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Jesus is a television star once again.
Clearly, Jesus is more popular than the church today. What can you and I do about this?
Why do we need bold humility?
The
more people reject Christian truth, the more they need to hear it. The
sicker the patient, the more he or she needs a doctor.
That’s
why we must use our influence to speak biblical truth in every way we
can. Every non-Christian we meet is someone whose soul is in eternal
peril. Many Americans have not heard biblical answers to cultural
questions. According to Pew Research Center, nearly half of Americans seldom or never read God’s word.
Paul asked, “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” ( Romans 10:14).
But
we must speak biblical truth with biblical humility. When we convey the
impression that we think we are better than others or are judging them,
they are understandably resistant to our message. “Speaking the truth
in love” is the mandate of our day ( Ephesians 4:15).
Alyssa Milano and cultural tolerance
Here’s the other side of the story: as much as our culture needs us to embrace bold humility, many are suspicious of both.
Our
society has decided that absolute truth does not exist (which is an
absolute truth claim, by the way). We therefore have no right to “force”
our beliefs on others. If we stand boldly for biblical truth, we are
accused of intolerance, bigotry, and so on.
This standard apparently does not apply to those on the other side of the cultural wars.
Humility
is a countercultural value as well in a society that elevates the
self-made hero. Our ethos claims that we can do anything if we get up
earlier, stay up later, work longer and try harder. Admitting that we
need God and other people is a recipe for scorn and worse.
How, then, can you and I embrace and exhibit bold courage tempered by genuine humility?
What happens when we know we are loved
Embracing our identity in Christ is the key.
When
we know that we are loved absolutely and unconditionally by God, we are
free to stand for truth no matter what others think of us. The apostles
could “stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of
this Life” ( Acts 5:20),
knowing that the worst that could happen to them—martyrdom—would lead
to the best that could happen to them—entrance into God’s perfect
paradise.
Because they knew they were loved, they were free to speak boldly whatever the cost.
Knowing
that our value rests in God’s love for us also engenders humility. We
are no better than those we are seeking to persuade and serve. The
ground is level at the foot of the cross. Jesus loves every person we
know as much as he loves us.
Because the apostles knew they were loved, they were empowered to love others as they were loved.
Who are your neighbors?
Our
culture is clearly interested in Jesus. If we want people to be
interested in his message, we need to deliver it with bold humility
birthed in our identity in him. Then they will see his love in ours and
be drawn to his love for them.
G.
K. Chesterton: “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to
love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.”
Who are your neighbors today?
NOTE: I hope you’ve been able to watch our Biblical Insights to Tough Questions YouTube series that answers the tough questions we all face. Check them out here.
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