Sometimes standing for the truth has significant consequences. In 2017, I found myself in the middle of a public firestorm unlike anything I’d experienced before. I had written a blog post about the pain and grief that occurs when a beloved family member chooses to walk away from the Lord and discipline must be practiced. Within a few days after posting, my article was picked up by a number of non-Christian blogs that included a site for ex-Mormons, one called, “The Friendly Atheist,” “Church and State,” “Reddit,” and the “Huffington Post.” It drew the attention of thousands of angry people who said the most hateful, cruel, blasphemous, and profane speech that I had ever heard. There were those who hacked into my website and tried to take it down, those who called for my death, and who wanted vile acts to be done to me.
Facing this kind of reviling was certainly not something I expected. And while I would never choose to go through this experience, it taught me valuable lessons that I want to share. When you face being reviled or persecuted:
Don’t think you are the only one. Countless Christians have gone through it before you (Hebrews 11). We’re told not to think it is strange when it happens, but to rejoice because we are blessed (1 Peter 4:12-16). Those who live Godly will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).
Don’t revile back. It’s easy to fire back at someone who hurts us. However, Jesus did not revile back (1 Peter 2:23). In fact, He went a step further by keeping His mouth shut (Isaiah 53:7). We need to hold our tongues as well as our fingers from firing back through our keyboard! We can use social media, emails, and texts to revile back just as we can our tongues (Proverbs 26:4).
Love your enemies & have compassion on them. We are told to love, bless, do good and pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44). It’s been said that it’s easy to love your enemies, until you really have one! Not only do we not repay their evil, but we must go the extra mile and do good for them (Romans 12:17-21).
Pray. Pray for your enemies (Matthew 5:44). Pray for wisdom to know how to handle your situation (James 1:5). Pray like Peter & John in Acts 4. After being arrested and severely threatened (Acts 4:17), they did not pray for a change in government, a change in circumstances, or a change in the way they were being treated. Rather, they prayed for “boldness” (Acts 4:29). They didn’t ask to be removed from the persecution, but that they would keep doing right regardless of the consequences.
Take courage. Don’t allow ungodly bullies stop you from doing the right thing. Remember how Daniel prayed three times a day in front of an open window and faced being thrown into the lion’s den because of it (Daniel 6:10-11)? He could have kept praying, but shut the window to not be seen. That’s not what he did! He was going to do right regardless of the outcome. Commit your way to the Lord and trust in Him (Psalm 37:5).
Remember that God is with you. In 2 Kings, we read that the Syrian army with horses and chariots surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant were staying and the servant was scared! Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, there’s more of us than them” (2 Kings 6:17). Then he said, “Lord, open his eyes.” The servant looked around and saw that the mountains were full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding their enemies. It was the presence God!
While we can get in a panic about our circumstances, God is right there with us, taking care of everything (Psalms 9:9-10, Hebrews 13:6). Recognizing His presence will calm our fears and give us peace! It gives us the strength and resolve to get through tough situations.
Surround yourself with Christian family. You will find strength to get through tough times if you lean on faithful Christians. Coming together with church family is about giving worship to God, but also giving encouragement and stirring each other up for love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). Our Lord gave us the best support group of all time in the church! What an incredible gift we have that others do not (2 Corinthians 2:3-4)!
Know that others are watching. People you know, don’t know, in the church, in the world, on social media, children, family members, and the list goes on. There are some who might not pay attention to what is going on, but will certainly notice if you conduct yourself in an ungodly way. By doing right, being Godly, and acting appropriately, you will be a tremendous example and encouragement to those who are watching.
You will never know what you’re made of until you are tested and have to prove it. Do you love the Lord more than your things, your parents, your spouse, your children, your own life? Are you really committed to Christ and his teachings regardless of the consequences?
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My name sake, Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12).