In one chapter, The Idol of Reputation (Are You Nicer Than Jesus? Just Don't Speak the Whole Word of God!), Terry points out that, while it is indeed appropriate for a Christian to strive to have a good reputation, it should be a "good reputation" according to biblical terms, not on the world's terms. As Jesus said:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 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. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also." (John 15:18-20)
Rather than being discouraged, Jesus said we should rejoice when our reputation gets ruined on His account.
"Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. " (Luke 6:22-23)
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12)
From the book:
If your reputation is perfectly intact on every front, if you never irritate anyone, if you never make a stir, you might be doing something wrong -- or more likely, you're not doing something right. "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets." (Luke 6:26). The Bible has a crystal clear promise: "All who live godly lives in Christ Jesus shall experience persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). If we never experience persecution, if we never make a single soul angry (as Christ often did), something is probably wrong. Probably very wrong.
When we stand for the Lord Jesus and the laws of God revealed in the Bible, it is inevitable that we will offend someone. And in that hour we must not shrink from our duty -- no compromise. In that hour of trail the unwholesome preservation of our reputation is of little or no consequence to God. In fact, He might be trying to smash the idol of reputation. The Prince of Life hung naked and shamed on a cross for you and me in the fulfillment of God's will. God has the right to require that our reputation be laid in the dust in obedience to His will. If we are mocked, falsely accused, berated, and maligned for doing or saying what our Lord has commanded, so be it. Blessed be His Name. He has given us the indescribable privilege of experiencing the trials with the prophets and of following our Savior's blood-stained steps. As the apostle Paul wrote, "For unto you is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake" (Phil. 1:29).
(pages 56, 57)
Terry calls our tendency to please people "the idol of reputation." He says we should repent of this and ask God for courage. For me personally, this is a challenging lesson.
I sometimes wonder if the push to filter the Gospel is partially driven by this desire to be viewed favorably by those outside the church, on the world's terms. The temptation to compromise is great. But we need to set limits on our efforts for acceptance when it comes to presenting God's message. As God's ambassadors, we primarily represent Him, not ourselves. And as far as I know, God hasn't given us the authority to soft-peddle or embellish His message.
Not everyone is going to like the message. And those that dislike it will dislike the messengers, too. It's not fair, but it's always been that way.
2 comments:
In your face social action and "11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody"
Me - I'd much rather kill the fellow than carry his cross or help him with a burden or take care of his wounds. Personally
Don't misunderstand me to be against carrying a cross or helping another with his burdens or wounds. But realize that God considers social action as part of caring for my brother. (I'm guessing you're thinking of anti-abortion activism and the like. Our poor little pre-born brother has only you and me to defend him.)
When I read the prophets, and Jesus, I learn that God is passionately concerned about injustice. And He's angered to the point of rage when His people just sit on the sidelines. If you don't help the oppressed, it's like you're neglecting Him.
"So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood.
Wash yourselves,
make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight
Cease to do evil,
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow."
(Isaiah 1:15-17)
The passage you quoted doesn't supercede Isaiah. And as the passage below points out, God isn't fooled by our excuses; we should consider ourselves warned that inaction will be appropriately repaid:
"Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who guards your life know it? Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?" (Proverbs 24:11-12)
"Woe to you .. you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice" (Matthew 23:23)
"Woe to you ... you neglect justice." (Luke 11:42)
There's no doubt that obeying these commands will direct anger our way.
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:19-21)
I hope you'll give this some thought.
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