Mike Focht 12/6/2024
The proliferation of media and social media has given the Christian voice a wider influence and reach than ever before in the church’s history. Despite the great advantage of this new reality, we must not think employing a method sanctifies its use. Just because Christians inhabit TV, movies, social media, and concert stages more than ever doesn’t mean we are doing what God would have us to do.
If you watch a few interviews or shows with professed Christian figures, you will notice a similar speech pattern reoccurring. This pattern will contain words such as opinion, beliefs, we think, conversations, my personal opinion, my journey, my experience, etc.
Much of what is said—not all, but much of it—will fall within the basic lines of what we Bible-believing Christians would consider true or orthodox faith. Still, despite this basic acquiescence to faith, the discerning Christian will sense that something is missing. Though the general tone of speech is friendly and maybe even sincere, it will still be lacking.
Spiritual power and authority are lacking. Our Christian message may be going further than ever before, but something about our message is deficient. It doesn’t contain the power and authority it did when those media-less and internet-less apostles turned the world upside down. One of the primary reasons we lack Holy Spirit power in our message is that we lack the courage to preach the truth as it truly is.
With a simple reading of the New Testament, you will find the message of the apostles and the early church to be very different than ours. They didn’t talk about their opinions; they spoke the Word of God. They didn’t share beliefs; they confidently declared things they were infinitely assured of. They didn’t describe personal faith; they explained deposited truth—the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. They didn’t shyly infer deeper meanings but commonly said, We know. They didn’t express their message was essential for them personally, but proclaimed their message was necessary for the entire world. Even if an angel appeared and said something otherwise, they called down eternal damnation on that supernatural being! Their gospel was not one option among many. It was the only message that decided the eternal fate of every living soul.
The subtle change in our language betrays the not-so-subtle loss of spiritual power. Whatever the reasons: fear of persecution, loss of followers or friends, ratings, ticket sales, or the simple fear of embracing the shame of the cross, we must confess most of our Christian public figueres have an anemic public faith. It is time for God to stir our courage and inject the iron of truth into our blood!
Let a man speak in a news interview as if he is speaking the eternal truth of God, and everything changes. Christian brothers and sisters, let me say this as clearly as possible: Christianity has nothing to do with “opinions”. We speak truth!
Let a woman share her faith as if the people around need to listen and a new set of reactions will emerge. We don’t have thoughts about life that work for us. We know the only way to life for the whole world.
Let a man begin to write as if he is sharing the Word of God and not mere human opinion, and I guarantee the world will take notice. We don’t have religion. We have revelation and relationship. We have God. We have the only God. We need to speak as if people will go to hell if they don’t listen to us—because they will.
Jesus was clear with his followers about the world’s reaction to this type of speech. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
O Lord of the harvest, please send us servants convinced the truth they possess is worth the fellowship of Your shame and persecution!
This is not a message for ministers and missionaries with large audiences, concerts, radio shows, and TV deals. This is for every child of God. Every true child of God should be thoroughly convinced that God’s extraordinary love that changed a sinner like them can do the same for the sinners they are communicating with.
It wasn’t an anemic version of opinions, beliefs, and personal journeys that changed us. It was The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Our courage and speech should reflect that. When it does, the power of the gospel will be evident. We speak truth!