Throughout history, the majority of charities, food pantries, and rescue missions have been started and run by Christians. So why does the secular world treat Christians as if our beliefs are dangerous?

Because it’s a spiritual issue! The Bible tells us if we live a godly life in Christ we should expect persecution and that men love darkness, rather than light. No matter what we do, we will still get attacked because men hate God.

We should expect opposition because the gospel confronts people with their sinfulness and need for repentance. So how should we respond? By lovingly and boldly preaching the gospel!

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• How Should We Then Give?
• When They Persecute You

All this week we’ve been dealing with criticism against Bible-believing Christians. Well, here’s something to remember—you can never please everyone. People will always find something they think is wrong. So how should we deal with that?

First, listen with humility and pray for wisdom. No one’s perfect or right all the time. Make the best decision you can and move on.

Second, do your best to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. We should never be characterized by a hateful or proud attitude.

Lastly, don’t go against your conscience. If your conscience convicts you and nothing in God’s Word says you’re wrong, follow your conscience.

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• General Revelation, Special Revelation, the Gospel, and Science
• Where Does Spiritual Fruit Grow?

Many Christians oppose a literal interpretation of Genesis. Instead, they reinterpret God’s clear words to accommodate man’s ideas about evolution and millions of years. And many of these Christians mock and attack us for standing boldly on what God’s Word says. How should we deal with these attacks?

Well, by continuing to point out that compromising Genesis undermines biblical authority. You see, when Christians mix evolution and the Bible, they’re taking elements from the religion of naturalism and forcing them into Scripture. And this leads coming generations to doubt God’s words and reinterpret them in other areas.

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• Overcoming Doubt
• Doubts Lead to Unbelief

There are many church leaders who claim to be shepherds but are really “false prophets” and “ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Jesus warned us to beware these false teachers, and we need to remain vigilant, contending for the faith against error.

So, what should we do when we recognize false teachers by their fruit, judging them by the standard of God’s Word? I believe it’s important to publicly rebuke these people. This warns the church of their dangerous teaching and gives the false teachers a chance to repent.

We should have no respect for those who purposefully lead the sheep astray—rather we need to sound the alarm!

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• Coping with Criticism
• How Colossians 1 Combated Erroneous Teaching in the Church

The secular world opposes Bible-believing Christians with false information, blasphemy, swearing, threats, and ad hominem attacks. How should Christians deal with these attacks, especially if they’re personal?

Well, understand that we shouldn’t be surprised by this opposition. We should expect it from a world that loves darkness rather than the light of Christ and his Word.

Secondly, don’t take the attacks personally. It might seem like people hate us but ultimately, they hate God. They’re lost, dead in their sins, and headed for a Christless eternity. We should be moved with compassion for these lost souls.

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• Three Ways Atheists Reveal They Actually Believe in God
• The Burden of Standing for God’s Word

In our culture today, for “love and marriage,” pretty much anything goes. But there’s one exception: nearly all Americans say adultery is wrong.

This is so inconsistent. Where do people get the idea that divorce, same-sex relations, and premarital sex are all fine, but adultery crosses the line?

In a secular worldview, there’s no ultimate standard by which to condemn adultery except someone’s opinion. But in a biblical worldview, adultery is wrong because God says it is. Just like divorce, same-sex relations, and premarital sex, adultery goes against God’s design for marriage.

We have solid answers when we start with God’s Word.

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• Sexual Immorality Increasingly Acceptable—Unless It’s Adultery
• Adultery—Justified by Evolution?

I once saw a study that said the majority of Americans think sex before marriage, same-sex relationships, and divorce are morally acceptable. Why? Because our culture is steeped in a secular worldview.

You see, in a biblical worldview, God created us and he makes the rules.

But in a secular worldview, we aren’t accountable to anyone, and we make the rules. So, really, “anything goes” because morality is just whatever’s right in our own eyes.

Now, it’s no surprise the secular world thinks this way. But many in the church are adopting this thinking too. We need to get back to starting our thinking with God’s Word.

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• Exposing the Connection: How Evolution Impacts Morality
• Morality and the Irrationality of an Evolutionary Worldview

A few years ago,a study found that two-thirds of Americans think embryonic stem cell research, which kills unborn children, is morally acceptable. But only half think medical testing on animals is okay. So, more Americans think it’s all right to kill unborn children for medical testing than think it’s okay to do testing on animals.

How has human life become so devalued? Well, it’s all part of a culture that’s rejected God’s Word. When you ignore the Bible, you have no ultimate basis to believe humans are special or more valuable than animals. But, according to God’s Word, humans have a unique value because we bear God’s image.

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• Sexual Immorality Increasingly Acceptable—Unless It’s Adultery
• God’s Image—The Difference Maker

Yesterday we learned that 81% of Americans see morality declining in this nation. So, what do they think is the solution? Well, a majority said the Bible is a solution to this mess. While it’s great to see that people respect the Bible, do they actually treat the Bible as if it’s the answer?

