Eloquent voices don’t make our faith untrue
The Assyrian army threatened the city of Jerusalem in 2 Kings 18. A great army massed outside the walls and a spokesperson (with the memorable title of the Rabshakeh) came out to speak to the people of Judah. This man was clearly educated and clever. The Rabshakeh spoke to the official delegates of the king and to the common people in their own language. And his speeches are eloquent, full of rhetoric and repetition, convincingly putting his case across.
The message of the Rabshakeh was clear: you should surrender to Assyria. Don’t believe that King Hezekiah or your God or your own strength can save you, for they cannot do it. No other nation has been able to resist Assyria, and you are no different. You face certain ruin, so save yourselves now.
This reminds us of the eloquent voices of our own culture. There are spokespeople like Richard Dawkins and Stephen Fry who use any opportunity to mock Christianity as being ridiculous. University professors write books against our faith and television writers and producers present a vision for the world without God in it. This message is put forward with cleverness and force. At times, we might even wonder if we have chosen the right side. All the power and eloquence of this world seems to be united against our faith.
Don’t let the eloquent voices of our culture make you doubt your faith. There is no magical argument that disproves Christianity. For many generations, people have claimed that it is foolish to trust in Jesus who died and rose again. They have based this view on their understanding of science, on their philosophical positions, and on their personal preference to be free of some higher authority. Yet there is no killer argument that disproves our faith. There cannot be one, for what Christians believe is true.
The message of the gospel is uncomplicated. It is simple enough that small children can understand it, and deep enough that highly educated people can see the consistency of its worldview. We are people made by God in a world made by God. Our rebellion against God means we face rightful disaster. We cannot do anything to save ourselves, so Jesus came to die in our place and offer us hope. Trusting in Jesus, his death and resurrection, gives us life instead of death, and the certain hope of an eternal future with our God. It is this message that so many hate and speak so convincingly against. Many don’t like the idea of not being capable of saving themselves. Other disagree on principle with the existence of God. Still others disagree with there only being one way to salvation.
The rich and influential in this world, those with the eloquent voices, often struggle to accept Christianity. This is nothing new; it was the case in the first century too (1 Cor 1:26). Yet don’t think that because people are educated and well-spoken that their views must be correct. The simple, faithful Christian who believes what God has said is right, and those who write academic books against the true God are wrong.
You can trust the word of God. That is true, whatever others may say. That was true in the time of 2 Kings and is also true today.