Carol McClain

Five Reasons to Love that People Hate What You Stand For

Carol McClain

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:10

Ah the Beatitudes. How we love them.

Until–

Verse ten. Why did God put that one in? Blessed? How can we be blessed?

Five Reasons to Love that People Hate What You Stand For

1. 2 Tim. 3: 12 In contemporary media, when a Christian is a character, he/she’s the villain. Why? We’re a light to the world. The darkness–aka sin–is exposed when the light shines. If you speak the truth, people will hate you. But the caveat is: Christians can be judgmental hypocrites–thus the justification of the stereotype.. 2: Tim. 3: 12 stipulates that those who want to live godly will suffer. Ergo, you’re living a godly life.
2. Your legacy will endure. Heb. 11: 4 says Because Abel, who by faith offered an acceptable sacrifice, still speaks through his faith. How wonderful to leave a legacy like that to those who remember us.
3. Perhaps we can save a nation. Moses, a Hebrew destined to die at birth, was hidden by his mother and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. Although he had all the riches in the world,  and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin. ²⁶ For he considered the reproach because of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his attention was on the reward (Heb. 11:24-26)
4. You’re in good company: Corrie Ten Boom, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Jr., and more. Beyond those who changed the world, those who were persecuted saved souls–think of St. Steven and St. Paul.
5. We’re in even better company. John 15:20 says if Jesus was persecuted, so will you be. However, those who seek the truth, e.g. keep God’s word, will hear you.

We may never have big effects like the above, or the myriad I couldn’t mention. However, Christians should not expect to be free of persecution, especially as the world becomes more radically left-wing (In the U.S. & Europe) or extremely right-wing (Iran, Sudan).

Our hope is in Jesus.

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Choices We Make

As I closed my blog–our hope is in Jesus, so too, are life’s difficulties.

Tallie’s husband suffers a serious brain injury that threatens their marriage.

Safety in leaving?

Obedience in staying?

Impossible choices. One solution