If the Shoe Fits, Wear it…

Recently, I woke up one morning with Galatians 2:5 weighing heavily upon my heart.

“But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.”

The sudden remembrance and force of this verse shook me up a bit. For one, the compelling need to meditate upon it in the past had meant some very serious upcoming spiritual battles. Although I had not even thought of that particular verse for quite some time, I then began to take it into very serious consideration again.

As it turns out, by God’s divine providence, that very day I ended up having a major conversation with someone for around two hours, in which I was being pressured to yield and basically think that I might have the gospel wrong, and that the Bible was questionable. And the gist was that if I didn’t admit that I could be wrong, then I was “unteachable and prideful.”

Because this is exactly how certain gurus are training people to treat us and what certain gurus are telling people to think about “Calvinists” who believe Jesus is a complete Savior Who accomplished a complete salvation for actual people He knew He was interceding and dying for (e.g., Jn. 17).

For just one piece of evidence…see: Does Provisionism lead to Open Theism? | Leighton Flowers | Soteriology 101

Anyway, again, Galatians 2:5 came immediately to mind. And by His grace alone, I didn’t yield. Not even for an hour! I had encountered this dilemma many times before. So, I can immediately discern the difference between those who truly try to edify the saints, and those who are sent out to try to shipwreck their faith with unlearned questions that are tailored to cause depression, doubt and a weakening of faith in the true gospel.

By the way, I titled the twenty-eighth chapter of my first book “Open Theism Opens the Door to Doubt” for a reason….. But I digress.

Although I confessed that I could be wrong about many things, I.. calmly, with meekness and fear, softly and slowly ….spoke the fact that I knew the gospel wasn’t wrong, and that I knew a hypothetical atonement (that must be activated and can therefore likewise be un-activated by us) could not be right, or else no one could ever be saved.

I was then asked what the gospel even was, to which I replied… “the gospel is all about what God has done in Christ to save sinners. ALL that He has done. And that that ALL was being hidden from me when I was in the CoC cult.  Finally, they frustratingly replied, “We are getting nowhere.” And so, they abruptly ended the conversation. Leaving me thinking… “what just happened?”

I then began to think to myself….. “Where exactly was they hoping to get with me?!?!” Then it hit me. Eeeek! It seems that God seen fit to let me be tested again. But by His grace alone, I didn’t yield to the temptation to doubt the truth that God has grounded me in all these years. And no, it’s NOT because of their projection of me being the one that’s “unteachable” or that I was the one being “prideful.” On the contrary, it’s because God has put it in me to make sure the gospel continues to be faithfully upheld by His people in all of its magnificent fullness and beauty.

Just imagine Paul saying to the Judaizers in Galatia… “Oh, well, I guess I could be wrong about the gospel. Let’s all just try to get along, put our differences aside, and start putting our own private interpretations on all God has revealed in Christ, and just let His truth be bandied about casually instead us being “stupidly dogmatic.”                    

NO, NO, and NO!!

Paul stood strongly against false gospels and against false portrayals of Jesus, even when it came to confronting his very own side-kick, Peter. But thankfully, Peter didn’t take it personally or try to discredit Paul’s ministry for calling out his dissimulation and defection. Instead, he began supporting him even more.

Yet, it’s ironic that I’m often falsely accused of “breaching confidential information” that I never even signed up to keep confidential! For one, I will not be cowered and intimidated to “be a respecter of persons” and remain silent about biblical issues that are affecting many people. I will also not passively allow my conscience to be bound by those who have no biblical precedent for trying to do so.

Only the supremacy of God’s Word is binding upon my conscience. Not the made-up-doctrines-and-commands of those who think they can go around ranting, raving and slandering “Calvinists” with impunity. Though, my love for others has discreetly “covered a multitude” of such sins, even in social work we could breach a so-called “code of silence” when we felt a real, legitimate need to do so.

Much more so now, I have a biblical precedent for doing so, especially when someone hypocritically projects their own breach of privacy onto me, while inadvertently exposing themselves and blaming me for it.

Just to be clear, everyone has a right to post general addresses to the general population that have been inspired by private conversations that they have with others. Especially when there are no names even attached! Even in the dedication section of my first book, I wrote that these were “spoils won in battles” (1 Chron. 26:27), private battles, in order to edify God’s people.

