“Salvation is a helmet, not a nightcap.”

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who had told me that one of his family members was questioning my credibility, and in the same sentence told me that he trusted me. I said in response, “I don’t trust people neither.”  Then again, I am not called to trust man (Jeremiah 17:5), I am to trust the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7).

I went on and said, “I don’t want you to put your trust in me, because man will without fail, fail you.  You put your trust in Christ, and Him alone (Proverbs 3:5). It is my job to drive you to Christ, not to bring you unto myself.”

“But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men…” -John 2:24

I went on to tell him that people questioned Jesus and accused Him of all sorts of things of which He was not guilty.

“And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.” -John 7:12

He was accused of being a devil.

“But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This Man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub (Prince of devils) the ruler of the demons.” -Matthew 12:24

He was accused of “inciting” and “misleading” people and not paying taxes.

They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar and claiming that he himself is Christ, a king.” (Luke 23:2-5)

As a matter of fact, his brothers did not even believe in Him.

“For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.  For neither did his brethren believe in him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” -John 7:4-7

One must remember that He also said, “The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20).

Now remember, as we all know, I am not the standard, Jesus Christ is the standard(1 Corinthians 11:1).

Yet, in my particular case, I have to say that where my credibility is being questioned always comes from those who should know better (Matthew 3:7). These people look to Wikipedia rather than asking the person that is being questioned, and in this case. myself.

Do you answer a fool in his folly? (Proverbs 26:4)

Who’s Afraid of Bradlee Dean?

Many times, on national radio, I have told people to look to what the mainstream media’s “useful idiots” have reported on me. Look at what they do to people when you not only tell the truth, but also walk out your faith (James 2:14-26).

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. -2 Timothy 3:12

They accuse me of that which I am not guilty.  Kind of funny how that works, isn’t it?  This is due to the fact that I am never questioned by the mainstream media as to that which they accuse me.  This is what they hope that those who go to their propaganda resources will take from them. That is why we videotape every event that we do, so people that want the truth and are willing to ask us of the truth can know the difference for themselves.

I then asked him concerning the family member that questioned my credibility, “Is that person living the Christian life? Because if they are, they should be experiencing much of what I am and what was promised to those that do.”

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” -Acts 14:22

Consider Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:24-33:

^“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.  In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.”

Consider 11 of the 12 disciples were martyred for their faith.  Actually, when you come to think of it, the best way to gauge someone that is doing the work of the LORD is to see if they are being persecuted for righteousness sake, not the other way around. Scripturally, Those persecuting those doing the work of the Lord are called enemies of the cross.

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:” -Philipians 3:18

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” -Matthew 5:9-12

The way my ministry gauges men and women of God is by the persecution that they endured from the world, not a lack thereof (1 Thessalonians 5:12). Gauge them by the scars that they bear in righteousness (John 20:20).

King David said, “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts” (Psalm 119:63).

As D.L. Moody rightly put it: “A true Christian is one who has not only peace of conscience, but war within. He may be known by his warfare as well as by his peace.”

Scripture warns: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).