Why I Don't Defend Myself Against Critics And Enemies

2nd Timothy 3:12-15, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

I had a ministry friend message me this week to ask why I don't defend myself against slander from enemies on social media. This was my first response...

Regarding slander against me, I haven't read any of it in 15 years and I refuse to look at it. When somebody tells me about it, I always quote Mark Twain:

"It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you."

When Pastor Hyles and his successor Dr. Schaap tried to defend themselves, their enemies twisted all their words out of context and used it to further attack them. I think they should have left it alone, which is what I have wisely done. You cannot defend yourself against a critic. Like Daniel, if someone is out to hurt you, they will! I wrote an article years ago about "Why I Don't Try To Defend Myself," but Google has censored more than half of my ministry articles, so that I cannot find it right now. I have 11,000 webpages; and over 55,000 files just on Jesus-is-Savior.

I love what Evangelist Dave Hyles said...

“If there is no credible accusation, then there need be no credible defense.” —Evangelist David Hyles

My ministry friend messaged back and still insisted that I should defend myself, being more specific. Here is my second response...

Critics can and will say all kinds of stuff, but that doesn't mean I am obligated to stoop to their level to answer to it. I have never been convicted of any sexual crimes, nor do I have any felony convictions on my record. That's all anyone needs to know. We need to defend each other, but not ourselves. Proverbs 27:2, “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” I honestly don't care what my enemies are saying about me, and I don't want to hear it from you or anyone else, because I cannot do anything about it. Jesus said the world would hate us, because it hates Him (John 15:19; John 7:7). God pity the preacher that the world don't hate!

My ministry friend replied by saying that I should defend myself like Pastor Jack Hyles did. But what he said is not exactly true. Brother Hyles said he never would defend himself; but rather, only his family, friends and ministry. My ministry friend also said that Pastor Steven Anderson recently defended himself when he was accused of horrible things, and said that so should I. Here is my third and final response...

I won't discuss that matter anymore. You shouldn't be comparing me to Pastor Anderson or Dr. Hyles. 2nd Corinthians 10:12, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” Just because I choose not to stoop to my enemies' level to counter their crap, doesn't in any way imply that I am guilty, and shame on you if that is what you were implying. Really, you shouldn't even have brought this slander up, as if I don't know about it already. I mean, 'com on. Nobody wants someone to bring up the slander being said against them on social media. NO ONE! I asked a lawyer 15 years ago about suing the creep slandering me, but because the source is a coward who chooses to remaining anonymous, the lawyer said there's nothing I can do. And the lawyer said, even if I try to sue the slanderer, they'll just find another website on social media to attack me. This is the wicked world that we live in today. Believe me, if there was something I could do, I would, but there's not my friend. I suffer every moment of my life in constant chronic neck pain, burning nerves, prescription medication side effects, the entire right side of my body feeling half asleep, et cetera. I can barely keep up with my own ministry, without worrying about what God-hating evildoers are saying about me on the internet. Romans 12:19 says God avenges all evil; it's not our job to fight our enemies. Jesus said whatever someone does to you or me as saints, they have done it to Jesus (Matthew 25:40). In other words, "Jesus says: “Were in thing this called Christianity together; all for one and one for all.” Pastor Anderson has defended himself and his enemies don't give a flip, they're still hating on him. And Brother Anderson's friends didn't need an explanation in the first place, they would have continued by his side regardless if he did or didn't defend himself. So, it doesn't matter if I defend myself or not, because my enemies won't care and my ministry friends don't need an explanation. I know you mean well, but please leave this alone. God is my defender! Exodus 14:14, “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

Thankfully, my ministry friend obliged and let the matter rest. He cleared up that he wasn't implying anything in his message. I appreciate his grace and understanding.

That being said, if someone wants to believe the evil slander against me without evidence to support it, then do so at your own peril because you must answer to God in eternity, and so do all of us. If I were guilty of all the horrible ungodly things Satan's minions are accusing me of, I'd be rotting in prison for the rest of my life; but as you see I am free and laboring for Jesus Christ day and night on social media, laying up rewards in Heaven (1st Corinthians 3:8).

“If there is no credible accusation, then there need be no credible defense.” —Evangelist David Hyles

The inspired King James Bible identifies Satan as “the accuser of the brethren” in Revelation 12:10b. We're never more like Satan than when we wickedly unjustly accuse others with our words. Proverbs 11:9, “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.” There used to be a time in America when a man was deemed innocent until proven guilty. The old adage is still very true: It would be better to let nine guilty men go free, than to convict one innocent man.

Proverbs 20:6, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” I don't proclaim my own goodness. I never brag on myself. I don't claim to be a good Christian. I learned a very long time ago that neither I nor you can declare ourselves as being “good,” because only other people can say that about us. Proverbs 27:2, “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” When people tell me that I am a “good man,” it means the world to me. God desires for His children to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). I want people to esteem that I am a good man as a born again child of God, but neither I nor you can say that about ourselves.

And just as we cannot boast of our own goodness, likewise we cannot defend ourselves. Once someone accuses you it is IMPOSSIBLE to defend yourself, because unless someone has followed you around everywhere you've gone, for every moment of your life, there is no way to prove your innocence. Even if you say, “I didn't do it,” the question mark will always remain. The stigma sticks! We live in a very ungodly slanderous culture in America!

That is why wicked people always accuse their victims based upon the original court charge(s), while totally disregarding and ignoring the final court outcome. So, it doesn't matter to hateful critics if a man was found innocent in a court of law and the charges were dropped, his enemies will still condemn him for the rest of his life based upon the original dropped charges, and that is incredibly dishonest, hateful and evil to do to anyone. The children of Satan who create such evil slander are digging their own graves in Hell.

People are going to think whatever they want to think regardless of what we say. I heard Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) say time and time again that he refused to defend himself against enemies. But Brother Hyles would fight to the very end to defend his family, friends and ministry from enemy attacks. God fights my battles because I am His servant.

To him that believeth, no explanation is necessary; to him that believeth not, no explanation is possible.

This blog will be sent to anyone in the future who asks me about the slander against me in social media, or if someone wants to know why I refuse to defend myself. I have much better things to do with my ministry time than to wallow in the muck and mire with the pigs.