I’ve been writing Words for the Day five days a week for almost 16 years now. I write it regardless of being sick, tired, on vacation, or feeling depressed. I began writing it and have continued because I felt that through what I’ve learned through my Bible study I could help others learn how to better cope with this difficult life.
Most seem to like it and it is a free subscription and anyone can easily opt out at any time, but consistently through the years I’ve received hate mail nearly every day including today.
The same is true when I founded Honey Lake Church. While most everyone seems to enjoy attending services, a few have voiced sour complaints and personal attacks.
Huh?
I receive criticism for being involved with prison ministry and accused of being involved with a “hug a thug” program where a bunch of misguided Bible thumpers that should be helping the victim’s families, instead coddle to inmates who they say deserve what they get and in fact ought to be killed.
I’ve had people get up and leave in disgust when I speak as I describe my early years of being a non-Christian. Just before they walk out the door they look back at me with hate in their eyes. I feel like saying, “Hey man you’re leaving before I get to the good part, all that stuff happened 42 years ago and a lot has happened since then . . .”
And my book, Miracle on Luckie Street has received withering criticism from so many people since I published it that I cannot even keep count, especially from those religious fundamentalist fanatics.
I sometimes wonder why I should bother with it at all. I don’t get paid for any of it and in fact spend enormous amounts of my own money to accomplish it. Why not sleep in every morning like most of the rest of the world, relax, and enjoy life to the fullest?
Hmmm . . .
God created me for a purpose, His purpose and not my own. The Bible teaches “To whom much is given, much is required”. I didn’t ask to be given anything, but God gave me many blessings and He wants me to use them to glorify His name and I have no choice but to do what He leads me to do.
Why bother? Cause I love Jesus Christ and He loves me and I will obey Him as best I know how until I take my last breath. Whenever anyone sticks his head above the clover, one can be assured that there will be someone filled with hate or jealousy, or misguided theology that wants to blow it off.
God of course knows all of this and more and yet He wants me to continue on in spite of whatever comes my way; even if it causes me to be hated, imprisoned, or killed like the martyrs of the Bible. His purpose will be accomplished no matter what and all of the demons of hell and on this earth will not prevail against Him, and God’s word will continue to be preached in spite of the worst satanic attacks that are launched.
God doesn’t idly sit by and not encourage me. He inspires far more folks to send me letters of encouragement than the hate mongers. I’ve seen many thousands of lives changed and I’ve seen the hopeless find hope through some of the work that I’ve been privileged to be a part of, and yes it makes it worthwhile. I’m only depressed when I focus on the minority and not the majority.
I would ask that the next time you criticize someone who is involved in any form of ministry that you first check what you are contributing to God’s kingdom.
Has God given you a purpose of criticizing those of us who are on the front lines fighting satan?
Of course not!
God wants you to encourage others and get off the couch and get involved yourself.
So give it a rest. Everyone involved with ministry is a human being and they are not perfect and sometimes make mistakes. That doesn’t mean that they are a hypocrite. It means that they are flesh just like every other poor slob on earth and are just as much in need of the Savior as everyone else on this planet.
If someone in the ministry makes a mistake, they ask God to forgive them, and they try their utmost not to make it again. God forgives us and we move on. That is how it works in a fallen world. When we enter heaven we will be perfected and sin will be no more.
I don’t much believe we will remember all that has occurred on earth when we arrive. We will just focus on Jesus and revel in His presence with huge smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts.
Come to think of it, why wait? We might as well start practicing that today.
Don’t Speak Hurtful Words, even when you feel like you are justified.
Mother Teresa said: Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.
Romans 12:14,
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
April 2, 2014 – Click here to listen