I saw the following video on Daniel’s blog and, after watching it, immediately agreed that it’s so true that most of us nowadays do not really speak with conviction when it comes to defending our faith.
Yea, you might see some people you know or have come across in the video. Perhaps you will even see yourself in it.
So why are we so afraid to speak our mind?
I can think of two good reasons:
- We are afraid of offending others, and in the follow-up, being ostracized.
- We don’t know truly know, or are unsure of what we are talking about.
Of the two, I’d think that the second is worse off. I am not saying that being afraid of offending others is a good thing, but the latter is the more serious of the two reasons.
When you speak the truth that comes from God, some people will get offended no matter how nicely you put it across, have no illusions about that. For there are those who refuse to listen to Truth, and instead choose to give heed to what they want to hear, or their own wicked agendas that only comes from Satan, for he has turned them truly away from the light.
Now we come to the second reason — that many of us either are unsure of what we are talking about or don’t know truly what we need to know to speak convincingly and clearly on any issue.
Why is that so?
Simply because there’s a chink in our armor.
What armor, you ask? Well, let’s look at Ephesians 6:11-18 where Paul instructs us that we are to put on the whole armor of God that we might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints
Ephesians 6:11-18
Notice the components of this armor of God — truth, righteousness, the Gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer. All are necessary in order for us to fight a good battle and be victorious against the attacks of the devil.
And just as a warrior will be more likely to get hurt and even killed if there were a chink in his armor, so will a missing component of this armor set render us less ineffective in our battle against darkness, wickedness and temptations.
Notice also that many of the ‘components’ hinge on two major factors — faith and the Word of God.
For where are we fed truth and learn righteousness? Where do we learn of the Gospel of peace, and be assured of our salvation?
Why, from the Word of God, i.e. the Bible, of course!
Make no mistake — we need an in-depth and intimate knowledge of God’s Word from whence truth, righteousness, the Gospel of peace and our assurance of salvation comes, coupled with prayer and faith to be effective warriors for God.
Don’t make the mistake that just because you have read the Bible from cover to cover once that that’s sufficient. God forbid! Read it again and again and etch it into your heart and in your head, because it is a two-edged sword that cuts asunder.
And just as the devil employs many tactics, so must we learn to see what he’s stunt he is trying to pull, and be able to deflect those with the right words and to do so with authority! Mind you, of the arsenal the devil has, his best is deception and many are deceived because their armor have chinks in them!
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
Genesis 3:1
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example. When tempted by the devil in the desert 40 days and nights, our Lord Jesus Christ delivered the Word of God with authority and power. Not alike us who might go, “You know, I think it’s mentioned somewhere in the Bible that man shall not live by bread alone?” and sound like the “aggressively inarticulate” in the video.
Being unsure, you shall therefore falter, and that’s when the devil, who walks about and roars like a lion, shall devour you whole (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Take heed, too, that without faith it is impossible to understand the Word of God and so gird yourself with the armor of God.
Therefore, my brother and sister, in prayer and by faith and being learned of the Word of God, we shall all take on the armor of God and overcome, for without which the devil shall devour you whole. For whosoever has the armor of God intact is already promised victory!
And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 4:3
I leave you with this teaching from Peter.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9
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I’ve been meditating on this whole speaking the truth thing too. The day before yesterday, God spoke about being timely and yesterday the verse I received is of how discretion protects me.
I do believe that truth frees people from slavery, but my greater struggle is to speak piercing truth at the right place and the right time, as well as know when I’m overloading the information.
I can’t see the video so I can’t comment on that. (problem on my end, not yours)
But I see more reasons as to why a person might not speak their mind.
They might think the error is not a big deal.
They don’t want to jeoporadize their friendship.
They don’t want to lose congregants and the offerings.
They have no real desire to defend or teach the truth.
They think it’s “not our place to correct”.
They see it as an act of being judgmental and unloving.
If it’s for any of these reasons I stated or you, then they should be concentrating on getting themselves right with the Lord before they can address others. Start with their own house, then go out to others.
The armor itself is a tool of protection. It protects our faith, the truth in the Word of God and righteousness, our stance, and perseverance - it protects the vessel inside. (spiritually) But that is assuming we are already in possession of these things. If we lack in any of these, then how can we protect it? And so I say again, we must start with ourselves, the source so that we are able to put on the armor in protection, then go out and help others. If we are unable to speak our minds and defend the truth, then it is evidence of a bigger problem - ourselves.
Great post Isaiah! I agree - it’s really important to take the time to understand what we believe and why. I think a lot of churches now really don’t teach doctrine the way they should. I was quite fortunate in that the church I attended in high school was led by a pastor who invested a lot of sermon time in teaching doctrine. There were times I found it a bit dry, but I sure appreciate it now!
