Any schoolboy knows that the Earth revolves around the sun. Any learned man of science back in the 1400’s knew something quite different. Back then they all believed that the Earth was the center of the universe and that the sun moved around the Earth. In fact, if you disagreed with this “majority” scientific belief you ran the risk of being branded a heretic.
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), a Polish astronomer, had a different idea. He believed that the sun, rather than the Earth, was the center of the universe. He stated that the earth and all the other planets moved through space and revolved around the sun. Copernicus was quite scared to publish this theory for fear he might be considered a heretic. Strange how his theory, back then, could have cost him his life, while the prevailing “majority” theory of his time would, if you held it today, brand you as a candidate for the “loony bin.”
Pastor Rick Warren sums this idea of being in the majority well when he stated: “A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority.”1
Where I live in New York many of our laws may be the majority opinion but they are far apart from biblical truth. Same sex marriage, abortion up until birth, and the teaching of evolution in our public schools as scientific fact, are the rule of the day. And our Christian worldview is seen as being out-of-date, intolerant, and downright foolish. However, truth is never a product of majority rule or some law, but is based on the only absolute arbiter of truth – the Bible.
My friends as Christians we will never be in the majority for we read in (Matthew 7:13-14): “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” What these verses say is that only a small minority has a market on the eternal truths in life. And when it comes to the knowing the truth it will always be dangerous to be part of a crowd that is more interested in popularity than doing the right thing.
And while it may be OK to be wrong about some things in life, it’s an entirely different ballgame when it comes to how we view Christianity. Perhaps C. S. Lewis summed it up best when he said: “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”2
Biblical truth will always be true no matter what the majority crowd may think. And, I believe, we in America, as Christians, over the next few years, need to be prepared to see even more assaults on our precious biblical beliefs. While our society continues to seek to suppress the truth, we, as Christians, need to continue to proclaim it – even if it means more persecution. We need not be afraid to stand for what is true for even if we are persecuted and ostracized – God will always have our back. And in the final analysis I would rather be persecuted for proclaiming the truth than be popular for defending a lie.
1 TOP 25 QUOTES BY RICK WARREN (of 720) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)
2 Quote by C.S. Lewis: “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, an…” (goodreads.com)
“My friends as Christians we will never be in the majority.”
The proof offered for this claim is a quote from Matthew 7:13,14, which talks about broad ways, wide gates, and many entrants. But we need to understand Jesus’ words in the context of His ministry. Who was He talking to here? Was He opposing the promise given to the children of Abraham? As children of the promise, we are told we will be counted among those who are as numerous as the grains of sand on all the shores and the stars of the universe. That doesn’t sound like a “few.” In fact, Revelation gives us a word picture in heaven of this throng of believers:
“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.”
So, how do we understand what looks like a contradiction? The answer is to understand to whom Christ was talking. His proclamations are directed at Israel. How do we know this? The Bible tells us when it recorded Jesus’ words at the beginning of His ministry. He stated His goal in coming to earth so there would be an understanding about His coming to tell Israel the Kingdom was being taken from them. He knew he would be rejected by the majority of Israel but there would remain a remnant, the “few,” who would be part of the vine, the bride, the New Jerusalem.
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” So, that vast “majority” was headed for destruction, a destruction they would soon face at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Israel was warned many times about this coming judgement but chose to let Christ’s blood be on their hands.
We have not yet begun to see the blessing of the exponential expansion of God’s kingdom, like leaven in the loaf and the smallest of seeds becoming the largest of trees. Christ came to save the world. Is He failing or are the gates of hell prevailing? We are more than conquerors. Don’t look around and be discouraged. Look in! I mean look in the Bible for the language of victory, kingdom progression and promises kept. We are not only a majority but a super majority that will inherit the earth. Now, go listen to the Hallelujah chorus and rejoice. “He shall reign forever and ever.”