Hi to all my Forum Friends,
Recently, I was studying a Scripture passage in John 15 -- and realized how blessed I am to be an active posting member on the TimesDaily Religion Forum. In January 2007 I came on the Religion Forum to refute several rather dominant atheists who seemed to control that forum. And, since then I have been blessed to be able to share God's Word on the Religion Forum for the benefit of those who want to read and know about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The John 15 Scripture passage which caught my attention -- and which seems so applicable is:
John 15:18-23, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. (19) If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (20) Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. (22) If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (23) He who hates Me hates My Father also."
Let's break this passage down, verse by verse, to reflect the believer's life in today's secular society, and more specifically on the TimesDaily Religion Forum:
John 15:18, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you."
First, let me clarify that when this Scripture passage tells us that the "world" will hate Christians -- it is not speaking of all the people of the world. Instead, it is speaking of the secular world, i.e., those people who deny God and Jesus Christ, and who cling to secular society's values. Because they deny God and His values and cling to secular society's values -- they will hate Christians for holding up a spiritual mirror for them to see themselves as God sees them.
One thing I can count on when I post on the Religion Forum - as sure as evening follows morning - is that a small group of "Kill Bill" forum members will immediately go into the "attack" mode. Whether I post a new discussion or post a comment on an existing discussion, there is a known, fixed small group of Forum Friends who will ALWAYS respond with negative, denigrating, and very often derogatory comments in response to my post.
Like water seeking its own level, when the two dominant atheists whose writings on the Religion Forum drew me here in 2007, Deep and Fish, and their handful of devout followers eventually faded into the sunset -- the prince of this world, Satan, already had his second string team ready to go.
Let's take a look at the make-up of this second string team which, today, is always ready to pounce whenever I, or any true Christian believer, tries to share the Word of God on the Religion Forum. Let's take them in the order of their determined devotion to rid the Religion Forum of Bill Gray and all that silly Christian stuff he is always sharing:
1. Most active is an Agnostic lady who hates God because she feels that He let her down. Consequently, because I tend to be the most active Christian posting on this Forum, she will always attack me with demonic fervor. And, she will dishonestly plagiarize and chop up my writings in an attempt to make them appear to say what she wants - and not what I have written. She is so full of bitterness toward God that she will use any level of attack she can dream up -- including personal attacks against me and my family -- in her attempt to blacken God's Word and me for sharing it.
2. Next in line when demonic fervor was passed out is a Roman Catholic wanna-be. Not sure if he even attends mass. Most likely he is one of those "I was born Roman Catholic and I will die Roman Catholic -- don't confuse me with Biblical facts" type of people. And, his attacks tend to be "sewer/gutter level language" which should really embarrass all true Roman Catholics.
3. There are several devout Atheists who come on rather regularly preaching their atheist gospel. One lady Atheist will often share any article she can find in the secular news which she feels proves, in her mind, that God, the Bible, the Christian faith, and all who share them, are totally wacko. Funny, if she truly does not believe that God exists -- why is she so determined and why does she work so hard to prove her case against Him? Since I know that pink elephants do not fly around my neighborhood, I do not post about pink elephants. But, she is always posting something to prove that the God who does not exist (in her mind) has done, or is doing, something bad. C'est la vie!
4. There are two Liberal Legalistic Theology followers who tell us they are Christian. One of them I think actually believes the secular-based "let's keep God out of all public venues and all public life" whale he has swallowed. And his justification for that is his adamant devotion to his Liberal Legalistic Theology. The other is just a fellow who appears to be in that senile part of life, who will follow anyone who dangles a worldly carrot in front of him, and who is devoted to his Liberal Legalistic way of life -- even if it means having atheists, agnostics, and all sort of non-believers as his chosen friends and partners in attacking conservative Christian theology.
5. Then, there is a small handful of what I can only label as "vanilla-flavored non-believers." One tells us he is a Christian believer -- but refuses to set foot in any church, does not believe the Bible is the Word of God, and is determined to destroy anyone who has the audacity to come on the Religion Forum and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has several strange friends, one who rides in on his motorcycle wearing shoulder length hair, trying his best to look and act like a 1960s hippie even though he was not born then, all while declaring himself to be an atheist -- even though he cannot even spell it.
6. Not to be outdone, there are a few who will jump into any discussion just to see if they can turn it into a elementary level school yard brawl and spitting contest.
