January 4, 2007

Good morning!
“I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God.” (1Cor 1:18, NLT)
From the moment the Good News went out to the world there were intellectuals ready to pounce on it. When we hear a new idea, which does not agree with what we “know”, it will sound alien or stupid in our ears. Our hearts and minds are opened to the teaching of Jesus when we accept and believe on him as Lord. That same mind of ours will also become less credulous toward the ideas and beliefs of the world at large. In this manner a Christ-one, a Christian, is indeed intolerant. Our Lord told us that He is the way and the truth; therefore we are intolerant of the many “ways” the world presents to deceive many people and the relativistic “truths” the world says are equally credible. The world would have us love all “ways” as equal to our own, but that isn’t what Jesus said to us. The world would have us be tolerant of those who are different from us; no problem, Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The world would also have us to keep quiet and not spread the Good News lest it offend someone of another belief. Sorry, Christ told us to take his message to everyone in every corner of the earth. The prince of this world would have people remain ignorant of the Good News. That prince will use everything in his arsenal to prevent the Good News from being heard.
Have you ever witnessed to a doctor, someone with an MD after their name? Many believe already, but what about that one who says “I have never seen a miraculous healing.” Who does that sound like? Remember the 1st Century Jewish religious leaders and the “show us a sign”? Would that doctor believe even if he or she did see what could only be a miracle of healing? If the doctor had already rejected the Good News then more than likely he or she will find some rationalization to prevent his or her belief. Another case of a hardened heart or mind is that of the learned person. A learned person is anyone who already knows all there is to know in their own opinion. At that point they can be taught nothing and will cheerfully point out the flaws, as perceived by their own intellect, in your witness.
It can be difficult to minister to a scornful, laughing world. However, Jesus met the world’s scorn and unbelief first; he will give us the strength to endure to the end and gain the victory. Praise God for the way, the truth and the life, our Lord Jesus Christ!

Bucky