Articles
How Would You Respond?
It just may be that you have had the occasion to hear something that made you question everything you have ever believed, or at least be a little less trusting of what some people tell you. Maybe it was some revelation of a friend's secret side that showed them to be not as nice and harmless as most people had believed; maybe it was someone pointing out a new way to find the answer of a multiplication problem that was way easier than the way you learned it; maybe it was learning that you were sold a life insurance policy that did not actually pay out like the salesman told you. Whatever the case, when we hear something strange — and maybe even shocking — we still have a choice as to how we respond to what we have heard. Especially when we are told some new truth that goes against all we have ever heard before, our response becomes all the more important.
As an example, we read within the New Testament of several occasions when Jesus said or taught something that did not follow the traditional teachings the people had been hearing for literally centuries. The listeners did not always respond the same! And when the apostles began teaching the gospel message of salvation available to both Jew and Gentile, the responses were not all the same; the differences in those responses would also mean the difference between condemnation and salvation. Friends and brethren, our response is important!
Even today, we may have occasions when someone tells us something that God's word teaches that we have never heard before; how will we respond to those shocking words? Will we take the time investigate and study God's word diligently to see if it is true, or will we simply shrug it off with the smug assurance we are right and they are just some nut case — wrong?
If you are reading this, then it is likely you see some importance in knowing what God's word says, so I would pray that you would not simply shrug off or ignore a message that you have never heard before, just because you've never heard it before, and especially when it does not agree with what you may already believe and practice. The truth is, though, not all men today will respond the same, either. Let's take a look at some responses to the words of Jesus and the apostles, as recorded within the New Testament, and see if they are the proper responses and, if not, why they are wrong. Let us not forget that a proper response can be the difference between condemnation and salvation. If we truly seek to know God's will, and if we truly seek eternal life in heaven, we will strive for a proper response.
Will You Go Away Sorrowful? When Jesus was asked by the rich young ruler, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” He eventually told the young man, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me,” but “he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:17-22). He went away, not heeding the words of Jesus, because they weren't the words he wanted to hear! Could we be doing the same thing?
It may be that you enter into a study of God's word with good intentions; you sincerely want to know what He has revealed, what He expects, and what He has commanded us. But then you run across a teaching that goes against all you have ever heard — contrary to all you have ever believed! What will you do? Will you, too, go away sorrowful, turning your back on the very words that could save your soul?
Will It Disturb and Enrage You? I probably don't have to tell you that Jesus and the apostles often spoke words that offended the religious leadership and greatly upset them. After the apostles had healed the lame man (Acts 3:6-9) the apostles then had an opportunity to teach those who had gathered in wonder at what had happened (Acts 3:12-26), but their teaching “greatly disturbed” some of the Sadducees [who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead], and they had the apostles arrested (Acts 4:1-3). Furthermore, when Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin and gave answer for what he had been teaching, he pointedly accused them of being the ones who had “betrayed and murdered” Jesus the Son of God (Acts 7:52; ESV) and, upon hearing this, “they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him” (Acts 7:54). Eventually, they stoned him to death (Acts 7:57-60).
Sadly, many today will hear the truth and respond in like manner. Oh, they may not arrest the speaker or even stone him to death, but they will be just as upset and annoyed, and some will actually become enraged when they hear the truth for the first time. Stop and think about this for a minute: Who are they really angry at? God. Getting angry at God will not end well. If we get annoyed or upset or even angry upon hearing the truth, we would do well to take an honest look at our hearts, because we are bothered by truth.
Will You Be Convicted and Grieved? When the gospel was first preached, it is said that some in the audience “were cut to the heart” and asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). They had just heard Peter and the apostles accuse them of putting to death the Son of God (Acts 2:23), whom God raised up and made “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36), and that message pierced their consciences and convicted them, to the point they were grieved and sought an answer for their guilt!
It should be noted that when Peter gave the answer — “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), then we find that “those who gladly received his word were baptized” (Acts 2:41).
Now, let me ask you a question: What was your response to reading those words? I am afraid some are going to turn away at hearing or reading those words because that's not what they have been taught, and it's not what they believe is the right answer! Some are going to be thinking, "Baptism is a work and we aren't saved by works," so they will not hear those words gladly and they have, as yet, refused to be baptized, as those people were. Will you gladly hear those words, or will you turn away?
Will You Attempt To Silence The Messenger? When the apostles were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, they eventually were threatened and told to not preach Jesus anymore (Acts 4:18; Acts 5:28, 40). Since they couldn't refute the truth or deny what had been done, they decided that silencing the messengers was their only possible response.
Sadly, many today are trying as hard as they can to silence the message of God's word, the truths it teaches, and the messengers who speak it. Because it condemns sin as sin, and because it exposes their evil deeds as evil (John 3:19, 20), they hate the message and hate the messengers, and will do anything and everything they can to silence it. Whether by litigation, intimidation, or humiliation, their aim is to silence truth-speakers.
But what about you? How will you respond to hearing the truth? — Steven Harper
