WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS UNDER ATTACK

Jeremiah 36:20-26

Introduction: John Conyers, congressman from the state of Michigan, offered a bill in congress that would seek to protect the Koran from being desecrated. It should be protected as a sacred book and its integrity be preserved, is their plea. This is interesting in that our government, that was established upon Christian principles, will go to great lengths to protect a book that promotes and encourages the destruction of all the infidels (Anyone non Muslim) and never do anything to protect the very book that promotes and encourages the salvation of all mankind. Moreover, the Bible has been under attack by members of our government. Anything Christian is not sacred anymore. Prayer is unconstitutional; Bible reading in public schools is intolerable; teaching creationism is viewed as nonsensical. Yet, the government can hand out Korans and prayer rugs to accommodate people who use their religion to do us harm. The ACLU will shout from the mountain tops the moment the Bible or Christianity enters the arena of government, yet they are silent as the grave when that same government promotes and accommodates the Islamic religion. This is drastically unconstitutional: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . .” What Congressman Conyers proposes is a law the respects an establishment of religion and won’t do the same for another: Christianity.

A. There is no doubt that the Word is under attack

B. The question is “What do we do about it?”

I. Jeremiah 36:20-26

A. The king showed contempt for the word of God

B. He was not moved by it

C. Not only did he attack the message – he sought to harm the messengers

1. Religious right, Jesus freaks

2. Bible beaters, Weak-minded

3. Intolerant homophobes

II. Jeremiah 36:27-31

A. God’s word is recorded again and Jehoiakim’s fate foretold

B. God’s word will prevail (Rip proof, Fire proof, Rebellion proof

C. Casting the word aside, hiding from it, maligning it and its messengers, will not make it go away o of no effect

1. God’s word will accomplish what He put it forth to do (Isa. 55:10-11)

2. The Word cannot be restrained (2 Tim. 2:9)

3. It cannot be corrupted or destroyed (1 Pet. 1:23-25)

Conclusion: If anything, those that have despised and shown so much contempt for the word of God will themselves be destroyed (Pro. 13:13). Men can burn, rip and take away our Bibles. They are material objects. However, if God’s word is written upon my heart (Pro. 7:1-3; Jer. 31:33; 2 Cor. 3:3) no one can take it from us. Let our pray be that in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3, “FURTHERMORE, BRETHREN, do pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may speed on (spread rapidly and run its course) and be glorified (extolled) and triumph, even as [it has done] with you, And that we may be delivered from perverse (improper, unrighteous) and wicked (actively malicious) men, for not everybody has faith and is held by it. Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].”