This post comes from Calvary Chapel Pastors
Before
After
John 15:18-19
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
RIIIIIING! I have to admit, the sound of the fire alarm caught me totally off guard. I was speaking at a public high school assembly and the youth were locked-in on what I was saying. And then it happened. I just couldn’t believe it!
Let me back up and start at the beginning.
I was in Pennsylvania and didn’t know until we pulled up to the school that it was a public school. My talk was to be, “Where Did Cain Get His Wife? And Other Questions About Races!” When I found out it was an all-school assembly at a public school I asked the host what the restrictions were. He said it was only that I not preach!
Well, in answering questions about races, I would have to preach! So in order to not break the rules, I changed to another topic. The talk I chose would challenge the students to look at fossil evidence and evaluate it critically without using the Bible or talking about God.
It was a full-house and I was given 30 minutes to speak. I was really excited to be able to speak with these public school students, but by the time the students were seated and introductions were made I was left with about 25 minutes to share. Although the students were very attentive, I had a feeling only five minutes into my talk that something was up.
Ten minutes into the talk the fire alarm sounded. Interesting timing! One student hollered out, “Are you kidding?” All of the students started filing out of the auditorium and as they passed me some said, “Thank you!” It took less than five minutes to empty the whole auditorium!
My son, who works for rforh, was with me on this trip and he suggested I gather up my computer and take it outside with me. He then told me that he had overheard a heated discussion in the hallway. An adult was yelling at the principal, saying that what I was doing is illegal and that he would record it and file a report.
Something strikes me as I think about this experience. The public schools have these students for more than 900 hours each year and I was only going to speak to them for 25 minutes.
Many in the secular world accuse Christians of being, “close-minded, intolerant and bigoted.” Well, just because people say that, doesn’t make it true.
“Close-minded?” No, we aren’t “close-minded.” We seek after truth. We just know that truth is only found in God’s Word.
“Intolerant?” No, we aren’t intolerant, unless something defies the commandments and truth of God and that is not intolerance — it’s standing firm in our faith and we have the freedom to do that in this country.
“Bigoted?” No, we aren’t “bigoted.” We know that there is only one race, the human race, and that there are only two kinds of people — those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and those who do not. In part it’s because we abandoned the Word of God and allowed “man’s opinion” to reign supreme that we have such a problem with racism in our world today.
As Bible-believing Christians we know it is our duty to love all people and to share the precious seed of the Gospel with a lost and dying world. So why would public schools worry about a 25 minute talk that presents biblical teachings? Remember, I didn’t use the Bible at all in this presentation. The only answer is because it is a threat to their secular beliefs.
Think about it, if the evidence that I was presenting is so “ignorant,” as one teacher told me, then anyone should be able to easily refute it! Seems to me they protest too much. Perhaps deep down they know the truth. Oh yeah….God said it’s written on everyone’s hearts, but some will suppress it.
Friends, this isn’t a battle over who’s evidence is correct, this is a battle over the interpretation of the same evidence. The world will scorn and ridicule you (even have a fire drill) in attempts to stop you from speaking God’s truth.
Remember what Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) And what the apostle John said, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) We don’t need to fight fire with fire (fire drill pun intended), the Word tells us to not repay evil with evil (1 Peter 3:9). Please love the lost enough to study to show yourself an approved workman for God (2 Timothy 2:15), and be prepared to give an answer why you believe what you say you believe (1 Peter 3:15).
So, how do you clear a room in under five minutes??
Just bring up information that contradicts the prevailing paradigm of the world today, which in this case was revealing truth about fossil evidence.
Of course we also know it depends on the room. We can also FILL a room in five minutes with those who know the Lord and are hungry to hear His truth.
Remember…there is a spiritual battle going on in our culture and it’s time we get active. Make sure to do it the way that God commanded though, “with meekness and fear.”
Stay bold!
Carl & the rforh Team
P.S. – If you’d like to see the full unedited version of the talk that the plug got pulled on you can obtain a copy from our website. It’s entitled, “Answers to Difficult Issues”. God Bless!
continue reading the views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of Calvary Southampton
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