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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: My business partner resents my recent conversion to Christianity. I was honest with him and told him that the Lord has saved my soul and convicted me about some of the business practices we’ve employed over the years. He said Christianity is a militant religion, using the Bible as a weapon. I’d never heard this. What does that mean? – B.P.

A: A weapon can be used against someone, but it can also be used to defend oneself or someone else. Prayer [and God’s Word] are the most powerful weapons Christians have in their spiritual arsenal, and these are to be used against the world’s greatest Enemy [Satan].

In the case of the Old Testament story of Daniel’s three friends Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego, they were commanded to bow before the statue made in the image of the egotistical Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. They refused and were cast into a fiery furnace.

These young men relied on the Word of God and said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, … our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not … worship the gold image” (Daniel 3:16–18, NKJV).

When the king looked into the furnace, he was astonished at what he saw and said, “I see four men … and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God (Daniel 3:25, NKJV). God is with His people in the fiery furnace of life and equips us with the most powerful weapon—the sword of the Lord—the Word of God. Man’s weapon can bring harm, but the weapons of God can bring opportunity to witness of His truth and righteousness.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2025 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2025 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.