One thing that has stood out about the Gospel is its enduring nature. Despite obstacles and opposition, the Gospel continues to advance steadily throughout the world. Opposition to the Gospel has arisen from both external sources and within the ranks of believers themselves. Despite these adversities, more people are coming to the faith as rulers are being convicted and opening doors for the Gospel in their nations. Let’s explore the various attacks the Gospel has faced throughout the generations.
Attacks on Gospel Ministers
When you attack the main channel for spreading the Gospel, you limit their sphere of influence. Throughout Christian history, ministers of the Gospel have often faced rejection from those who perceive them as threats. Here are a few examples of those who faced opposition due to the Good News.
- Christ faced opposition: Jesus came to his own, but his own people rejected him (John 1:11-12). He faced death threats over and over. At some point, he was taken to a hilltop to be thrown over a cliff (Luke 4:29-30). The devil tempted him three times to make him fall to thwart his mission (Matthew 4:1-11). The enemy had used Peter, a close friend and disciple of Christ, to prevent Christ from getting to the cross (Matthew 16:23). Since no disciple is greater than the master, he assured his disciples that they would go through similar experiences (Luke 10:16, John 15:18-20, Matthew 10:33).
- Peter and John: After the day of Pentecost, preaching and healing of the disabled beggar at the beautiful gate, they were taken before the court and interrogated (Acts 4:1-22). They were warned not to continue speaking in the name of Jesus. Later in Acts 12:5-17, we see Peter imprisoned and the angel of the Lord coming to set him free.
- Stephen the First Martyr: Stephen had been appointed as a deacon to help distribute the church’s resources to the needy. He was falsely accused of preaching against the temple and the law of Moses (Acts 6:12-14). After a lengthy explanation of his message in Acts 7, his accusers later stoned him to death. Even in his death, he prayed, asking God to forgive his murderers, showing the love Christians had even for their persecutors (Acts 7:59-60).
- Paul’s Persecution: He faced significant opposition during his ministry, including imprisonment. While in prison, Paul wrote many letters to the church and various individuals. He was thankful for his chains and always took great delight in the fact that the Gospel of Christ was not in chains (2 Timothy 2:9). The apostles regarded the Gospel to be of greater worth than their own lives; hence, they were ready to give up their lives for it.
- Christians’ martyrdom in Rome: Though the Christians feared Judaism more than the Romans, as the Judaizers feared it might split Judaism into two factions. Moreover, the Roman emperor later became the greatest threat to the spread of the Gospel. From Emperor Nero, Christians experienced gruesome deaths and persecution to the point of living their lives in hiding.
Those in authority played a crucial role in trying to silence the Gospel of Christ through threats on such faithful ministers. The Gospel has outlived its early persecutors; hence, proving to be indeed unstoppable.
Recent Attacks on the Person of Christ
Resistance to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ never stopped with the first-century opposers. It has persisted to this day, with people trying to rewrite history and erase the very existence of the person of Christ so that they can advance their own evil agendas.
Unlike Muhammad, whom no one who wrote about him had ever interacted with, Christ had close interactions with those who wrote about him and his works. Those who wrote about him experienced him before his death and even after his death on the cross. His resurrection made the disciples so bold in sharing the Gospel that they were willing to die for it. Paul writes about the witnesses of the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Christ and his teachings, including the Bible, have been more scrutinized than any other book in human history. The Bible makes significant claims about history that have been investigated and found to be an accurate, clear presentation of historical facts.
Attacks on the Content of the Gospel
Among the other attacks are those aimed at the content of the Gospel. The Gospel message has been attacked from within and without the church. In the church, there have been false teachings and a distorted version of the Gospel that emphasizes physical prosperity. These deviations from established Christian teachings have damaged the lives of so many people living in destitution and led many young people to hate Christianity. Heresy has been present in the church since the earliest days. Peter battled with gnosticism in his days. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity has been contested over the years, and thanks be to God that the Gospel continues to advance despite the attacks. The name of Christ, through which all men are saved, became a threat to the religious leaders; thus, they tried to silence the disciples (Acts 4:12). The disciples were warned not to speak in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:18).
Why the Gospel will Continue to Endure
Jesus told Peter that the church would be built on Christ, the Rock, and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). This is hence proof that the church will indeed endure through the coming dark times. The gates of hell are symbolic of the authorities and powers of the dark spiritual world. All powers and authorities have been put under Christ. Hence, Christians can rest assured that the Gospel is secure in Christ, our Rock (Ephesians 1:21). The following are other reasons in the scriptures why the Gospel is unstoppable.
- Advances by God’s Power: It is not by human might, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that the Gospel continues to advance (Zechariah 4:6-7). Jesus promised the disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8). Human strength can fade. Still, because the Gospel advances by God’s power, it remains unstoppable.
- Assurance of the Gospel Promises: The promise of a life beyond this life today empowered the disciples and many Christians over the years to persevere through adversity. For instance, even in the face of death, Paul considered it a gain rather than a loss (Philippians 1:21). Many who have persevered to the end of their lives have found great inspiration from people like Paul. Hence, the common saying in Christendom: that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
- Spirit-filled Ministers: We have many ministers of the Gospel living in total surrender to the Holy Spirit. Just as the early church was a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led community, we have many faithful ministers who continue to joyfully and earnestly spread the good news of Christ. We are not short of faithful shepherds of God’s flock that are setting an example as they look forward to the reward in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 5:1-4).
- Truth outlives opposition: Gamaliel was right when he said that what the disciples preached would die on its own if it was not of God, but if it was true, no one could stop it, as they would indeed be opposing God himself (Acts 5:38-39).
The fact is that the Gospel is unstoppable and will continue to advance through all generations. To the skeptics, remember that the Gospel has been opposed before and has stood the test of time. Concerning the false preachers, they have been there since the days of Moses, and the word of God has continued to advance even still. To faithful Christians, rejoice that the Gospel will endure through all time, even unto eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ.