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For Immediate Release (Indianapolis, IN) — In a recent survey from The State of Theology, 53% of U.S. adults reject the divine authorship of the Bible as literal truth, relegating it to the same category as other religious writings and sacred texts. In less than a decade, that number has risen 12%. Even among U.S. evangelicals, 26% say that the Bible, while helpful, is not literally true. In his new book, “The Spirit of Rabshakeh is Alive and Well in America: The Devil’s Strategies to Take Down a Nation,” lawyer and author Tim Rowe says there is a reason for our society’s rejection of biblical principles.
“War has been declared on the Christian faith, just like Rabshakeh declared war on the Jewish faith,” says Rowe. “Fear is the fuel that advances this war to the public classroom, to the public arena, and to the walls of government. There is a growing segment of radical groups, media outlets, and politicians who want to criminalize Christianity. Canada, our neighbor to the north, has already embraced the spirit of Rabshakeh and begun criminalizing Christianity through the misguided application of ‘hate’ laws, and America may soon follow suit. The truths of the Bible have become a menace to society. In their place America has set up political and social idols that we must pay homage to or be prepared to be ostracized with a scarlet C on our backs. People would prefer to burn the Bible rather than believe it.”
Rowe says the obscure biblical story of Rabshakeh, a high-ranking official for the King of Assyria, parallels with what is happening today in America.
“Rabshakeh had a smug and arrogant attitude,” says Rowe. “He believed nothing rivaled what the Assyrian Empire could offer. Resist him and you would be annihilated, or in today’s language, we might say ‘cancelled.’ He was sure that he was right, and all other opinions were wrong. He thought he had the angle on life, and nothing could compare to what he had to offer. The same defiant spirit is seen more and more in America, where so many say God is not needed or wanted, and the Bible is full of myths and its moral code is dangerous. Almost everything in education, television, media, politics, and socially accepted norms is geared toward attacking our trust in God as a foolish waste of time.”
The book highlights eight specific tactics that Rabshakeh uses on King Hezekiah to persuade Hezekiah to give up his kingdom of Judea and allow Assyria to absorb his country. Rowe equates these schemes to what is happening today in the United States but says one tactic is especially egregious.
“The foundational tactic that was used by Rabshakeh and is used the most today is this: ‘Why Bother Trusting God?’ This is the main thrust of the spirit of Rabshakeh—to challenge one's trust in God and to demonstrate that one does not need to trust in God. If the heart can be turned away from trusting in God, the other tactics become so much easier and so much more dominant in one's life.”
Rowe says the response of Hezekiah to Rabshakeh is exactly the template needed to combat the current cultural forces.
“People loudly raise their voices to clamor for social justice, diversity, inclusion, and equity, not knowing these terms are an illusion without God,” says Rowe. “We think we are so enlightened to follow these ‘noble’ concepts, but when the polished façade is peeled away, all we have are the old tenets of communism and socialism that have never worked in any country or during any age. These ideas breed hate, division, and contempt and must be enforced through coercion, intimidation, and violence. Truth is not only lacking in our culture, but it is actively suppressed in our schools, in our media, and in our politics. It is a fatal blow to any nation to reject God and treat Him like an enemy. We have become a people raging against the only One who can set them free from a thousand chains of bondage that enslave the soul.”
“War has been declared on the Christian faith, just like Rabshakeh declared war on the Jewish faith,” says Rowe. “Fear is the fuel that advances this war to the public classroom, to the public arena, and to the walls of government. There is a growing segment of radical groups, media outlets, and politicians who want to criminalize Christianity. Canada, our neighbor to the north, has already embraced the spirit of Rabshakeh and begun criminalizing Christianity through the misguided application of ‘hate’ laws, and America may soon follow suit. The truths of the Bible have become a menace to society. In their place America has set up political and social idols that we must pay homage to or be prepared to be ostracized with a scarlet C on our backs. People would prefer to burn the Bible rather than believe it.”
Rowe says the obscure biblical story of Rabshakeh, a high-ranking official for the King of Assyria, parallels with what is happening today in America.
“Rabshakeh had a smug and arrogant attitude,” says Rowe. “He believed nothing rivaled what the Assyrian Empire could offer. Resist him and you would be annihilated, or in today’s language, we might say ‘cancelled.’ He was sure that he was right, and all other opinions were wrong. He thought he had the angle on life, and nothing could compare to what he had to offer. The same defiant spirit is seen more and more in America, where so many say God is not needed or wanted, and the Bible is full of myths and its moral code is dangerous. Almost everything in education, television, media, politics, and socially accepted norms is geared toward attacking our trust in God as a foolish waste of time.”
The book highlights eight specific tactics that Rabshakeh uses on King Hezekiah to persuade Hezekiah to give up his kingdom of Judea and allow Assyria to absorb his country. Rowe equates these schemes to what is happening today in the United States but says one tactic is especially egregious.
“The foundational tactic that was used by Rabshakeh and is used the most today is this: ‘Why Bother Trusting God?’ This is the main thrust of the spirit of Rabshakeh—to challenge one's trust in God and to demonstrate that one does not need to trust in God. If the heart can be turned away from trusting in God, the other tactics become so much easier and so much more dominant in one's life.”
Rowe says the response of Hezekiah to Rabshakeh is exactly the template needed to combat the current cultural forces.
“People loudly raise their voices to clamor for social justice, diversity, inclusion, and equity, not knowing these terms are an illusion without God,” says Rowe. “We think we are so enlightened to follow these ‘noble’ concepts, but when the polished façade is peeled away, all we have are the old tenets of communism and socialism that have never worked in any country or during any age. These ideas breed hate, division, and contempt and must be enforced through coercion, intimidation, and violence. Truth is not only lacking in our culture, but it is actively suppressed in our schools, in our media, and in our politics. It is a fatal blow to any nation to reject God and treat Him like an enemy. We have become a people raging against the only One who can set them free from a thousand chains of bondage that enslave the soul.”
About Tim Rowe:
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Tim Rowe is an attorney and author of the new book “The Spirit of Rabshakeh is Alive and Well in America.” The son of a missionary, Rowe received a B.A. with distinction in History and Classics from Indiana University and graduated cum laude from Indiana University School of Law. He has been practicing law for over 40 years and is a partner in the law firm, Rowe and Hamilton. He was host of a weekly TV show called "Faith and the Law" as well as a radio program, "You and the Law," for over five years. His previous books include “The Heart: The Key to Everything in the Christian Life,” and “The Magnificent Goodness of God and How It Will Transform Your Life.”
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