Sept. 10, 2012
We’d probably be surprised if we knew all the grueling, faith-testing trials that have come against the strong Christians we admire.
Some of what these believers have had to overcome might actually shock us if we knew the whole story.
But we don’t.
You see, the humble, mature Christian doesn’t walk around handing out persecution/affliction resumes.
Why? Because it’s too likely that publicizing a list of endured trials might come off as prideful fishing for admiration and praise.
Yes, sharing these facts might lead to an affirmation of the value of Christian faith. But it also might lead to feelings of being “SuperChristian.”
And so, many terribly costly personal trials remain private.
God is the ultimate source of strength and wisdom and comfort at such times and knowing that He comes through in the clutch at just the right time is all the believer really needs to remember.
Yes, I’ve faced some terribly painful times and tormentings because of my desire to serve God and I’ve not listed them or described them in my Morning Devotion writings. Why? Because God hasn’t led me to do so.
Of course, the same is likely true for you. You’ve suffered in some very difficult ways but you’ve not stood in the public square, making a speech about how faithful you’ve been through situations A, B, C, D, E………
Are we ever to share the hard times we’ve faced because of faith? It appears that there is an occasion when such sharing is appropriate. It’s found in 2 Corinthians 11 and involves the cancerous criticism of the Apostle Paul by politically powerful Jewish converts who were seeking to undercut Paul’s spiritual influence in the Early Church.
The criticisms were intended to paint Paul as unqualified to lead the Early Church because he allegedly was on a power trip. It was in this context when Paul’s credibility was really on the line in the tug-of-war for influence. Paul saw that he had to pull out the big gun of closeted facts that irrefutably showed his connection and dependency upon God.
“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea” (2 Corinthians 11:24-25)
Yes, we’ve read of how Paul faced physical persecution during his missionary journeys. But his writings don’t include details about each of the above. In fact, Paul intentionally didn’t include most of the above persecutions in his writings and most of the events weren’t mentioned in the Book of Acts.
It says a lot to me that Paul went through all these things yet didn’t broadcast them in order to boost his influence. He wanted people to listen because of their interest in the things of God, not because of their sympathy for the hassles he faced.
Listen, we all face hard times occasionally because of choices to remain faithful no matter what. Let’s use those experiences to shape us and strengthen our faith and not as tools for gaining popularity, sympathy or influence.
If there is a time when sharing details of our persecution becomes appropriate in order to protect our ministry credibility, God will show us, I’m sure.
As always, I love you
Martin
