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How to take a hit... hard!

9th January 2009

Do you ever feel like you get hit in the face with something unpleasant when you stand up for what you believe in? Being a Christian in today's world is hard, and we often get ridiculed, teased and bullied when we speak up with a different opinion or world view to those of our friends...

This is not something new... it's been happening to the followers of Jesus since, well since Jesus was on earth in human form 2000 years ago... and it's hard, really hard, especially when you may be an introvert or someone with low self esteem or even just because your young...

However, we don't have to worry... I remember when I became a Christian at the age of eighteen, I really didn't want to talk about my faith with people from uni or my work place... it was hard to admit that the style of life I chose was so very different from that of my friends... I didn't drink alcohol, I didn't sleep with my girlfriend, I didn't experiment with drugs, I didn't swear like a sailor or use foul language every second word in my sentence... I really did stand out form the rest of the group...

But I learnt to be okay with that... I learnt how to take a hit... I learnt how to explain my belief and faith without insulting or accusing my friends... I deflected the hit by showing them I loved them [as a Christian of course, none of that weird love] and wanted a better life for them too...

And it all came from memorising a few verses of scripture to help me - to give me confidence...

Romans 1:16 says - "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."

2 Timothy 1:7-8 says - "God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So d o not be ashamed to testify about our Lord..."

1 Peter 3:15 says - "in your heart set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect".

2 Peter 1:10 says - "be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fail".

Memorising scripture doesn't make us into nerds or squares, but it arms us with the ammunition we need to face the world every day and stand firm in our faith - to speak truth and justice - to love mercy - and to walk humbly with our God [read Micah 6:8].

When we are ridiculed we are actually becoming more like Jesus (yeah, I know, it's hard to believe, but it's true). We need to respond in grace and forgiveness and share our faith so our friends will also believe what we do. And remember, God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but rather a spirit of love, power and of self-discipline. Use what God has given you wisely...

Ciao for now... Roscoe