Targeted

That is how I often feel. There is a big bull’s-eye on my back and my family’s. It makes me sad and angry. What am I talking about? I’m talking about gossiping, slandering, just talking cruel and evil about us. I know, we have put ourselves out there. Kel and I talked about this the other night. Because of what we are called to do we have forfeited our right to privacy in most areas of our lives and family. We do understand that. That doesn’t however, make it any easier to hear things said about us, especially when it is coming from our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It is not coming from the non-believers. They are much more straight forward. I actually had one gentleman tell me to my face that “I think you’re *^?<>’# nuts, but good luck to you”. I can respect that. He completely disagrees with what I’m doing yet he still wishes me the best and realizes he doesn’t need to get it and says it to my face. I appreciate honesty like that. Sad to say, but it is often hard to find that kind of honesty in the church. No, we in the church would rather talk behind peoples backs, because we don’t want to offend anyone. WHAT CRAP! The world would respect us a lot more if we were honest with each other. They see the hypocrisy, it cannot be hidden. I am convinced that we believers in Christ/church goers are the greatest most single hindrance to people coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. How it must grieve the heart of God to see his children behave this way. Am I sinless in this? NO. I am guilty too. I get angry and bitter and say things in retaliation and that is wrong too. I may feel justified but I’m not. God’s Word is clear on that. The fact is when you do what God has called you to do, you WILL be met with opposition, from outside and even more at times from within the church. It may not seem right or make sense but it is the reality. I wonder if it has always been this way or if the church has gone so far from God in areas that it is something that is just getting worse and worse? All I would ask of people is that when you hear someone say something questioning or negative that would you please just ask them if they have brought it to our attention. And if they have not, ask them why? It goes back to what we are trying to teach our children “if you cannot say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”.