“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Matt. 10:34)
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Tim. 3:12)
Do you know how to use that sword? Are you proficient enough with it to stand against Romanism, Mormons, against Islam, against all who would say that there is another way besides through the Lord Jesus Christ to the Father?
I firmly believe that most people who profess the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior are not saved, that the 70 percent mentioned is probably a correct number, and I believe that those 70 percent are those that say we should never judge, that we should always be kind and enabling to those who do not believe as we do, that agreeing to disagree is always the best path. They do not know how to use the sword, and they would not do so if they did.
It seems disrespectful to them, to point out the religious faults in others, at best they may refer them to their pastor, but to point out the obvious contradictions in those false religious systems would do much more than embarrass them, they would speak of Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.” and every time in the same framework, “That sword may turn upon you.” In other words, they do not judge, no matter what.
The safest path for them is the one that offers no contentions, therefore there is no possibility of personal reprisals, if you do not stand you cannot be knocked down.
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;” (Jude 1:12) Yet you will find entire congregations such as this. They will use Matthew 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” as another reasoning, but only in a way that would never attempt to convict that enemy of their sins.
My friends, not all of those enemies are going to come to Christ just because you let them beat you to death.
“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” (Psalm 94:16) That sword is the Word of God, it is part of our armor, and those who use it must be proficient in it. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb. 5:14)
You may have entire Books of the Scriptures memorized, but if you do not apply them in your life, if you do not speak the words to others, they serve no purpose. That sword is sharp, and that is why so many will not use it, they fear hurting other people’s feelings, they fear being ostracized from friends, family, acquaintances and even their community. “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:43)
Their greatest fear is not the Almighty, it is the words and actions of men who might harm them, either emotionally or physically if they speak the truths of the Scriptures to them. And so, they do not witness for Him.
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matt. 25:41) This is what they will hear, they will be shown the truth of their lives at the Great White Throne of Judgment right before they are cast into eternal darkness. This is why we use the sword; this is why we speak to them; it is why they call us contentious, too adamant, too forward, and it does not bother us one bit. They cannot hear the love, the pleading in our words for the same reason the lost cannot, because they themselves are lost. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)
The one man who walked this earth who never told a single lie, whose every word was truth is who you are to emulate, no matter how they react to you. If you can hear them screaming and see them on fire, you know what I mean.