The problem polemics faces is also faced by apologetics. Some of those who forbid correction within the church will also forbid confrontational evangelism which lovingly (and passionately) declares and proves other religions and worldviews as false. In this episode, we see how polemics is consistent with apologetics in revealing falsehoods instead of peacefully speaking a “truth” that has its hands between its legs. Many times, the advice to preach “your truth” and “let others be” is a foot in the door for liberalism. Listen a bit longer. You will hear those people say that the opposite views are both true. They will advocate that there is something to learn from each point of view, inching towards pluralism or inclusivism. They will argue on perspectives instead of principles, and thoughts instead of truth. When we remove the offensiveness of truth, we are left with a lie – or an opinion. Either way, truth is endangered.
Logically, two things are impossible: the absence of truth and the privatization of truth. Truth must exist for any conclusion to be made on its absence and truth must be true for everyone. Christianity stands on truth, and this must be defended both inside and outside the Church.
Let’s continue on how Micaiah’s actions relate with Elijah’s in the case of the prophets of Baal.
2. HE REVEALED THE FALSEHOOD (C)
Elijah stood up against the prophets of Baal and showed their religion to be fake. Micaiah stood against the erring prophets of God and showed their prophecies in the specific matter to be untrue. How do we know that Zedekiah was known as a prophet of God? He slapped Micaiah and asked, “Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” He believed he was speaking by the Spirit of God.
Similarly, apologetics defends Christian truth and attacks false ideas from the world as Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. Polemics defends sound doctrine and attacks false doctrines in the Church as Micaiah declared God’s word and condemned the false prophecy of his fellow prophets. We are called to uphold biblical truth within the Church and proclaim it outside the Church, not as an opinion, not as a suggestion, but as non-negotiable truths – because His word is truth.
Here is one more reason we must synchronize apologetics and polemics. I would prefer not to make this series mainly about Aps. J. Suleman but I must use this example now. Apostle Suleman’s false claims that Paul’s epistles lack divine authority are also made another religion whose scholars (a questionable title, maybe) believe Paul preached a false Gospel which even the Apostles did not agree with. They therefore rule out the inspiration and authority of Paul’s epistles. We cannot condemn and disprove such a doctrine from the outsiders, and then be lukewarm when one of us speaks it. It doesn’t make moral sense! Please, reason with me. Is it fair, wise or even godly, to condemn the lie when one speaks it but look the other way when another spews the same lie? As we have mentioned before, publicly correcting such an error is a necessity in the spirit of attitudinal consistency towards truth.
Let us repeat that those who forbid the offense of truth in any discussion are often holding the doors open for liberalism, pluralism and inclusivism. They are like neutral journalists in the face of injustice. They are the evangelists who cannot condemn sin. They are the teachers who will not mark any student wrong. They are the parents who think teaching children is wrong because it is indoctrination. They are the couple who think marriage is anything they define it to be and claim not to care about faithfulness. They are a lawless community where people do as they please. They are the politicians who redefine truth depending on whether they are in government or opposition. According to this thinking, everyone can have their truth and no truth is superior. Truth is flexible, relative, subjective, elusive guesswork. That is the actual demon behind the assertion that truth must not offend. The monster of liberalism has a charming voice, and the song it sings to Christians is, “preach your truth without fighting anyone’s position.” We must respond in chorus,
Our truth fights, the truth offends.
It is the truth, the only truth.
It is the truth, God’s truth.
A slap from truth is better than lying kisses.
If anything is true, contrary things are false. This is not even religion, it is logic. Micaiah’s prophecy had already offended the prophecy of his colleagues. The two were face-to-face opposites, unfriendly to each other and incompatible with each other. Contrary views don’t fit together. Even if he didn’t say anything else, he had started a war between two opposing prophecies. But the Prophet Micaiah went on to show how the opposite prophecy was false. He said that the other prophets were speaking by a lying spirit. That sounds like the “personal attack” that polemics seems to make. Yes! When lives are at stake, clear warnings are important. Sometimes, they look like personal attacks. Well, it’s just truth unleashed.
For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. (2 Cor. 13:8, NLT)
Truth requires standing for. Will you take the stand?
With love,
PDS.