Police/Public Official Essay 1-22-21
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:” (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
Paul asked Christians at Thessalonica to pray to God for him and his helpers. Specifically, he asked them to pray that as they ministered, the spreading of God’s Word would not be hindered.
The Bible speaks powerfully to people’s hearts: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
The Bible gives guidance: “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;” (Proverbs 6:23) It also gives wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:” (Proverbs 9:10) It even gives joy: “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:” (Psalm 19:8) Most importantly, the Bible gives hope for eternity: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” (Titus 1:2) That hope is Jesus Christ, God the Son, who died for our sins and rose again.
The Bible does nothing but good in people’s lives. Why then would anyone, especially someone in leadership, want to hinder the Word of God from being spoken in their land? Sadly, there is a reason: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:19-20) Very simply, the reason is the love of sin.
The Bible speaks very clearly against sin, and people are sinners by nature; even leaders. When people enjoy sin, they tend not to like hearing their sins spoken against, even when God is doing the speaking.
In Jeremiah 36:2, God told Jeremiah, “Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah,” God also said, “It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
God said these things because He loved the people and wanted them to turn from their evil ways and avoid the trouble that He would send upon them. Yet when Judah’s King Jehoiakim heard these words, he took the roll with God’s Word on it and threw it into the fire:“…he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth,” (Jeremiah 36:23) He not only refused to listen, he threw God’s words back into His face!
We have a right to free speech in America. This right allows an open exchange of thoughts and ideas. As Patrick Henry said, “…in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth…” Truth does not need censorship to sustain it. As Job 6:25 says, “How forcible are right words!” Truth has a force and power all its own.
The most important truth is the truth from God’s Word. God uses His Word to chastise His people: “For whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth,” (Hebrews 12:6) As the saying goes, “If a sermon pricks your conscience, it must have some good points.” If you hear Scripture about some sin in your life, don’t try to argue with God. Confess it and ask Him to help you not repeat it: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
God’s Word convicts people of personal sin and calls them to repentance and salvation. God’s Word also gives Christians hope for life and eternity and a purpose for living. Let us always treasure God’s Word in America. If you have never seen in the Bible how to have your sins forgiven and a home in heaven, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links”, then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 1/22/2021
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216-671-2822