Research shows only 20% of Americans actively read and study their Bibles. And only 10% have a biblical worldview. So, while they may have a concept of the Bible as the answer, people aren’t actually turning to the Bible to see what it says.

As Christians, God’s Word must be our authority for morality. Do you know what it says?

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• Survey: 81% of Americans See “Declining Morality” in the US
• Biblical Authority and the Book of Genesis

When speaking around the country, I often ask audiences, “Is America getting more or less Christian every day?” Crowds always answer “less.” Indeed, one study found 8 in 10 Americans see morality declining!

And that’s no surprise. With the abandonment of a Christian worldview comes a decline in morality. Without the absolute authority of God’s Word, right and wrong is just whatever’s right in our own eyes. And what’s “right” is increasingly what’s actually wrong according to God’s Word. So, what’s the solution?

Well, the only answer to this cultural crisis is God’s Word and the saving gospel.

Dig Deeper

• Survey: 81% of Americans See “Declining Morality” in the US
• Which Came First: Knowledge of God or Morality? (Or Both?)

All this week we’ve been looking at arguments from those in the church who want to affirm homosexual behavior. We’ve learned these people are twisting the Scriptures to say what they want them to say.

God’s Word warns over and over again about those teach what itching ears want to hear. They’re taking people captive through their human philosophies, but we’re commanded to take our thoughts captive to Christ. So, what does God’s Word say?

It says that God designed marriage from the beginning. It’s his institution, not ours to redefine. God has defined it as between one man and one woman for life. And that’s what marriage is.

Dig Deeper

• Homosexuality and the Authority of Scripture
• A Journey from a Homosexual Lifestyle to Christ

This week, we’ve been looking at arguments from Christians who claim the Bible affirms loving, committed gay relationships. This radical reinterpretation of the Bible puts sinful man in authority over God’s Word. And this isn’t the first time this has happened!

In Genesis, Satan tempted Eve with, “Did God really say?” He got her to question God’s Word and put her own ideas and desires above God’s clear instruction. And the results were catastrophic.

This new attack on God’s Word is no different. It’s just another version of “did God really say?” Instead of questioning God’s Word, we need to allow it to be our authority.

Dig Deeper

• Born This Way: Do “Biological Factors Drive Homosexuality?”
• Homosexual Behavior Remains a Sinful Choice

There’s tremendous pressure today for Christians to affirm same-sex relationships. And many in the church are caving by radically reinterpreting the Bible’s teaching on marriage and sexuality. But this means the church has misunderstood the Bible for 2,000 years and only figured it out due to a huge amount of pressure to change what God’s Word says.

Those who accept homosexual behavior are reading their ideas into the Bible. They’re making it say what they want it to say. But God’s Word hasn’t changed. It says the same thing it’s said since it was written—marriage was designed by God for one man and one woman.

Dig Deeper

• Homosexual Behaviour vs. the Bible
• The Misplaced Identity of Gay Christianity

Many in the church today are trying to reinterpret God’s Word to accept gay “marriage.” For example, some claim that archaeology shows the New Testament only condemns abusive gay relationships, not loving ones.

But this means that for 2,000 years Christians have misunderstood what the Bible says about marriage and sexuality. It means Scripture isn’t clear, and we can only understand it now that we have archaeology. This subjects God’s Word to a higher authority—archaeology and man’s ideas. God’s Word’s is no longer the authority—sinful human beings are!

Let’s take God at his Word. He’s the ultimate authority.

Dig Deeper

• Can the Church Embrace Homosexual Behavior in the Name of Love?
• Was Paul Against Loving, Consensual Homosexual Relationships?

Many Christian leaders are now claiming the New Testament never condemns homosexuality, only abusive gay relationships, a common Roman practice at the time.

But if the Bible is accepting of loving gay relationships, why doesn’t it say that? And if it merely condemns abusive ones, why doesn’t it say that? Why does it give a condemnation of homosexuality that’s been interpreted as a complete condemnation for 2,000 years? Is Scripture really that unclear?

The only way to interpret the Bible this way is by ignoring the plain reading of the text. But we must let God’s Word speak to us, not twist it to make it say what we want it to say.

Dig Deeper

• Does Ancient Art from Pompeii Prove the Bible Supports Gay “Marriage”?
• Pro-Gay Theology: Does the Bible Approve of Homosexuality?

Scientists are increasingly seeing small adaptive changes popping up in just a few generations. They call this surprising observation “rapid evolution.” Now evolution is supposed to be very slow and gradual. But that’s not what we observe.

These rapid changes make sense in a biblical worldview. God created each kind with an incredible amount of genetic variability. This allows them to quickly adapt to changing conditions. It’s a very wise design because it allows kinds to adapt and fill a wide variety of environments in an ever-changing world. Otherwise, they’d quickly go extinct. It’s not evolution; it’s God design.

