Stupid Christians Rebuttal
On December 15, 2005 an article entitled "Stupid Christians" appeared in the opinion section of the Sentinel. The antagonistic title and the deliberately offensive commentary vilified Christianity. The author, Daryl James, presumptuously called Christians stupid.
Such inflammatory scoffing and sneering at the Christian Faith should have created shock and outrage within the church community. Instead it has apparently provoked nothing more than stupid silence. Although I am clearly not alleging that no one from within the Christian community spoke up, Mr. James' mockery of Christianity and the stupid silence in response to it compel me to write this rebuttal.
I call it stupid silence because it epitomizes the lack of preparedness as well as the urgent need for but lack of obedience to God's admonition of 1 Peter 3:15 "to be ready to give an answer to everyone for what we [Christians] believe with meekness and respect." Clearly, our society has become increasingly intolerant and disapproving of Christianity, while simultaneously insisting that Christians become more accepting of others' divergent beliefs. Many of our critics are vehemently vocal and diabolically cynical in expressing their views.
They protest the Bible and cry out from an ecumenical platform in favor of worldwide religion that alleges unity even though proponents of such an idea have radically different beliefs. Can any group of people really be unified if they do not agree? Nevertheless, these outspoken individuals feel free to spew their fallacious opinions but at the same time expect Christians to remain silent.
According to Mr. James, "Christians are the most prolific in stupidity over religion." But the problem with his poorly worded hypothe-
sis is that he offers absolutely no support for it. His article rants and raves while accomplishing nothing more than subjecting readers to a narrow-minded diatribe filled with pejorative opinions.
The truth is his entire article is developed on one logical fallacy after another. Look at the following example: Mr. James says Christians are stupid because they say, "God wants them to spread his message of love to everyone."
Why is that stupid? He never answers the question nor does he give any sound evidence to back himself up. It is easy to refute Mr. James' argument. Not only can I refute it, I can also provide specific details that will help lead readers to the accurate and logical conclusion that Christians are not stupid after all.
God, through his holy word the Holy Bible tells Christians to share His message of love with everyone. Mark 16:15 says "Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel to every living creature." A Christian that carries out this objective is simply obeying God.
Christians are convinced that the Bible is the authentic "inspired Word of God." Our conviction is based on bibliographical and archaeological tests and other objective evidence. Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is inspired by God..."
Christians who are taught correctly do not exercise blind faith. They study the Bible to understand what it means in proper context. Every Christian is individually responsible for knowing what he believes and why he believes it.
2 Timothy 2:15 says, "study to present yourself approved to God a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." The Bible calls Christians who study this way "more noble," because they, like the Bereans of Macedonia receive the
Word with great eagerness. The Bereans did not blindly rely on anyone, not even the great Apostle Paul. No one superseded God's Word.
This is the paradigm for all Christians. We cannot be slothful in our pursuit of the truth. We can't just take someone's word for it. Jude 3 tells Christians to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." What does that mean?
It means when someone misrepresents God, the Bible or Christianity or gives false testimony about either one or all of them, the Christian's unrelenting duty is to speak up and challenge or correct the error.
Mr. James says today's so called Christians want everyone to embrace one religion. Christians don't want everyone to embrace one religion. Christians want everyone to have a relationship with the only one true and living God, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me (John 14:6)."
He is God. Should you believe this just because I am saying it? No! I challenge every reader to vigorously search the scriptures, consider the compelling evidence, evaluate more than 300 prophecies concerning Jesus Christ that have come to pass exactly like the Bible said they would.
Don't take my word alone but let me equally warn you not to dismiss the possibility that what I'm saying is true. If I am right and Mr. James is wrong, he and those who hold his view, as he says in his own words, "will be dammed to hell." Now that would be stupid! Who can afford to be eternally wrong?
