Have you ever encountered a person (possibly a non-believer) who wanted to argue every point of scripture you bring forth as being “fiction”. What was your counter-argument? Did you argue at all? Or did you use my tactic and just didn’t follow up with them? If so, who won?
I was listening to a sermon the other day and the minister referenced the book “The Art of Deception” by NicholasCapaldi. In this work, supposedly on critical thinking, the author instructs atheists how to win an argument with Christians regarding scripture. Their main tactic, it appears is to change the subject, or get you to focus on something else entirely. If a Christian is starting to win in a debate, they immediately shift the point. They change the focus on something in which you are particularly strong, and they are particularly weak; giving the appearance that they are stronger.
NPR did a story once about an atheist who was studying the Bible. The atheist began to believe that there may very well be something to this “Jesus thing”. At that moment, the enemy intervened and got the “non-believer” to focus on how hungry he was as it was close to lunch time. By focusing on his hunger, the “non-believer” forgot all about his near break through; redirecting the “non-believer” so that he missed the point.
How many breakthroughs have you missed by changing focus? How many opportunities to share the goodness of Jesus with others because they caused you to change focus? How many times have you focused on the word at church, and someone compliments your outfit and you missed the point? You are trying to focus on eating healthier and your co-worker tempts you with Krispy Kreme, causing you to lose focus. How many times has the enemy strategically cause you to redirect your focus?
So, how do we stay focused? How do we keep the enemy from “changing the point”? “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
That scripture kind of sums it all up for us doesn’t it. I’m sure you’ve heard that we have to study and show ourselves approved. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
We have to stayed prayed up and keep studying God’s word and not let the enemy change the point of our lives.
