Daily Devotional for Tuesday December 4, 2007
Respect the Beliefs of Others is Code Language to Silence You
(Ezekiel 3:17; Isaiah 62:6; Luke 19:40)
How "respect the beliefs of others" is actually code language to silence you from telling others the Truth of God's Word and about Jesus. If you have ever heard people discus matters of faith, the one phrase that you will hear constantly is to "respect the beliefs of others." On the surface this sounds very reasonable. After all, we are taught to respect other people, respect what others believe. However, I want to tell you what is really meant by "respect the beliefs of others." This phrase is actually code language for the damnable lie that there are many roads which lead to God and everyone in their own way will get there. This is the mantra of the satanic ecumenical movement as well as those who promote unity at the expense of the Truth of God's Word.
Let me give you a test. How many times in the last week, in the last month, have you had someone tell you that you need to "respect the beliefs of others?" If I had just $1 for every time I hear that each week, I would never have to worry about the finances of the ministry ever again. This is what people who have chosen to reject God, reject the Bible, and reject Jesus Christ, will say to you when you take a stand for the Truth of God's Word. If people are not saying this to you, then you haven't been taking a bold enough stand for Biblical Truth!
I guarantee you that if you tell people abortion is murder, you will hear, "respect he beliefs of others." I guarantee you that if you tell people that homosexuality is a sin, you will hear, "respect the beliefs of others." I guarantee you that if you tell people that living together is not God's plan and is a sin, you will hear, "respect the beliefs of others." I guarantee you that if you tell people that those who follow the cults, false religions, and New Age philosophies of the world will die and go to hell, you will hear, "respect the beliefs of others." I guarantee you that if you tell people there is only ONE WAY to be saved, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ, you will hear, "respect the beliefs of others."
MY FRIEND, WHENEVER YOU TAKE A STAND FOR THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO REJECT THAT TRUTH WILL TRY TO STIFLE YOU BY TELLING YOU TO SHUT UP AND RESPECT THE BELIEFS OF OTHERS!!!
Sadly, this phrase has now even found its way into the church. I totally understand hearing this from the lost, but when I hear it as much from those who profess to know Jesus as their Savior, this is a HUGE problem! So many who are followers of Christ have been bullied by the non-believing world into keeping their mouths shut, intimidated into silence, and quite honestly, beaten up so bad on those occasions when they did speak out, they find it easier to stay silent when confronted with the opportunity to take a Biblical stand on the issues confronting the world and in the lives of those they interact with.
This "respect the beliefs of others" mindset is most prominently displayed by those in the damnable ecumenical movement. This is the move of satan that tries to bring people in all the cults and false religions around the world together into one group that one day will form the "one world religion." The ONLY way a Christian can be involved in such a group is to compromise and literally abandon the Absolute Truth of God's Word. God clearly tells us in His Word, "What fellowship does light have with darkness?" We have not been called to lay aside the precious truths in God's Word for the sake of harmony with those who reject that truth. Where is that in the Bible? What we HAVE been called to do is to share with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ and let them know there is only one source of Truth and that is in the Bible..period!
Listen, there is nothing wrong with being peaceful and respectful of those who hold different beliefs. As a matter of fact, if we are to win them to Christ, we need to find some common ground to dialogue. However, that does NOT and NEVER WILL mean compromising God's Word. NEVER! We can't force everyone to believe. We can't force everyone to fall on their knees and profess Christ as their Savior. We can however, share God's Truth with everyone we meet and we can tell them that Jesus is their only hope and answer in this life and for all eternity. At that point, it is up to them to decide what they want to believe. How is simply sharing our faith in Jesus Christ not respecting the beliefs of others?
I love you and care about you so much. My word for you today is to not let anyone intimidate you into silence by telling you to "respect the beliefs of others." Jesus said that if you are silent, the very rocks will cry out! I am amused at those who boldly promote to the masses every sin man can dream up, boldly propagate the lies of the cults and false religions of the world, yet those very same people are the first to tell someone who is simply declaring what God says in His Word to "respect the beliefs of others," or to shut up!
In this politically correct world we now live in where the Truth has been exchanged for the lie, we have been conditioned to not say anything that someone else may find offensive. I am sorry, but the Bible IS offensive to those who reject it and always will be. The TRUTH will always be offensive to those who live in rebellion to it. God told us to preach the Gospel, not make people feel good. Paul warned about those who were simply "tickling the ears" of those who heard them. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE TODAY IS WE HAVE TOO MANY EAR TICKLERS AND NOT ENOUGH PREACHERS!!!
I wish you could read my emails after my TV program each night. It doesn't really matter what the topic is, the one comment I get over and over every night is to "respect the beliefs of others." I clearly state every night that God gave us the free will to believe whatever we want. I can't make those choices for anyone, they have to make them for themselves. My job is to simply declare the Truth of God's Word, let them know that Jesus loves them, and that He is their hope now and for all eternity. What those who listen do with that message is between them and God. The funny thing is if they are that offended they can change the station, but they want me silenced!!!
I will pray for you today. Pray that you would not be bullied into silence by those who tell you to "respect the beliefs of others." I pray that you will have the boldness and courage to simply declare what God says in the Bible. Those who live in rebellion to God and His Word want to stop His Truth from being told. They want to silence anyone who is calling people to repentance and challenging them to turn their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ. "Respect the beliefs of others" is code language to silence you from sharing the Truth of the Bible and the hope and love of Christ with people. I am telling you today to respect others enough to tell them the TRUTH!!!