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I’m a Herald, not a Negotiator

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Since I am getting a fair number of atheists and materialists to this blog as of late, I thought this article, written by my friend Tony Miano from his blog The Lawman Chronicles, will answer the myriad questions that are posed by them about what I believe and why I believe it.

But I’m almost positive that I’ve opened a whole new can of worms.

I’m a Herald, not a Negotiator

by Tony Miano

God exists. I know that God exists. How do I know? He has revealed Himself to me by the power of His Holy Spirit, and through the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. He has caused me to be born again, resulting in my repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has given me spiritual eyes to see, the desire to know Him and obey Him, and the ability (although I still have much to learn) to understand His Word.

Whether you or I believe God exists is utterly irrelevant. One’s belief in God has no impact, positive or negative, on the existence of God. God is God. He always has been. He always will be.

I’m a herald, not a negotiator.

The Bible is true. How do I know?

God has declared in the Bible that the Bible is true; therefore it is true. I know that God’s Word is inspired and perfect because God has told me in His Word that it is inspired and perfect. The Bible is not true because I believe it. The Bible is true because it is true. And the truth has set me free.

God has declared in His Word that the fool has said in his heart that there is no God (Psalm 53:1-3). Therefore, it is foolish and illogical to deny God’s existence.

God has declared in His Word that what can be known about Him is plain to every person, because God has shown it to them (Romans 1:19). Therefore, it is foolish and illogical to deny God’s existence.

God has declared in His Word that those who deny His existence and refuse to worship Him do so not because of their superior intellect and common sense, but because they love their sin and suppress the truth about God in their unrighteousness. (Romans 1:18, 20-22). Therefore, it is foolish and illogical to deny God’s existence.

These statements regarding God and the Bible are commonly referred to as logical fallacies, of the type most often categorized as a “Circular Argument” or “Begging the Question.”

My response: I don’t care.

I’m a herald, not a negotiator.

Yes, these statements regarding the existence of God, my relationship with Him, and the authenticity, veracity, inerrancy, infallibility, and inspiration of the Bible are illogical; but only to the lost. They are fallacious; but only to the lost. The only truly faulty logic is to deny the existence of God and to refuse to submit to His authority.

A herald is a messenger who proclaims important news; one that gives a sign or indication of something to come; a harbinger. A herald is one who announces the coming or arrival of a king. A herald communicates the messages of his king, from one kingdom to another. A herald’s loyalty is to his king. A herald announces. He doesn’t negotiate.

Yes, within the king’s court there are negotiators, liaisons, solicitors, scholars, and diplomats–each having a legitimate role to play. I’m just not one of them. I’m a herald.

So, to the unbeliever–whether you call yourself an atheist, an agnostic, or an intellectual: I’m not interested in debates. I don’t care what arguments you have against the existence of God and the authority of His Christ. They mean nothing to me.

Why would I entertain such false notions that run contrary to the infallible and inerrant Word of God? Why would I continue to rummage through the wasteland of secular humanism and godless religions and faux spirituality, looking for something that is not there–something that can only be found in God through Jesus Christ? I have found the truth and the truth has set me free.

I’m a herald, not a negotiator.

I am singular in my focus. My motivation is simple. I want to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. What drives me is love for my King. I want to know Him more. I want to obey Him more. I want to represent Him more.

And I want to love my neighbor as myself, in obedience to my King.

Loving my neighbor is not coddling their unbelief.

Loving my neighbor is not ignoring or applauding their sin.

Loving my neighbor is not treating their doubts about my Lord Jesus Christ as if doubt is some sort of holy right, when it’s nothing more than an unholy sin.

Loving my neighbor is not being afraid to tell them they are wrong when they are wrong.

Loving my neighbor is a willingness to sacrifice a friendship for the soul of my friend.

My God has taught me through His Word to love all people, even my enemies. And the most loving thing I can do for any person, whether friend or foe, is herald His message.

