For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.
–Ephesians 4:12
Not only are Christians being outfought and outargued, but we are being outmarketed on the issue of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ for salvation. In Ephesians 2:2, when Paul described Satan as “the prince of the power of the air,” I wonder if he had in mind what Anne Sweeney, former president of Disney-ABC Television Group, referred to as “the most powerful medium in the world”–television.?
Television is a very powerful medium. Did you know the average American watches television five hours a day? Think of the messages that are being endlessly pumped out of that tube into people’s minds. And when it comes to the issue of spirituality, the message coming from television is antagonistic toward the idea that there is only one way to be saved, and that’s through faith in Jesus Christ. And not only television but radio, movies, print, the internet–all spewing forth the lie that there are many ways to God other than faith in Christ. It’s true that Christians are trying to utilize the media as well to voice opposition to that message of inclusivism. We’re trying to drown it out, but frankly, it is impossible to drown out. You cannot compete with the secular media. The good news is we don’t have to. Because, you see, this battle about the exclusivity of Jesus Christ is not an air war; it’s a ground war.
More than two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ entrusted to twelve people the message that He is the way of salvation. And those twelve took that message and spread it to others who spread it to others who spread it to others. And two thousand years later, that message is still growing stronger than ever–that Christ is the only way to God. This is a ground war. God’s plan is to equip people just like you with that message to take to the uttermost parts of the world. Now please don’t misunderstand: I’m not saying utilizing media isn’t important. Our church places a lot of emphasis on television, radio, and the internet, and we are having fantastic results. We are grateful for winning many unbelievers, but the real goal of our ministry is “the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). You see, God wants you to be equipped. Students, He wants you to be equipped so you can go into that classroom debate and logically argue and present why Christ is the only way to salvation. Workers, He wants you to be able to go into that breakroom in your business and have a conversation with other people. He wants you to be able to articulate with that religious family member or friend who doesn’t know Christ about why Christ is the only way to be saved. That is God’s plan for getting this message out. It is a ground war.
Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Christianity’s Most Offensive Belief” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2019.
Tim Adler, “MIPCOM: Disney-ABC TV Boss Anne Sweeney Says Television Will Get Even More Personal,” Deadline, October 5, 2011; David Hinckley, “Average American Watches 5 Hours of TV per Day, Report Shows,” New York Daily News, March 5, 2014.
Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.