It’s not much of
a big deal when people from outside misinterpret what we are doing. It will
hurt, but not so much. However, It could be quite disheartening when people you
consider your family and friends do not understand your heart and join in
persecuting you and accuse you of being a heretic, just because you choose to
teach what the Bible says without diluting it. I believe this is why Jesus said
he had come with a sword to bring division between family members (Luke 12: 50-52). It’s not
that the message of Grace is divisive or confrontational. It is that when
people refuse to agree with the message, it could lead to some serious conflict
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that
has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that
you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of
the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests
on you.” (1 Peter 4: 12-14, NIV)
Sometimes we use
the preceding verse to console ourselves during trying times, like when a
person is sick, broke or something like that. While I tend to agree with that;
we shouldn’t let the vicissitudes of life get to us. Everybody has problems, we
shouldn’t take that as a punishment from God, rather we fight the devil, resist
him and he will flee. However, the context of these verses is clearly
persecution; he speaks of participating “in the sufferings of Christ” as being
“insulted because of the name of Christ”. But note what he says we should do
when this happens; don’t be surprised, it’s not strange. I personally take
solace in this statement.
I think it’s
time for us who are coming to know the Grace of God (especially we younger ones,
I believe the older generation of Grace Preachers have been through A LOT) to
come to terms with this fact. The Gospel is news that sounds too good to be
true, for that reason we sometimes get frustrated when our friends don’t get
it and accept it. However, let us realize that they don’t get it BECAUSE it sounds too good
to be true. Most of them are well meaning religious folk who are trying their
very best to please this angry God that they have been told about since their youth.
Let’s take a
journey into ancient history and see how the Jews of the early Church were
being treated by their brethren. History records that they were seen as
heretics, their properties were confiscated, they were excommunicated from the
synagogue and everyone refused to do business with them, sound familiar? This
is coupled with the fact that Jewish and Gentile believers were constantly
being imprisoned and brutally killed by the Roman Empire. Now I admit that many
of us might not be exposed to such extreme persecution (and many of us will),
but none of us will escape persecution. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ
Jesus will be persecuted”(1Timothy 3:12, NIV)
My take on this
is that as we begin to move deeper into the truths of the Gospel
and as the true Gospel continually takes root, the devil will increase his
pressure to persecute us using every avenue possible, especially the religious
establishment. It is what it is. So don’t feel bad or discouraged when people
go against you and call you names because you say God is a lot nicer than we think.
It’s just normal. In fact, expect it. The only people who will not be
persecuted are those who speak lies and try to please everyone with their sweet
tongues (the Epistles have a lot to say about such people, and the ruin that
awaits such liars).
Let’s not feel
frustrated about the way people treat us, rather let us pray a prayer that the
Apostles prayed when they were persecuted:
“Lord, consider the bad
things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak
your word. Stretch out your hand to
heal. Do miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant
Jesus”
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