7. And, along with all those smiling (I said "smiling" - not smelly) folks, there is a small group of followers who will jump on any bandwagon as soon as any of the above named "leaders with demonic fervor" starts the music playing. But, all told, this whole group, from 1 through 7, I can count on my ten fingers. So, when writing I merely stand that small Malcontent Cabal up against the thousands of intelligent folks who come on the TimesDaily Forums only to read. And, the latter group is my target audience when I write.
Over the past few weeks, one advantage of the "dark cloud with a silver lining" of having to refurbish my old computer to be able do my writings -- is that between work sessions I can often reflect upon what I have written or should be writing. One evening, while laying in bed in a time of reflection, I could envision an image in my mind's eye.
I saw me standing on a low platform while a small pack of angry dogs were fiercely barking, yapping, snarling, jumping around and making all sort of noise. I noticed that the pack was mixed. There were a couple of Pit Bulls, several excited Pointers, one or two old worn-out looking German Shepherds, a couple of Pugs, and several nervous Chihuahuas and Poodles. But, upon closer inspection, even with all their fierce growling, snapping, and barking -- I noticed something amazing. They were all toothless!
Looking beyond this small pack of toothless, angry wild dogs -- I could see a large multitude of friendly, smiling folks who seem to be patiently waiting. And, the acceptance I could see in their smiling faces seemed to drown out the yapping and barking of the pack near the platform on which I was standing.
Kind of makes me wonder if this mental image I saw was not God continuing to encourage me and blessing my writing ministry, telling me not to be concerned with the noise from the toothless pack; just concentrate on the more receptive folks standing quietly behind them. Something I will have to think about.
And, maybe this time for inner reflection caused by having my ministry computer die - and having to spend the time refurbishing an older, slower computer to use for my writing ministry - is part of His plan to grow and bless this ministry He has given me. Definitely worth meditating and praying over.
Reflecting on this, I can see why Jesus tells all Christian believers, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you."
Of course, there will always be those few "couch potato" Christians who declare, "If anyone wants to hear about Jesus, they will ask me. If they do not ask, I will not push my beliefs on them. I don't want to be considered a Bible thumper!" In general, we call those liberal Christians, although not all liberal Christians fall into that trap. Many, like we conservatives, take the Great Commission to heart.
Next, we read:
John 15:19, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."
How true! The world, the secular world, loves its own! And, that is why when a Christian posts God's Word on the Religion Forum, circle the wagons -- for the secularist attackers will certainly be surrounding the camp, looking to behead anyone with the audacity to actually share God's Word on the Religion Forum.
Then, we read:
John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My Word, they will keep yours also."
There is an old saying, "There is none so blind, as he who will not see!" No, that is not a Bill Gray saying, but one that can be traced back to knowledgeable scholars from hundreds of years ago, and even to the Old Testament:
In his commentary on Psalm 82, Matthew Henry wrote: “A gift in secret blinds their eyes. They know not because they will not understand. None so blind as those that will not see. They have baffled their own consciences, and so they walk on in darkness.” (http://odb.org/2009/05/27/none-so-blind/)
According to the ‘Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings’ -- this proverb has been traced back to 1546 (John Heywood), and resembles the Biblical verse Jeremiah 5:21 ("Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not"). In 1738 it was used by Jonathan Swift in his "Polite Conversation" and is first attested in the United States in the 1713 "Works of Thomas Chalkley." The full saying is: "There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know." (http://www.actualfreedom.com.a...rium/nonesoblind.htm)
Can we doubt what these leading scholars of the past tell us, and what Jesus tells us in John 15:20 -- that when folks will ignore His Word, are they not deluding themselves?
Jesus tells us:
John 15:21, "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me."
And, that is the crux of the problem. Not that they truly do not believe that God exists, it is just that they do not want Him to exist -- for then, even though they are not believers, they are still accountable to Him. So, they cover their spiritual eyes, put on their spiritual blinders, and declare, "God does not exist!" Even their de facto leader, Richard Dawkins, has recently admitted that he is not really sure that God does not exist.
Jesus continues:
John 15:22, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin."
Again, we come to the heart of the problem. Jesus did come, Jesus has spoken to us, and none of us have an excuse for not believing and for our sins. We ARE accountable. Yet, there are many folks who have convinced themselves that if they will adamantly deny that God exists, or even use the excuse that they are not really sure that He exits -- then, they are not accountable to Him.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Non-believers tell us, "I am not a believer, not even sure I believe there is a God -- so, your Bible is nothing to me. You have to follow it, but, I do not, for I am not a Christian believer." Not true, my Friend.