Here it is:

Repent and believe the gospel!

Oh, I welcome questions from unbelievers. I spend my life looking for opportunities to engage unbelievers in conversation.

But let me ask you this, unbeliever. If I answer all your questions to your satisfaction, will you drop to your knees, repent before God, beg Him to save you, and submit to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

If you just hesitated, or if you honestly answered “no,” then the reality is this. You’re not looking for answers. You’re simply and sinfully looking to justify your unbelief. And I won’t play your game.

I’m a herald, not a negotiator.

It’s been said that religion is the opiate of the masses. I agree with that, to a certain extent. Every false religion, every false gospel is an opiate to those who seek to create a lifeless, impotent, unrighteous god to suite themselves–one that can neither save nor destroy–one who is a mere figment of their sinful imagination.

Ah, but there are other equally powerful opiates. Atheism, Secular Humanism, and Darwinian Evolution are also opiates of the masses.

There are no atheists in hell. There are no unbelievers in hell. One day, my unbelieving friend, you will crash from the artificial high created by the narcotic analgesic of unbelief. And you will spend an infinite number of lifetimes going through the torment of spiritual withdrawals, which you will suffer in God’s eternal prison–hell.

One day everyone will believe. You will believe.

Everyone will declare Jesus Christ as Lord. Some will make the declaration as God welcomes them into His kingdom forever and ever. Sadly, many more will make the same declaration as the Lord sends them to hell for all eternity, as the just penalty for their sins against Him. Either way, every knee will bow–whether atheist or born-again follower of Jesus Christ–and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Unbeliever, whom will you see on that day? An angry, wrath-filled Judge who will righteously punish your sin? Or a loving, merciful, gracious, and kind Father who will welcome you into His joy and His kingdom forever and ever?

I’m a herald, not a negotiator. And as such, I must herald this message to you.

You will one-day die and stand before the Creator, Almighty God, whom you’ve denied and mocked. He will judge you according to the perfect, moral standard of His Law. If He finds you guilty of so much as one lie, or one theft, or one greedy desire, or one selfish act, or one lustful look, or one hateful thought, or one blasphemous utterance; He will find you guilty of breaking His Law. The sentence you will receive will be just and good: eternity in Hell.

Your arguments against the righteous justice of Almighty God, my King, are irrelevant. My King is sovereign. You are not. And any man who tries to defend himself before the Great White Throne of the Creator and Judge of the Universe has a fool for a client.

God, who is rich in mercy, who is loving and kind, has provided only one way for you to escape His just and holy wrath. This is your only hope, whether you believe it or not.

Two thousand years ago, God the Father sent His Son to Earth in the person of Jesus Christ–fully-God and fully-Man, but without sin. Unlike you and me, He never once violated the Law of God in thought, word, or deed. He couldn’t. He was God in the flesh–the sinless Lamb of God. He was born of a virgin, just as the prophet said He would be, 750 years before His birth.

Thirty to thirty-three years into that earthly existence He voluntarily went to the cross. He suffered, shed His innocent blood, and died a horrific death. The Bible says that he was so badly beaten and mutilated that He could barely be recognized as human. He suffered and died, taking upon Himself the punishment you and I rightly deserve for violating God’s Law. Three days later He rose from the dead and forever defeated sin and death. Unlike the false gods of every other religion on the planet, Jesus Christ is alive and He will return at a time of the Father’s choosing.

What He commands of you is that you repent–that you turn away from and forsake your sin; and that you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Jesus said that unless a person is born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God. If God causes you to be born again, then when you die and stand before Him, instead of receiving what you deserve for breaking God’s Law (which is eternity in hell), you will receive what you don’t deserve (which is grace, and mercy, and everlasting life in heaven, with Jesus Christ).

So, repent and believe the gospel while my King has given you time.

That is the message my King would have me bring you. I’m not here to discuss terms with you. My King does not negotiate.

I’m a herald, not a negotiator.

Used with permission. See the original article here.

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