Complaints, Murmurings, Persecutions, Revilings

 As a religious counsellor, I hear all kinds of things, from all kinds of people, and I would like to address one of these things today; it is the topic of persecutions.

Now, many members of the church do complain of "persecutions", that is nothing new.  Usually this complaint comes from people who are quite controlling and vindictive, often complaining when they do not get their way.  

Yet, sometimes, a humble member comes, with tears in their eyes, asking for help and guidance, because they are being pressured by the more popular members to lower their standards, especially in the area of morality.  These humble members of the church are not so popular, because they live a higher morality, and try their best to "keep every word which proceedeth forth from the mouth of God."

Of course, this behaviour irks the popular members in just the wrong way.  They take offence to the behaviour of the faithful members, who quietly follow the Saviour, without ever saying anything against the choices of the popular members.  Then of course the popular members lash out against the humble members, bearing down in false witness against the humble followers of Christ, accusing them of unrighteously judging the popular members.  The popular members start to apply a great deal of peer pressure, and spend a great deal of effort winning over the other members of the church to their side, against all those who would keep the commandments of the Lord to such a high standard.  Of course, the hypocrisy is easily apparent to an outsider, but not so apparent to the popular members, who suffer from this solipsistic view.

The interesting phenomena is the humble member, comes for counsel, asking how to stay strong, never seeking for justice, never complaining, just asking for guidance and prayer.

Whereas the popular members come complaining, ... Often!  Often asking for justice, accusing the humble follower of persecution and all sorts of crimes, etc.  The most common justification of the popular members is:  Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion (Everyone, that is, except the humble followers of Messiah!)

To the humble followers, those who do not revile back, only humbly continue to follow the Saviour, I say:  Do not be discouraged.  You are loved by God.  Continue to pray for those who revile, persecute, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for the Lord's sake.  The Father sees you, and you will have place with the prophets in heaven.  Keep the Faith!