The Secular Argument

The truth of the scripture has always been unpopular.  One of the results of this is the temptation for Christians to turn to or rely on secular reasoning to promote scriptural principles in the public arena.  While on the surface this may seem wise, it is folly.  Those who trust God and the scriptures know faith in God's Word is most reasonable, but to substitute human reason for the words of life is most unreasonable.  People believe what they want.  It is not difficult in our subjective age to find plenty of support for doubt and unbelief.  Minds blinded by the god of this world are unable to see the truth, no matter how logical and persuasive our best arguments can be.  Withholding the scriptures means we are not sowing seed, and therefore there can be no spiritual fruitfulness in such wranglings.

God is able to redeem even secular arguments for His purposes, but only God is able to change hearts or the way people think.  Jesus appealed to reason when He spoke, but He did not withhold the divine truths only received by faith.  He spoke with authority of Adam, the first man created by God from the dust of the ground.  He spoke of heaven and hell, conscious there were many who did not and would not agree with Him.  He spoke with objective certainty of right and wrong in a world where every man naturally does what is right in His own eyes.  Jesus did not address men's heads only, but He went straight to the heart.  God's Word has the power to accomplish what secular arguments cannot:  exposing sinful motives, affections, and poverty of the human soul apart from God (Hebrews 4:12).

Jesus did not debate or squabble with unbelievers, but rather He engaged the world with divine spiritual truth.  He did not merely hold forth principles derived from the Word, but in the face of temptation and attack said again and again:  "It is written..."  Even when beliefs of people have strayed from scripture, why not use the scripture rightly divided as the basis of your belief?  Appeals to human reason muzzle the true Word of God to breathe clarity through the subjective fog of current social issues.  Just because issues have been hijacked as "political" or "scientific" or "ethical" should not be justification to see the biblical view as irrelevant.  Are you more interested in having people believe or agree with you, or is your primary desire to turn people from darkness to God's marvelous light?  Should we cite statistics to prop up our arguments when God's Word is a sure foundation?  What does it profit a man to engage the world with reason and purposely avoid the means to provide salvation for souls?

Examine your motives in choosing to primarily hold forth secular arguments to challenge minds of others.  Be purposeful in hearing God's Word and obeying it first yourself, and without shame or embarrassment hold fast to the everlasting Word God has placed above His own name (Ps. 138:2).  If we desire to see spiritual fruit from our efforts, do not neglect sowing the seed of God's Word.  It is the scripture applied lovingly through the Holy Spirit - not our emotional appeals or rational arguments - which leads people to everlasting life.  A transformed nature through trust in Christ will change hearts, and this produces a new mind receptive to the things of God.  Should we lay down the sword in the midst of the battle in exchange for the feather duster of secular arguments?  If we choose to parry or defend ourselves from attack with the Word of God, who cares if the enemy shouts, "That's not fair?"  Let scoffers scoff, mockers mock, and unbelievers cling to deceit.  Tighten your grip on your sword, child of God!  To lay down the sword is to admit defeat, even if you manage to sway a few minds for a season.