Do You Worry What People Say About Your Faith? Psalm 1

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme Scripture

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Query:

Do you feel intimidated when you are mocked for being a Christian?

Today, perhaps more than any other time, being a Christian may bring to you undo criticism in the form of mocking or scoffing. Yes, Jesus was mocked/scoffed; yes, the first century Christians were mocked and scoffed at according to scripture. We do not mean to demean their having endured so very much. However, Christians, as they fanned out away from Jerusalem and even to the extremities of Rome’s lands to newly discovered lands found – over time – Christianity was not so mocked or scoffed as a whole in the new western world. As a group they began to rule and make laws lifting standards in country after country and through time.

Perhaps the one country who built freedom of religion into the body of rights – by their national Constitution -- was the bright shining city on the hill. Or, used to be. Individual’s beliefs, practices, policies were never as attacked from that country’s inception to this very time. To be sure, there were legal precedents that were challenged and set that always fell on the side of individual rights to their own religious beliefs. But now, for the past couple of decades attacks have become matter of fact. And as a matter of fact, each time a Christian is mocked or scoffed publicly via social media it is amplified all the more and by a truly thin slice of Americana. Yet, the permeation of that thin slice into the overall culture is loud. Gone are the days when a particular individual may have been targeted now the entirety of the Christian faith is under attack.   

Sadly, the generation has arrived when no matter what the governing type of authority be it fascist, communist, Marxist, or ‘free’ democracy or Republic, Christians have become the ONE group it is altogether okay to mock and scoff at with impunity especially from the venues used as social media. In fact, it is more likely on some of the social justice platforms to find the person kicking and assaulting, berating and mocking a Christian is immediately available for viewing and commenting while anything that Christian posts about the assault is removed or penalized with a range punishments from “time outs” for days or some length of temporary restriction to outright permanent ‘banning’.

It would not be a surprise if this happened in countries where freedom of expression and religion was not part of their governing rights. For instance, in those countries where non-Christian theocracies are the powers at be -- it would not at all be surprising that Christians would have no rights except one, to be imprisoned or killed while being mocked/scoffed at just as Stephen, a first century believer was stoned to death for his faith in Jesus.

However, ostensibly, in countries that are considered ‘western’ a synonym for ‘Judeo-Christian’ or ‘Christian’ you find punitive actions taken, including mocking and scoffing; you find penalties including ‘public shaming’, ‘job loss’, ‘family estrangement’ and even in some countries ‘imprisonment’ for having voiced or acted in accordance with your Christian faith. You can rest assured YOU are fulfilling end times prophesies.

Please consider the following millennia old Biblical writings:

·        ““Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”—Matt 24:9-14

·        “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.” – Luke 21:12-19

·        “And this know thou, that in the last days there shall come perilous times, 2 for men shall be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, evil-speakers, to parents disobedient, unthankful, unkind, 3 without natural affection, implacable, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, not lovers of those who are good, 4 traitors, heady, lofty, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, 5 having a form of piety, and its power having denied; and from these be turning away,…”—2Tim 3:1-5

Would you be surprised to learn these times were even foretold hundreds of years before Christ and his disciples began preparing converts to ‘the Way’. Check out what the prophet to the Jews, Isaiah, had to say:

·        “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light
  and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent.” – Isa 5:20-23

Granted, this was directed to the chosen people of GOD but notice the similarities to today’s culture around the world? GOD is not to be mocked. HE is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. If HE identified these problems for HIS people of old, do we not yet today benefit from these examples of WRONG behaviors and thoughts? Yet, Christians who stand solidly in and on their faith in the immutable WORD of GOD face this same cultural behavior towards them. It is so foreign to common sense it is oft time difficult to mentally process that YOU, the faith living and loving Christian, are called ‘evil’ by those who ‘wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight’.

But, take note, you/we are not alone. Do you know there are plenty of really impressive people -- NOT LEAST OF WHICH is Christ Jesus -- who were mocked for their faith? Here is a sampling list of some.

Samson	Judges 16
Elisha	2 Kings 2:23-24
Messengers & Prophets of GOD	2 Chronicles 36:16-17
Job	Job 12:4
Jesus	Matt 27:29-31 additional also noted in Mark/Luke
Apostle Paul	Acts 17:32

Though it can be difficult to endure, your sense of righteous indignation may not allow you to see or count it all as joy to be persecuted for Jesus’ name sake. Nonetheless, it is how we are counselled to view it.

·        “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”—James 1:1-8

If you are there right now, being mocked and scoffed, please pray, stay in GOD’s WORD, the Bible, and know if you are a born again Christian the Holy Spirit is your comforter, your connection with Jesus, who himself withstood horrendous and torturous treatment including mocking from the beginning to the very end when they jeered at HIM even while HE hung dying.

·        “39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”—Matthew 27:39-44

Please take notice of who all scoffed and mocked Christ and what they said.

It is not easy to be sure. It may even be deadly. But our enduring all the way to death will provide a powerful witness to GOD and if we should die here in the body we are present with the Lord. – 2 Cor 5:8

We have this statement to bear in mind:

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” – Gal 6:7

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Bibles Designations

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NIV – New International Version

NWT – New World Translation

ASV -- American Standard Version

DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]

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©Lightwritingmatters 2015