When we hear of people being held captive, we usually think of physical confinement. Perhaps jail. Maybe prisoners of war in another country. But people can also be held captive by lies. In other words, their minds are influenced by false information. Is this happening with politics? I’ll discuss that briefly, but I am more concerned about spiritual truth.
Fortunately, there is compelling evidence for God that can help release people from spiritual lies.
POLITICS
I was stunned when I heard a Washington Post columnist say there are millions of American who voted for Trump who need to be deprogrammed.[1] Whoa! What does that mean? The implication by Eugene Robinson seemed to be that millions of people are brainwashed with false information and they need to have their minds changed. Katie Couric, a former news anchor, made a similar remark, “And the question is how are we going to really almost deprogram these people who have signed up for the cult of Trump.”[2]
Was this hyperbole? An exaggerated statement to get a reaction? Mr. Robinson seemed serious; and while this notion may fizzle, it could instead become widespread. Regardless of your political leanings, two questions may come to mind: Do Trump voters need to be deprogrammed? What approach might be used?
First, I don’t believe this claim is fair. There are many people who voted for Trump for what they consider legitimate reasons. Pastor Robert Jeffress wrote an opinion article on January 9, 2021, about how our nation can heal (I recommend it). He not only denounced violence, he said the reason he supported Trump was because, “His policies line up best with the principles I find in Scripture.”[3] Based on exit polls, I suspect there are many who agree with him. To say that those who voted for Donald Trump are in need of deprogramming is simply inaccurate.
Second, I’m worried what some might consider an acceptable method for changing people’s minds. Would only select information be shared, for the purpose of altering someone’s beliefs? Would certain voices be censored? Mr. Robinson seemed to applaud twitter removing President Trump[4], which is likely censorship. A CNN article by Oliver Darcy asked why certain companies, such as Verizon and AT&T, are carrying OAN, Newsmax or Fox, which are considered conservative alternatives.[5] Suggesting some companies remove an alternative voice is dangerous. If we are truly interested in getting at truth, it must be an open dialog of all ideas, with supporting reasons.
RELIGION
While I disagree that Trump voters need to be deprogrammed, I do believe that people can be taken captive by lies. In fact, the Bible supports that view. Consider the following verses from the Apostle Paul:
“And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV, emphasis added).
As noted in italics, a person can be captured by the devil to do his will. Scary thought. This is not a game. This is spiritual warfare. It is a battle of ideas. How do we know this is an intellectual battle? Consider the verse that states “…knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses …”, which indicates a person is held captive by false ideas. This is not to say there are not emotional temptations. The enemy wages battle in multiple ways. But many of us do not consider how the enemy uses lies to lead people astray.
This leads to an interesting point for Christians when sharing their faith. We must remember that we are speaking with people who are made in the image of God, and may be held captive by lies. While some people may refuse to follow God because of their desire for sin (a heart issue), others may be held captive by false ideas about God or themselves (an intellectual issue). As Christians, our purpose is not to win a debate, but rather share the Gospel with gentleness and respect.
In the following Bible verse, the Apostle Peter tells Christians to be ready to share reasons for their faith, with the right approach.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV, emphasis added)
Admittedly, treating people with gentleness and respect may not always be easy, especially when speaking with someone who is not polite with their approach. They may be aggressive or sarcastic. They may use vulgar language or insults. In the heat of discussion, it can be challenging to keep our cool, maintain a tone of respect and focus on the person.
Nonetheless, Christians must be respectful for two reasons:
It is a command from the Bible (as noted above)
A message delivered with respect is far more effective in reaching people. We are trying to change hearts and minds, and disrespect is not effective. If our tone is negative, they are more likely to get frustrated and disregard our message.
Although Christians should stand strong for God’s truth, Scripture prohibits us from doing so with sarcasm, bullying, etc. “The beginning of the universe is great evidence for God, you moron!” Obviously that’s not good. It goes against what God commands of His followers. We should not dismiss this command; otherwise, we are in the wrong!
If you are not a Christian, I recognize this article about being held captive by lies may be considered insulting or ridiculous. It is not my intention to be insulting. In fact, it is not my simply my opinion. Rather, I am trying to highlight what the Bible is teaching, that some people are held captive by lies. The question is whether the Bible is true. Are you aware of some of the reasons why the Bible is historically reliable, true and inspired by God? Unlike the CNN article, I am not for silencing certain voices, but rather putting all ideas and evidence on the table and let people make an informed decision.
If the Bible is true, then it is only Jesus who can set us free. Free from punishment for our sins and free from the bondage of sin. If people are held captive by lies and their sin, Jesus is the key to freedom:
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 NIV)
Summary Point:
To ensure Christians share the Gospel with respect, it may be helpful to remember that some nonbelievers are held captive by lies.
[1] https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-supporters-deprogrammed [2] https://www.foxnews.com/media/katie-couric-cheers-on-trumps-impeachment-says-gop-lawmakers-need-to-be-deprogrammed [3] https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/capitol-riots-heal-divided-nation-robert-jeffress [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/to-save-american-democracy-truth-needs-to-beat-fantasy/2021/01/11/57c50e7a-5441-11eb-a08b-f1381ef3d207_story.html [5] https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/media/tv-providers-disinfo-reliable-sources/index.html
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