Even in the intro of my first book, I wrote the following….

“This insider approach avoids all speculation, and is biblically supported with a fair understanding and compassion toward all involved.  Although this is not an exhaustive account, the incidents, conversations and practices are real and accurately depicted.   

Legitimate, inside information, as well as supplemental CoC sources, are all used to reveal that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12).

By “speaking the truth in love,” a clarifying distinction has been carefully made between the evil spirit behind the CoC system, and those who are captives of it, by reflecting only upon the deluding effects it has on those believing its lies, the abuse that occurs as a result, and how the gospel and those who proclaim it are marginalized and persecuted because of its deceptive errors.

What Paul felt concerning his fellow Jews, is how I feel toward those who are still captives in the CoC; my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Rom. 10:1-2). 

Though many claim to know God, they are unable to biblically explain what He actually accomplished at the cross.  Many claim to believe Jesus is the Savior, and yet, they are unable to use possessive pronouns when it comes to confessing a complete trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Many claim to believe the gospel, and yet, they betray their profession when they are unable to biblically define what the gospel even is! As a dire consequence, they end up simultaneously holding to beliefs that deny Jesus’ power to save and the true gospel He came to proclaim, which is equivalent to “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:5).”

End quote.

Although there are biblical precedents for warning others of defection in the camp, even by name, it’s been obvious over the years that I don’t particularly like to use that right. For one, I don’t even have to, because the responses that I often get in return speak volumes. Many end up unwittingly exposing themselves. Often even to my own surprise!!

One time, I even read a book review by someone saying I had basically personally attacked them. I was like…. “Who are you?… “I don’t even know you!”

Things just seem to always come out of the “woodwork” when I address certain biblical issues. Obviously, Paul experienced the same thing (2 Tim. 3:9). I cannot even count how many times this has happened in my own writing ministry.

To which I always reply…. “I hate to bust your bubble, but everything in this world is not all about you…… Yet… if the shoe fits, wear it.”

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t say that flippantly. I say it in all earnest. If people are that obsessed over their own public image and want to get offended and take everything personal, or if they know deep down that what they are saying and doing is so terribly wrong, then why even say or do it?

We are to speak and do only what is worthy of the gospel (Phil. 1:27). So we should be able to shout our words and deeds from the rooftops (Deut. 29:29, Mt. 10:27). And not mind if others do.

If people cannot back up what they are saying and doing with God’s Word, then don’t try to put a guilt-tripping-code-of-silence or muzzle on those of us who speak against it with all God-given authority.

Years ago, when my first book came out, I got some backlash from some who took certain sections as if they were attacks launched personally against them. They hadn’t even fathomed the fact that I had been having almost identical conversations with multiple people who were all going by the same script that they were.

So naturally, when there are multitudes of people going by the same worn-out script that their looked-up-to-leaders are indoctrinating them into, then they can expect to get some of the same biblical responses given back to them, to counter their all-too-familiar-man-made script that they themselves seem to identify so personally with.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” — Ephesians 5:13 (KJV)

If people could see the whole picture, then they would realize that I handle things like this VERY compassionately and discreetly, compared to how I’ve been interacted with, and especially compared to how I sometimes get portrayed publicly, even by name.

It’s ok though. People can drag my name through the mud if they like, but remember…

“No weapon formed against us shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against us in judgment, we shall condemn. For this is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord and our righteousness is of Him (Isa. 54:17).

Because, it is the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. And I love talking and writing about it. Even though it’s considered “calvinistic.”

When people ask me spiritual questions, I don’t feel cornered at all. Just the opposite! I feel absolutely delighted to be given the chance to share the hope that is within me, with meekness and fear (1 Pet. 3:15). I don’t snap at them and ask, “Why are you even asking me that?!” or…“Are you trying to trap me?” No. Because, for one, people have every right to ask me questions about my faith. Every professing believer in Christ should be able to back up their beliefs with Scripture, in context.

But God forbid that I should ever defect from the faith of Christ by yielding to doctrines of demons. I’ve counted the cost and will continue to expose false belief systems, Lord willing. And hopefully, people will finally realize the true enemies of their soul. It’s not me!!  

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16).