2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
That "ALL" means -- well, it means ALL! And, that ALL includes all believers, all non-believers, and even all those who will adamantly declare, "God does not exist!" ALL is ALL! And, that ALL includes YOU, regardless of your beliefs or disbelief!
At this point, I believe the following article excerpt fits well. In Luke 12:48, Jesus tells all believers, ". . . For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."
We, as believers, are held accountable to a higher standard, for we are supposed to be emulating, to the best of our humanly-limited ability, Jesus Christ.
How to Handle Hate (John 15:18-16:4)
https://bible.org/seriespage/h...e-hate-john-1518-164
A third reason why the world rejects Christians is they are ignorant of God. In (John)15:21 Jesus says, “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” The world will persecute Christians because they don’t know God. There is a huge difference between knowing about God - and knowing God.
Our persecutors don’t know the one true God. They persecute us because of their hatred of Christ. Jesus is saying, “Don’t take it personally -- persecution is not your fault! Persecution is ultimately directed against Me." Instead of becoming angry with unbelievers, we need to pray that we would have compassion for them.
Do you realize that many unbelievers have never read the Bible? Many unbelievers don’t even own a Bible. Do you understand that many people only know the name of Jesus Christ as a curse word?
Did you know that your neighbor, classmate, and coworker may never have heard a clear presentation of the Gospel? The reason that they don’t know God is because they are ignorant (not intellectually ignorant, but ignorant of God's Word).
Although the world may choose to reject Christ, we are accountable to share Christ with them. Sadly, many Christians tend to verbally chastise unbelievers for Godless living -- and then look the other way when believers are guilty of Godless living. This is completely backwards.
Unbelievers are not held to the same standard that Christians are. Unbelievers are supposed to sin; it’s a part of their job description! If I was an unbeliever, I would be sinning to my absolute heart’s content. I would be a world-class sinner. I would live for myself.
** Bill Gray note: Boy, can I relate to that! It is as though this writer was describing me. But, praise God, that is far behind me.**
But I would certainly hope that someone would love me enough to share the Good News of Christ with me. While I would most likely rebel against the message, it would be helpful to know that someone cared enough to share it with me.
May we seek to be more tolerant of unbelievers and ratchet our expectations for professing believers. The world doesn’t want the church to judge them; the world wants the church to judge their own. Gandhi once observed, “I might be persuaded to become a Christian … if I ever met one.” Gandhi was impressed with Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, and he wanted to see evidence of a Christian living out Jesus’ teachings. May our lives showcase Christ.
I am once again reminded of a true statement which all Christian believers should take to heart, "Your life may be the only Bible some people will ever see. Make sure it reads well."
Finally, Jesus tells us:
John 15:23, "He who hates Me hates My Father also."
And, whoever hates God -- WILL hate anyone who tries to share God's Word with him/her. Yet we believers must NOT allow that to stop us from taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a needy world. The following Scripture passages are, or should be, familiar to ALL Christian believers:
Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Mark 16:15, "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.' "
This, of course, is the Great Commission given to all believers by Jesus Christ. He instituted it with His apostles, but leaves no doubt that it applies to all believers. To all who have been given much, more is expected of us (Luke 12:48).
I like to summarize the Great Commission as: "GO, Make disciples, Baptize them, TEACH them. . . Be My witnesses to all the world."
I like to do all these things -- but, prefer to leave the "Baptize them" to the pastor and the local church fellowship with whom the new believer has become involved. That local church fellowship is now his/her new spiritual family -- with whom the new believer will share eternal fellowship, in this life and beyond.
Because following Christ in baptism is so personal -- it is my belief that it is an act which should be experienced in the presence of our new church fellowship family. So that they, our spiritual family, can join with the new believer is his/her declaration of love for Jesus Christ.
Based upon all that I have disclosed in this writing, I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT! Or else this small band of Religion Forum Friends which I will call the Cabal - would not be so diligent in their efforts to "Kill Bill" and his writings.
Yet, even though the FEW will cast many stones -- I am truly blessed to be sharing God's Word on the TimesDaily Religion Forum, in my Facebook Notes, and in my Friends Ministry eNewsletter. The Lord has truly blessed me with this ministry. Thank you, Lord!
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
