Hostility to the Gospel

A friend of mine named Ed is a true zealot for Jesus Christ. I use that word zealot, which has been demonized by our culture, as a compliment. Jesus Himself tells us we are to be zealous for Him in Revelation 3:19. I'd like to pass on what happened with Ed last night at an event in Pickens, SC.

I served for 3 years as an assistant pastor at East Pickens Baptist Church. Pickens is your typical small town in the upstate. Mostly good people rooted in traditional Christian and American values. Near the end of my tenure at EPBC, well known upstate radio personality Tony Beam, was the interim pastor. At a large annual 4th of July event sponsored by EPBC a few years ago Dr. Beam commented how Pickens was his kind of town, as you could still sing "Dixie" and talk about Jesus on Main Street, as this is where the festival was held.

But like many small towns located near our major cities here in the state, times are changing. An influx of transplants due to the job opportunities available in these areas of the state and not elsewhere has led to a gradual, but perceptible change in these formerly rural towns. South Carolina used to be known as part of the buckle of the bible belt, but as differing people groups have migrated here, there is no denying our culture has changed. I'm not saying these folks are not welcome, they most certainly are, but with different views come change. Change that is not all for the good.

Last night Ed and a few others attended a musical event in downtown Pickens. Ed is always looking for opportunities to share the gospel with others and an event such as this provides an opportunity to witness to many who may not know Jesus. Anytime we as Christians enter the world to witness for Christ, we know that their are those who will object. But we as Christians do have the constitutional right and are commanded by God to witness in public, if we are willing to tolerate the hostility of some.

But last night, in Pickens, SC, Ed was told by the promoter of the event he did not have the right to witness in the public square and hand out gospel oriented material. Now many may have just acquiesced to the promoters desires and left with their tails tucked between there legs, but that's not Ed. He challenged the promoter regarding his rights and the promoter backed down. Ed even managed to give this person a tract. Now my friend Ed is hardly perfect, and he'd be the first to tell you that. But no one could ever say that Ed lacks zeal, and friends, we as Christians can learn from people like Ed.

You see, as Christians, we must understand that Satan does not want the 'good news" of Jesus Christ to be spread in this world. Unfortunately, far too many of us are to timid or lukewarm to face the hostility that the bible tells us this world will have for us. We'd rather surround ourselves with fellow believers in the safety of the 4 walls of our churches than actively engage the world and risk persecution. The example of the apostles and the early church are anathema to most of us. They gloried in their sufferings and persecution for the cause of Christ, while we retreat to the comfort and security of our dead churches.

Ed has been a blessing and an inspiration to me many times during the course of our friendship, but never more than last night. We can all learn from his example. It makes me wonder, if all of us had his zeal for winning the lost, how different our state and nation could be. We live in a world, even here in South Carolina, that is increasingly hostile to Jesus Christ. Are we willing, like Ed, to suffer persecution for the furtherance of the kingdom of God? Are we willing to obey the commands of God and exercise our constitutional rights to proclaim His word? Most of us are not, which explains why even here, in the buckle of the bible belt, their are those who will do anything to prevent and intimidate us from declaring the gospel of Christ. Way to go Ed! Keep fighting the good fight!