BULLIED FOR CHRIST
BULLIED FOR CHRIST
Being bullied is a hot topic these
days. Being bullied changes how you see yourself. It does long-term damage to
your self-esteem and self-confidence which in turn affects every other area of
your life. But being bullied for Christ does
just the opposite. We count it an honor to be persecuted for Christ’s sake.
While it’s happening it doesn’t feel good, but it leaves us with an inner peace
knowing we suffered for Christ and we weren’t afraid to claim Him as our
Savior.
There are people around the world
being bullied for Christ’s sake. They are not only ostracized, mocked and
intimidated, some are imprisoned, tortured, raped or even killed for Christ’s
sake. Even children are beheaded because they refuse to claim any other God
than the one true God. Paul says in his day “They were put to death by stoning;
they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in
sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated…” (Heb. 11:37).
Our lives change when we mature as Christians. But that doesn’t mean life will
then be hunky dorey. We suffer little
for Christ here in the United States but I believe the day will come when
Christians are targeted just like the Jews were during the Holocaust. They are
already being targeted but only in ways that are not yet physical. The hunt is
being led by the media, Hollywood and non-Christians. Some Christians are losing
their jobs for trying to be obedient to scripture while others who have
different religions are allowed to exercise their religions without reprisal.
When those Christians lose their jobs, they lose their livelihood. They may have to move, their
families’ lives are turned upside down, and they are taunted and ostracized.
Fortunately they have the support of other Christians.
The language of the law is being
changed into what has been labeled “politically correct.” We have to watch every word
that comes out of our mouths or we will be called homophobic, racist or
terrorist. My own preacher made a statement within a sermon that went something
like this: “If I am told not to preach the whole Bible, I will go to jail first
and I will save a seat for you.” Someone reported him to the FBI and he was
visited by them there at the church. He gave them a copy of his sermon and they
were satisfied. He now has a record with the FBI. They were satisfied then, but
will they be in the future? And what if one or both of them were adamantly
against Christians? Would they have made their intimidation rougher on him?
Sadly, he was reported by someone
in the church. Scripture says “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace
to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have
come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.”
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.”
In my preacher’s case it was a
member of the church family. A visitor would still be a member of the church
family because the church is not the building but is made up of fellow
Christians from wherever. Jesus doesn’t purposely turn a daughter against her
mother but is the reason for the daughter turning against her mother or a
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. The person who turned the preacher into the FBI
was, in essence, a bully, a troublemaker from the church family.
Becky L. Wall
Blessed are those who are persecuted because
of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:10
Rejoice and be glad, because
great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the
prophets who were before you. Matt. 5:12
I persecuted the
followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing
them into prison… (spoken by Paul recounting the days when he was called Saul.
Acts 22:4)
When we are cursed, we bless;
when we are persecuted, we endure it; I Cor. 4:12
…persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed. I Cor. 4:9
At that time the son born
according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the
Spirit. It is the same now. Gal. 4:29
In fact, everyone who wants to
live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted… II Tim. 3:12
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