Blame Me
Your truth, my truth, THE truth
Shifting the blame
If you are on the wrong side, that can be demoralizing. Feeling defeated, you may compromise. Refuse to be surprised. Jesus withstood being falsely accused. He knew ahead of time that would happen. Jesus told us that “in this world you will have trouble.” You, too, Christian — little Christ — will face persecution. Jesus said it. That settles it. Be prepared.
Stephen McAlpine notes now in Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn’t that Christianity is viewed as the bad guy.
The catchcry of “equal value, dignity and worth” is grounded upon the biblical statement that humans are made in the image of God. For the Christian, this reality is enhanced by the incarnation, in which God became a man — one of us. Historian Tom Holland observes that these convictions did not arise from the ether. They are not “fundamental”:
“That human beings have rights; that they are born equal; that they are owed sustenance and shelter, and refuge from persecution; these were never self evident truths.” Holland explains that the “universal” human-rights declarations of organisations such as the United Nations are in fact quite local and historical, finding their origins in documents drawn up by canon lawyers in medieval Europe. That is, they have not always and everywhere been accepted or even thought of. They spring from the truths of Genesis 1. Yet in one pronouncement by Dr Mackereth’s judge [who removed the doctor’s license to practice medicine in Britain], his belief in those truths was not merely dismissed as archaic but denounced as dangerous.”
Evidence demands a verdict
Judeo-Christian values revolutionized the world. Christianity, Christ-followers, changed the world. Although new age mantras promise joy and peace and freedom by “throwing off repressive Christian constraints,” the promise of rising above to experience joy and freedom in Christ is expressed in Romans 15:13:
“Now may the God of hope [Who]
fill you with all joy and peace in believing [what]
that you may have hope [why]
by the power of the Holy Spirit [how].”
However, Christians are persecuted, hated, and despised. Families are torn apart by lies.
“Family members will disown Christians for holding to Jesus’ view of humanity. We’re at a critical juncture. We must future-proof ourselves.” — Stephen McAlpine
Stop the blame game
Here’s how to stop the blame game of the world — the lies against you, Christian. Future-proofing means putting on the armor of God through the challenges you face. You accepted the free gift of Christ to be rescued from the slave market of sin, and that means you now have customized trials designed to test your authenticity and be victorious in spiritual warfare. People are not your enemies. Get ready. Remember in Ephesians 6 that “we war not against flesh and blood” and need to be prepared.
- Put on the belt of truth to keeps your whole body gear in place, ready to respond.
- Guard your heart with the breastplate of righteousness. Jesus is with you as the source of your life.
- Walk with shoes of peace within you, through those relationship storms in your actions and in your words.
- Hold up the shield of faith that causes the arrows of the world to be extinguished. Just as the Roman soldiers dipped their wood and leather shields in water to put out the firey oil-dipped arrows of the enemy, you can stand strong against the lies that Satan aims your way.
- Trust the helmet of salvation that protects your physical brain and your mental capacities. God is with you and will never leave you. Your invisible mind is a battlefield that affects your whole body.
- Access the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. You do not have to “just try harder” to stand. No, surrender to His power within you! You stand on THE Truth, for Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6
Be aware and beware of the subtle attacks from the devil. He is unseen and real, but you can be more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. Although you may be blamed and slandered, accused and ridiculed, avoid the blame game. “As a lamb before the shearers was dumb, so He opened not His mouth.”
Pray for them as Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:44,
“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”
Blaming someone else for your own problems always boomerangs. Slander returns to damage the slanderer. The worst “red ant” to bite you back is blame, neuropsychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen states. Your brain is literally hurt by blaming. Instead leave all the consequences to God.
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.”
(Proverbs 14:5)
“A fool’s words bring strife, and his mouth invites fighting.”
(Proverb 18:6)
Identify lies that masquerade as the truth
The promise of a new world order glitters. Their slick words promote individual identity to the lost and confused, promising they can be true to who they feel they are. Does that seem similar to the words Eve heard in the Garden of Eden?
Instead of finding their identity in Christ, the mantra of media today tends to promote removal of the Biblical boundaries to find freedom and joy.
Warnings about liars occurred many times in the past 3000 years and beyond. Solomon is known as the wisest person since he asked God for three times as much wisdom, and God granted that request. He knows a lot about multiple subjects and more about human behavior affecting what people say. He states God’s standards in several passages.
“Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.”
(Proverbs 25:1)
“One who slanders reveals secrets, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.”
(Proverbs 11:13)
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” (Proverbs 12:22)
Paul the Apostle clarifies God’s standards.
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise!” (Romans 1:25)
Jesus confronted lies and identifies the origins as he spoke with his accusers.
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
Live confidently without blame
We gain confidence in knowing that God engineers circumstances. Oswald Chambers, a chaplain in the midst of World War I in the heat of Africa, stated his trust in My Utmost for His Highest. Knowing that God is omniscient — always aware of what is going on in the past, the present, and the future — gives you hope. God is in control.
He knew about whatever “it” is in Eternity Past. He is with you in the present. He will see you through to Eternity Future. Because your soul never dies, you are protected and loved forever in His family! There is only one life that will soon be past. Reincarnation is one of those lies to derail you from the path that God created you to follow to become more like His Son. Remember what Jesus promises because God is the vindicator.
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.”
(Matthew 5:11)
No matter what the situation may be throughout history, you can take comfort in the fact — THE truth — that whatever happens is HIS Story.
