“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
1 Cor 4:20
The idea that a civil engineer would listen to someone's idea about building a bridge out of play-doh is ridiculous. The idea that a world-renown musician would listen to someone's idea about writing a symphony using Egyptian hieroglyphs is ludicris. The idea that a brain surgeon would listen to someone's idea about performing a hemispherectomy with toys is insane. Meanwhile, Christians think it's perfectly acceptable, praiseworthy even, to listen to people's nonsensical gibberish about the Bible being nothing more than a conglomeration of human writings, evolutionary theory as the only plausible explanation for our existence, and liberal progressive Christianity as the inevitable future of the church.
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” -Proverbs 21:23
Not all dialogue is beneficial. Genesis chapter 3 is proof. It begins with a rather shocking dialogue between Eve and the serpent. There's a reason why the serpent is referred to as “the most cunning of all the wild animals.” Some translations render the Hebrew word עָר֔וּם as crafty. The audience becomes keenly aware the serpent's agenda doesn't align with God's when it asks a seemingly harless question, "Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden'?"
The serpent launched his subtle plan into action through jibber-jabber, empty and fruitless talk, which undermined God in two ways:
It called God's perfect protection into question: "No! You will not die! In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil!"
It called God's perfect provision into question: Scripture states that when Eve saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Idolatry is when we look at something and ascribe value to it that God hasn't.
Think about Eden. The Eternal Almighty Sovereign Creator of the heavens and the earth (i.e. the entire cosmos) planted a garden in Eden... and there He placed the man He had formed. The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This means that God provided EVERYTHING humanity needed.
We don't know exactly how big the Garden of Eden was, but we know Adam and Eve had to pass all the other trees pleasing in appearance and good for food to get to the middle of the garden. They had to bypass all of God's perfect provision before finally arriving at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Even then God made sure that another choice was available. Right next to the forbidden tree was the Tree of Life! Rather than focusing on God and His perfect provision, Adam instead chose to ignore his God-ordained function (Gen 2:15) to “minister to her and watch over her” and God's command to not eat from it. That's why Scripture declares, Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.
But here's the kicker: humanity's rebellion and subsequent plight was ALL the byproduct of a seemingly harmless theological discussion - of jibber jabber. The takeaway is this: if we don't revere God's WORD as divine and supremely authoritative... if we open ourselves up to engaging in religious debates and philosophical discussions with the brood of vipers, those who follow in the footsteps of their father, the devil, then we're allowing ourselves to venture down the same wide road that leads to destruction and death.
King Jesus didn't debate with the Pharisees (famous for their religious debates). Instead, He corrected, chastised, and rebuked them with words like: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies."
The Bible instruct us the SAINTS to:
...live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
...conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
...live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way:
...live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
That conduct means we are to live as Christ lived and not according to the pattern of the world with its random acts of kindness, political corectness, DEI, all roads lead to heaven, coexist, and toxic liberal progressive Christian ideologies. It means that citizens of heaven should live like citizens of heaven.
The Apostle Paul wrote about Satan's offspring too: "But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions."
There are many today who believe folks like Creflo, Joel, T.D., Joyce, and others spewing their gospel-free jibber-jabber over the airwaves, are doing great work for the kingdom of God. Just because God uses them to bring people (maybe even you) into the kingdom doesn't mean He endorses or approves of how or why they're doing it. God allowed Ahab to be king of Israel. Matthew 7:21-23 clears all that nonsense up.
The Apostel Paul warned his young friend Timothy about engaging such people, saying: "But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness, and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some." Do we ever stop and ponder the fact that Scripture says engaging such men in their empty chatter will only lead to more ungodliness and spread like gangrene?
In Paul's first letter to Timothy he urged him to stay focused on legit ministry: "...instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith. The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk."
Paul was warning Timothy (and us) to actively avoid empty talk... speculation... endless genealogies... and false doctrines. That useless dialogue is initiated by deceitful workers... children of the devil... brood of vipers. That's how Scripture refers to people who run their mouths and spew the wisdom of the world that's nothing but rubbish and toxic jibber-jabber.
When we ignore the profound reality Scripture reveals, i.e. that we're in a spiritual battle against the powers and principalities of darkness, and assume instead that everyone is seeking God (Romans 3:11 says that none do!) and that everyone's motives are pure, then we're embarking on the same fateful journey as Adam & Eve - bypassing all of God's provision, overstepping a divine boundary, and setting ourselves up as the ultimate authority.
The world is full of wolves in sheep's clothing. Their only interest is listening to their father, the devil, who is a liar and a murderer. Like him, they often masquerade as angels of light who come only to steal, kill, and destroy. They take advantage of our ignorance, insecurities, and openness to dialogue. That openness to dialogue is often nothing more than the manifestation of our cowardice to stand firm and boldly proclaim the immutable truth of God's WORD.
Yes, we should absolutely have conversations with those who have never heard. Yes, we should absolutely be prepared to give a defense regarding what we believe with gentleness and respect. But we must do so as Scripture instructs: suited-up in the full Armor of God - rather than skipping along into battle with nothing but our helmet of salvation. We must be led by the Holy Spirit and firmly rooted in THE WORD of God. If we're not girded with the belt of truth... if we surrender that... everything falls apart.
Consider the fact that King Jesus cursed a fig tree for not producing figs in Mark 11:12-14. If the dialogue you've been having with a friend, co-worker, neighbor, or family member isn't showing the fruit of the investment, why are you still having those discussions? Look to Romans 1:18. The problem isn't a lack of information. Instead, the problem is their ongoing willful suppression of the truth. King Jesus said that His sheep know His voice. Jonah preached the worst sermon ever when he barked at the people of Ninevah, "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." That's all it took for them to repent and put their faith in God. Is your faith in your words and ability to convince someone with them or is your faith in the power of God?
Maybe all the time spent with someone who has heard all the arguments... been given all the evidence... all the truth, but still refuses to hear... maybe that's part of the enemy's plan to steal your time, kill your ministry, and destroy your hope. Do they really want to hear or is there always one more objection? Are they more interested in parading around in their sin or repenting of it? The Prophet Isaiah said, "The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves!"
King Jesus referred to Isaiah's prophecy saying:
You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has grown callous;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
God The Son, Jesus, instructed his disciples regarding time wasted with black holes and tar babies who reject the GOSPEL: "And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."
Should we turn our backs and give up on loved ones and family members? I don't think that's the point. Instead, we must be wise and use the time we're given in a way that honors God, i.e. effectively for the production of kingdom fruit. The Lamb of God said, "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them everlasting life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand." The problem isn't a lack of information. The problem, as King Jesus described it, is that people love darkness more than The Light.
The book of Proverbs instructs, “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” Eve engaged in seemingly harmless dialogue with the crafty serpent. Let's not follow that pattern. Instead, let us be wise and use the time God has given us for the production of good fruit and not for empty talk and fruitless discussions, for the kingdom of God is not a matter of jibber-jabber but of power.
Blessings,
Kevin M. Kelley
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