27/12/2018
BLOW YOUR TRUMPET!
I heard this phrase for the very first time during my secondary school days (quite late I know) but thanks to my classmate who practically used it in almost every argument or discussion even when the need didn’t call for it; but for her consistent usage I probably wouldn’t have had an idea of the idiom. From the little I observed of her, she uses it when someone was at the verge of talking highly of themselves or their talents, so she goes, “stop blowing your trumpet”. During one of those days, it became my turn to get a share of the idiom and as soon as she used it on me, being a sharp-tongued girl that I was, I was fast to replying her with something that sounded this way, “Don’t tell me to stop blowing my trumpet; If I blow mine and you have a problem with it, let yours be louder.” I can’t remember whether or not she proceeded further, but I quite remember that I scored a point.
Sure by now you are wondering where this is headed and I also don’t intend to hold your suspense for too long, only that like they say, ‘let’s take it from the familiar’. There’s never been a better time to talk about the subject of timidity around Christians, and most unfortunately, Christians that at least have the basic knowledge of the truth. We are in a world surrounded with high-sounding trumpets loud enough to give hearing-ear to the deaf. It baffles my imagination how confidently the wrong ideas seems to prevail and even pervade. I wish this were about some other religion, but it isn’t; it’s not a debate about Christ and some other religious deities. It’s actually about the fast spreading unbiblical venom spreading even among the Christians. The Bible couldn’t have been truer when it says, “some people there are teaching false doctrines, and you must order them to stop” (1 Tim 1:3b). The carriers of the false doctrines are not out of the church; in many cases actually they are prominent authorities within the church body. As much as I wish to address them, it will be out of place for this particular series. The focus is rather on you who knows the truth of the gospel and have decided to allow lies prevail in your very own eyes. If you hadn’t known your left from your right, it would have been another thing, but that you know and you actively permit falsehood even in this body, is so unwanted and there is no basis for your silence.
What exactly is the basis for the timidity? Is it for shame about the truth of the gospel that you know? Is there any shame in the truth of the gospel at all? What shame is there in sharing about the one who loves you undeservingly? Peradventure you don’t know, the message of the gospel is not just a message that should be scattered thoughtlessly; it’s not even a message that needs to be carried around with gloomy faces and wearied-looking eyes; such that even the people you intend to share the message with are scared of looking at you. What shame is there in talking about the one who gladly chose surrender for crooked-wretched sinner like man? What shame is there in talking about the love of whom when He walked the surface of the earth, He freely dined with sinners, not so as to encourage their sins, but that through an expression of His love, they might be done with their sin? What shame is there in talking about the nature of Him who left the 99 behind to save just one? What shame? For if there should be any shame at all, it should be Christ ashamed of us for being flippantly nonchalant, yet He isn’t.
Again I ask what the basis for the timidity is. Is it the high resounding polished voice of those who speak the unscriptural doctrines? Of course I admit and can identify with the fact that in their talks lies beautiful rhythmic rhymes; their psychological acumen is almost topnotch; but who says the gospel is psychological? Or who says it has to be beautified with quotable quotes. Here is what the Bible says about the gospel through Apostle Paul, “When I came to you to speak God’s secret truth, I did not use big words and great learning. For while I was with you, I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially His death on the cross. So when I came to you, I was weak and trembled all over with fear, and my teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words of human wisdom, but with convincing proof of the power of God’s Spirit. Your faith then does not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power.” (1 Cor 2:1-5). Never assume for a moment that Paul was incapable of using intellectual speeches, at least his professional background gave him that edge; but he wouldn’t. Why? Because the gospel is as simple as the gospel and needs no human exalted speech to either convict or transform. The Christian body needs no more of the intellectual or psychological concoction hidden under the basis of misinterpreted scriptures to transform people; that’s not what sets us free. It’s the truth that we know in and through Jesus that sets free. “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) The only message of the gospel is Jesus’ extension of love towards us by saving us from who we were and giving us grace to live above sin even in this present world. If that’s what you know and you are convinced by, please let it out with your loudest voice; for if the simple message of the cross is not able to save, nothing else can.
What then exactly is the basis for your timidity? Why do you carry the truth and you seek to hide Him? Or is it because you feel threatened that you are not posh enough? You feel your tongue is not laced with the appropriate diction needed to win the present generation over or you are probably waiting to get the earth’s valuable so as to make an impression on the audience? May you get it right on time! May you get the fact that those who moved the body of Christ were ordinary men, who were totally emptied of themselves just for the sake of the gospel. By the way, you were not sent to make an impression, but rather to fulfill the great commission. It’s very true that we are in a time where an individual is more defined by what he has, instead of who he is, but would you honestly choose to ride with the world’s myopic definition or stick to what is real and eternal.
Wake up from your slumber and blow your trumpet. Yes, it is true that wolves in sheep clothing abound pouncing on ignorant people and feeding them with tales by moonlight instead of the scriptures, but a loud cry from you right in your immediate environment will make a lot of difference and at least save some. The body of Christ no longer needs the services of the quiet on-lookers; if anything at all, our silence has done worse. You cannot continue to allow the wrong doctrines spread while you fold your arms emotionally praying for revival. As a matter of fact, you have no business praying for revival if you are not ready to break loose from whatever ties you from preaching the gospel that you know and are convinced by. Do you not know that those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits? The strength you have as a believer is not passive; it’s an active one that dominates even where lies prevail.
Regard less of the trumpet being blown around you; yours can be louder. As a matter of fact, Christ needs us to shine brighter; so no more dilly-dallying. Do I not identify with your fears? Oh yes I do, but you know what, fear is too little a problem to hold me bound; if at all it does, I will do it dauntless. Why? Because, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we also are guilty of sin (James 4:17). If you are scared of going to Palestine, if Bornu has become a dread for you and Indonesia has become a no-go mission field, would you also be scared to preach about Christ even among your immediate contemporaries? Aba! Blow the trumpet of Christ and let the whole world (at least the one you can reach) hear the truth of the gospel.
