Christian religion.
4. Darwinism: Peter Singer, one of the most famous bioethicists in the world today, argues that Darwinism undermines the Judeo-Christian sanctity-of-life ethic, which has been the main deterrent to abortion and euthanasia. Ian Dowbiggin and other historians claim that Darwinism played a central role in changing people’s attitudes about human life. (https://stanfordreview.org/impact-darwinism/)

According to Weikart, Darwinian evolution crucially influenced Hitler and the Nazis, and the Nazis zealously propagated evolutionary theory during the Third Reich. The Nazis viewed the “Nordic race” as superior to other races and set about advancing human evolution by ridding the world of “inferior” races and individuals. (https://www.discovery.org/b/darwinian-racism/)

What should be the response of those who shine as lights in the world, holding fast the Word of life? (Philippians 2: 15, 16 NKJV)

We should share the Living Word with gentleness and respect, with those whose minds are blinded by the god of this world – Satan, that God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Peter 3:15 / 2 Corinthians 4:4 / 2 Timothy 2:25)

We need not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ as it is the power of God to save anyone who believes the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16).

The message of the cross is the power of God for those who are being saved even though it is foolishness to those who are perishing. (1 Corinthians 1:18).

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:21-24)

Let me quote C. H. Spurgeon from his sermon called “Christ and His Co-Workers,”: “The best “apology” for the gospel is to let the gospel out . . . preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Let the Lion out, and see who will dare to approach Him. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will soon drive away all His adversaries”

Helpful Bible verses to lead people to Christ Jesus:

God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)

Jesus said, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14: 6).

Jesus is the only one who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone. We must be saved through him! (Acts 4:12 ERV)

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)

Lord Jesus will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8 NLT)

Let us sow the Seed-the eternal, Living Word of God with prayer and lead as many people into the kingdom of God as possible. (Luke 8:11 / Hebrews 4:12 / 1 Peter 1:23)

Helpful resources to scientifically prove that God’s creation account in the Bible is a Fact:
https://www.icr.org/
https://answersingenesis.org/
https://creation.com/

We should know that the main reason for the disaster of replacing the Absolute truth with relative truth is the failure to make Bible doctrine and Bible knowledge a high priority in our families and churches.

Cult expert Anthony Hoekema has convincingly pointed out that when cults raise their own books or sets of books to the level of Scripture, “God is no longer allowed to speak as He does in the Bible; He may now speak only as the sect deems proper. Thus the Word of God is brought under the yoke of man.” (The Four Major Cults P 379). This is definitely the case with most of the cults.

Walter Martin rightly said that the rise of the cults is “directly proportional to the fluctuating emphasis which the Christian church has placed on the teaching of biblical doctrine to Christian laymen.” (The Rise of the Cults P 24)

Responsibility of Christian Parents and Spiritual Leaders:
We should teach the infallibility of the Bible and its basic doctrines to our children and the precious souls under our care.

Jebaveeran is a cross-cultural witness for Christ, based in a North Indian city, serving young people including University students. Contact: jebaveeranbaby@gmail.com