Henry Martyn, missionary to the Muslim World during the 1800’s, was often visited by the Muslim people while busying himself with the translation of the New Testament into the Persian language. On one of these occasions one such visitor engaged Martyn in a religious conversation. Customarily Martyn was very serene, only disturbed when someone insulted His Lord. During the course of conversation the Muslim visitor told of how a “Prince Abas Mizra had killed so many Christians that Christ, from the fourth heaven, took hold of Mohammed’s skirt to entreat him to desist.” Martyn, in his own words, “I was cut to the soul at such blasphemy!” The visitor, seeing Martyn’s disturbance, asked what it was that was so offensive. Martyn replied, “I could not exist if Jesus was not glorified; it would be hell to me if He were to be always dishonored.” His Muslim visitor was astonished and again asked why? Martyn replied, “If anyone plucked out your eyes, there is no saying why you feel pain; it is feeling. Therefore it is because I am one with Christ that I am thus dreadfully wounded.” The greatest business of the Church in this world is to bear a good confession of Christ, to defend His glory and demand that men honor Him. This I believe to be the witness of the Church. Only as we faithfully and boldly attack everything that exalts itself against the glory and knowledge of Christ shall we successfully see men come to Christ. “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (II Corinthians 10:4-6). We live in a day of religious apostasy and the masses worship they know not what. In their feeble attempts to worship God they do not know they publicly blaspheme His Holy name. We stand as guilty as they do if we refuse to rebuke such ignorance. Therefore let us be bold in our opposition to that which dishonors our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, whether an Islamic heathen or liberal Baptist. John the beloved warns in his first epistle 2:18, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” And 4:1-3, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.” While many are looking for and expecting a “personal Antichrist,” the churches are already filled with the spirit of Antichrist. The true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not to be on the defense but offense, and our only weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of Truth.
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