Really, Don't Take It Personally

"Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can never hurt you."  Many of us heard this idiom as kids.  And though the heart of it is to encourage you to not let negative words get you down, it is just not true.  Words hurt.  As a matter of fact, Proverbs 18:21 tells us we carry the power of life and death in our tongue.  As Christians, we know (or should know) better.  But, not everyone is a Christian.

Narrow Minded. Judgmental. Hypocrites. Haters. Bigots. Have you ever been called any of these names?  These are just some of the names directed toward Christians today.  Yes, there are worse expressions of disapproval of our faith out there also.  The more we move on mission for the Gospel of the Kingdom, the more likely it is that we will hear such words and experience bad treatment .  As it happens, you should keep two things in mind.

1.  You are not the first.  Followers of Jesus Have been insulted and humiliated since the days of Jesus.  Jesus Himself was scandalized, taunted and ridiculed.  Jesus told us,

John 15:18-19(NKJV)
¹⁸“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  ¹⁹If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 

No one really cheers for the opposing team.   We should have no expectation of agreement with those who don't believe in our faith.  Light and darkness just aren't compatible.  We should have an expectation of opposition - even mean-spirited opposition.

2.  It's not about you.  In Exodus 16, the people are complaining and whining against Moses and Aaron.  After chatting with God, Moses tells them they have no complaint against them.  He informs them there complaints are against God.  Many years later, the people of God come to Samuel and declare they want a king.  Like Moses, Samuel turns to God for an answer.  God assures Samuel  that he is not the object of their rejection.  They were rejecting the rule and leadership of the Almighty God.

Exodus 16:8(NKJV)
⁸Also Moses said, “This shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”  

1 Samuel 8:7(NKJV)
⁷And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 

Remember, you may be the person they see, but it is God (and the God in you) they are rejecting.  As Christians, we must keep a simple truth at the forefront of our hearts - we can't take it personally.    We may be the ones they are directing their anger, hurt, pain and rejection towards, but it is really against the One we serve. 

Take on each day and the mission contained within it fully clothed in the armor of God.  When we are dressed properly, the assault may hurt, but it will not discourage, incapacitate or stop us.  We have a mandate from God that must be fulfilled.

And just so you know, it is estimated that 200 million Christians are persecuted each year and approximately 100 million are killed for their faith.  I think we can handle some name calling directed against God - don't you?