Great Post!
You are correct, Isaiah, it is of the utmost importance that we focus on the “Man in the Mirror”, and pay very close attention to Paul when he admonishes us in
Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
How does God work in you to will and to do? Through cleasning by the washing of the Water of the Word.
Peace to All
Amen.
We speak as men sent by God. I believe speaking with conviction is closely linked with authority. Authority comes as a result of spending time with the Author.
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. [Acts 4:13].
Many Christians in our day wouldn’t dare to say with such boldness what these men said a verse before this:
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. [Acts 4: 12]
Thank you for the post, Sicarii
Sidharth
Great message!
You said “Yea, you might see some people you know or have come across in the video. Perhaps you will even see yourself in it.”
Not only do I recognize several people in the video, but to be perfectly honest, I also see myself.
Too often I feel like I am going to offend someone or be asked a question that I really can’t answer. Your post here today has shed some new light in that area for me and I thank you.
Father, in that precious and powerful name of Jesus, I pray that we all grow to become the bold and truth filled witnesses that you have called us to be. I thank you Father for your love, grace and mercy towards us in the times that we fail. I also thank you that you have laid out a marvelous plan for each and every one of us and I thank you that because of Jesus’ blood that was shed on the cross we can come boldy before your throne and recieve our mission instructions. You are an awesome God. In the power and authority of Jesus name. Amen!
hi Precious:
We all face that same problem actually, knowing when to say what needs to be said at the point where it should be said. I guess that’s why being able to do so is called an art form.
I myself am still learning to be honest, but I guess the best thing to do is to pray for wisdom and for God to guide our speech and actions.
God bless, and Shalom Aleichem.
hi Carol:
You should get your Flash player fixed.
Let me know how I can help if you needed.
You are very right about the main point you made — that we first need to be right with God before we can chastise another or speak out against an issue. Because if we don’t do so, then we in turn are the biggest hypocrites!
As our Lord Jesus Christ taught, first take out the huge log out of our eyes before pointing out the little one in our brother’s.
I also agree very much with the last 2 points you made on why Christians are afraid to speak out nowadays — “They think it’s “not our place to correct” and “They see it as an act of being judgmental and unloving.”
I don’t know how correcting and chastising or teaching can be seen to be ‘unloving’. Love does not mean turning a blind eye to the wrongs! Love does not mean being quiet when a loved one does wrong! In fact, I’d think that one’s love is missing or misplaced if you don’t speak up.
God loves us and He said that He chastises those whom He LOVES! Doesn’t that already tell us something about the true nature of love? I find that too many people are caught up in the romantic notion of this Christian love that we’ve become so passive and let things go by us with nary a whimper.
God bless, and Shalom Aleichem.
hiya Mic!
They sure don’t, nowadays. There are so many churches teaching feelings — they whip you up into a frenzy for the Lord without emphasizing the real aspects of our faith. And what happens when that ‘high’ is gone? People backslide, and people run at the first signs of tribulation.
That’s why the Church, the body of Christ, is in such bad shape today. We’ve all gone astray and lost our convictions and first love.
God bless, and Shalom Aleichem.
Dear King’s Kid:
Thank you.
I love what you quoted, because it’s what I have been meditating on for some time now as well — our salvation with the fear of the Lord. As I have mentioned, when one receives salvation without a real foundation in the conviction of our sins and a real fear of God, it is alike the seed on ground with weeds, easily choked out.
God bless, and Shalom Aleichem.
Dear Sidharth:
Thank you for visiting my blog and sharing!
I have often wondered why we today do not possess the boldness of Paul and the Apostles when they spoke to crowds and people as they shared the Gospel. Even I myself am guilty of that.
The Apostles and Paul didn’t give two hoots about what the people thought of them as they preached the Gospel. If they did, we won’t have the Gospel today!
Today, I am meditating upon 1 John 4:4 (KJV) to truly appreciate and put in practice this promise:
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
– 1 John 4:4 (KJV)
God bless, and Shalom Aleichem.
Dear Michael:
Thank you!
You’re not alone, brother. I see myself in that video too and had a good laugh at my own expense.
One main issue is our inability sometimes to defend our stand on issues because we do not have an in-depth understanding of the Word of God. If we don’t, then we need to be more diligent in asking for the wisdom to understand and for the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us.
When you think about it, we cannot fault God if we don’t understand His Word, but ourselves, because we have a Helper directly from God and it is only now a matter of whether we have a teach-able heart to learn and inscribe all God teaches in our heart.
Thank you for your prayer, brother. I join you in asking God for the same.
God bless, and Shalom Aleichem.