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• Getting Enough Genetic Diversity
• 2.6 Variation, Yes; Evolution, No

Several years ago, parts of the southern United States experienced a severe winter. Researchers found that, in just one winter, a species of lizard “evolved a greater tolerance to cold.” They were shocked at how fast “evolution” happens.

But is this really evolution? No, it’s not. The lizards remained lizards, and they didn’t gain any new genetic information. This is simply adaptation and natural selection using genetic variety that already exists! Selection pressures, like this cold snap, force a species to adapt using this genetic variety. But nothing new is ever added so it’s not evolution, it’s just, well, lizards!

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• Life: Designed by God to Adapt
• Natural Selection Is Not Evolution!

I once saw a study that claimed humans were driving lizard evolution in Brazil. You see, the construction of a new dam formed islands, isolating a population of lizards from the mainland. Within just fifteen years, these lizards had bigger heads and mouths to eat the larger insects on the islands.

But is this evolution? Well, the lizards remained lizards, and none of them gained any new genetic information. All that happened was the lizards adapted to their environment, using the genetic information they already had. This isn’t evolution in action! It’s just adaptation and natural selection.

Yes, it’s lizards producing lizards.

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• Are Humans Driving Rapid Lizard Evolution?
• Variety Within Created Kinds

Studies show that newborns prefer faces to other shapes and will look for faces after they’re born. Well, a recent study showed that unborn babies have the same affinity for faces. It seems babies have this instinct even before they’re born!

People try to downplay the humanness of the unborn so they can justify killing them by abortion. By studies increasingly show that you have to ignore reality to argue that unborn babies somehow aren’t human persons.

Of course science is just confirming the Bible’s teaching. Life begins at the moment of fertilization. And taking that life, at any stage of development, is murder.

Dig Deeper

• Defining Life: Fertilization
• Does the Bible Condone Abortion?

I once saw a study that claimed that evolution selected for “tameness,” which somehow resulted in genetic changes as we “domesticated ourselves.” But this new “study,” which is really just a story, contradicts previous evolutionary stories about survival of the toughest and strongest.

And this doesn’t reflect reality. Throughout history, we see powerful bullies who rose to the top by being evil. Actually, this confirms God’s Word! Humanity isn’t getting better. We started out perfect, but sin destroyed that, and we’ve been tainted ever since. When we look at the world through God’s Word, what we see makes sense.

Dig Deeper

• Did Humans Domesticate Ourselves?
• Is the Creation Good?

There’s this idea out there that Christians have a blind faith that discourages questions. But that’s not true! We should be encouraging people to ask their questions because there are answers, because God’s Word is true!

But what if someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer? That’s okay! You can’t know everything. If you don’t know the answer, tell them that and promise to find an answer for them—and then do! You’ll both learn something.

Christianity isn’t a blind-faith religion. There are solid answers to the questions people have; you just might have to do a little digging.

Dig Deeper

• How to Combat Biblical Illiteracy in the Church
• Is Biblical Creation a Blind-Faith Belief?

This week we’ve been looking at combatting biblical illiteracy in the church. Well, today I want to encourage you to read and teach all of God’s Word. You see, on this side of the cross, the New Testament seems easier to understand. The Old Testament seems more foreign with sacrifices and the Levitical law.

But “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching that we may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The Old Testament is given to us as God’s Word for a reason. It contains the history and foundational concepts we need to understand Christ’s work. So read and teach God’s Word—all of it!

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• How to Combat Biblical Illiteracy in the Church
• The Bible—“It’s Not Historical”

Research shows that many Christians hold to unbiblical beliefs about the basics of Christianity. So, what can we do in our homes and churches?

Well, don’t just teach Bible “stories.” Teaching God’s Word as a collection of “stories” implies it’s just a bunch of fairy tales. But God’s Word is true and authoritative. We need to teach the accounts in Scripture as true history, like the Bible does. Help people understand that these accounts are included to teach us about God and his plan throughout history. Instead of just encouraging people to be “brave like David,” teach them doctrine and theology using these biblical accounts.

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• How to Combat Biblical Illiteracy in the Church
• More than Just Bible Stories

Many Christians can’t properly explain the gospel to others and even believe other religions can lead to salvation. This sad state of the church is why we need to teach the gospel—the whole gospel.

We tend to focus on Jesus’ death or his Resurrection, but we need to teach the gospel beginning in Genesis. Explain that God created a perfect world, but we rebelled against him and the just penalty for that sin is death. But Jesus came and died, taking that penalty upon himself. Now God can freely justify us who believe because of what Christ did. Jesus then rose from grave and offers eternal life to all who believe in him.

Dig Deeper

• How to Combat Biblical Illiteracy in the Church
• Gospel