"Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man." Luke 6:22
I was watching the news this morning, and there was a spot about the latest anti-Christian controversy. Apparently, in Samuel Adam's Independence Day beer commercial this year there was a man quoting the Declaration of Independence, and they had the nerve to omit the phrase "by their Creator." Oh, the horror. Of course, they had to have a debate between the head of a secularist group and a pastor from Atlanta, GA. Of course, the pastor was offended and horrified. And I found myself rolling my eyes.
I have come to the conclusion that American believers are a spoiled lot, with a deeply ingrained entitlement mentality. We take for granted that, because we have religious liberty, and because we have had a favored status because of our majority, we will be above reproach, and will be spared mockery or insult. After all, does anyone make jokes like that about [insert non-Christian religious group of your choice]?
Not only are we deeply offended, quick to speak out and demand redress, and even ready to sue when someone, oh, tells us to take off a cross necklace at work, we then have the guts to call this "persecution." (I challenge you to go look up The Voice of the Martyrs. Read the stories of modern-day persecution - real persecution - and continue to refer to American unpopularity in the same way.)
Right.
So, whatever happened to the Beatitudes? Remember those, fellow believers? Let's review:
Ah... But what happens in verse 11? “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." We are told, in fact, to expect to be unpopular - hated even!
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10, NIV)
"Everyone will hate you because of me." (Luke 21:17)
"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:19)
"Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." (1 John 3:13)Why are we so quick to be offended? Why are we so surprised when we're mocked? Why do we have such a desperate need to be accepted by the world? Why do we feel like we need to defend our position in society? God is not going to be damaged by the insults of the world, as evidenced by the nations where being a Christian can get you killed, and where the church is flourishing. But our message will be damaged by whining and complaining when people aren't nice to us.
I like the way the Message Bible ends Matthew 5:
43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
