“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” (1 Cor. 1:23).
Negative critics who will not be persuaded by the evidence will always seek to justify their views with inflammatory terms. Such assertions do not change the facts. It has always been a tactic of unbelief to defame truth to make self and self-righteousness look good. In spite of attacks Christians must “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (1 Peter 3:15-16). Consider three false assertions concerning the gospel found among unbelievers recorded in the book of Acts.
1. Speech of Drunkards. When those on the day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ heard the inspired word being spoken by the apostles, certain ones mocking said, “These men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13). If Peter and the apostles had let such a charge go unchallenged it would leave the door open to the words about to be spoken as the babbling of drunken men never to be taken seriously. Some words are to be left unchallenged; for example, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him” (Prov. 26:4). However, some are to be challenged; for example, “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit” (Prov. 26:5). There is an old adage that basically says that silence can often be interpreted as consent or admission of defeat. Paul told Festus, “I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness” (Acts 26:25). All scripture is inspired of God (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16), not the words of intoxicated men.
2. Seditious Heresy. Paul’s critics charged him with being “a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5). Paul will later say in his defense, “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” (Acts 24:14). Whenever religious unbelief is challenged by the truth of the gospel, attacking the truth and those who uphold it soon follows. Followers of truth are called divisive, dogmatic, etc. Certain Jews from Rome said to Paul when they first met him, “But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against” (Acts 28:22). Negative public opinions should never determine truth as seen here.
3. Superstition. Festus told Agrippa of accusations toward Paul, “But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive” (Acts 25:19). Attackers of all religious teaching, including the gospel, hold that religion is merely the cults of masses who find it their way to cope. In other words, it is the opiate of the people. The gospel is the truth (cf. Acts 26:25) and should never be made parallel to any false devotion. The message and implications of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ are established upon facts revealed by the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Peter 1:19-21). The truth in Christ is nowhere to be compared with any superstition (cf. Acts 17:18-31).
Jimmy Clark