Standing on Ancient Stone

The following is my response to a question raised by the Pastor about how to respond to people who call believers "close-minded" or "bigots".

To the ending question my reply would be, "What basis do they have to call us bigots if they have no absolute authority steering that claim?" If we are truly speaking the word of God then the answer is, "They have no basis!"

I think the world's claims of bigotry are quite hypocritical as 'everyone' has a foundation which rejects other foundations, making them biased and closed-minded towards something though hey don't often realize that. Specifically, each person has a closed-mind or an aversion to other views whether they recognize it as such or not and this levels the playing field 'for' us, removing the sting of such a claim. (The door swings both ways so-to-speak.)

I suggest, in patients and love, turning their very claim on them by showing that they have no foundation to make that call, no capacity to discern what is right and wrong while apart from God's word. Without God each man does as he pleases with truth and morality, but if that is so then he can't claim that 'we' or anyone is wrong! He believes it is subject to opinion (choosing as he goes) if he does not follow absolute authority and the only absolute is God! At this point the door has swung wide to explain how God 'is' absolute and the only authority,using the Word itself and the truth that their is not another option when it comes to these things.

Granted disbelief doesn't need a reason (in fact it requires a lack of reason), but the truth is everyone has a ruling power in their lives that narrows the persons view on topics like morality and truth. Pointing out things like this can really shake the foundation of unbelief; opening a crack in the foundation for the Word to work.

Now, I've been accused of many things in the past; brought on by claiming that the bible was true and consequently God's views on truth, morality, knowledge, life, love, etc. (Just last week someone called me a closed-minded religious zealot for believing in a global flood if you can believe it.) Since it isn't PC to be exclusive in any way we get blasted for our firm foundation in Christ, but it is to be expected really; we are at WAR with a world that utterly opposes God's authority. So when these claims come we can strap on the armor, sword, and shield provided us (Ephesians 6:10-17) and get to the fight with confidence in our King's authority.

Sad that He has had to face this in the heart of every individual since Adam, save for one, and that one (Jesus) had to face it head on, to the cross, calling us to follow along.