Don't Expect to be Popular (Written by Mel and Julie)

Written by Mel and Julie

We try to never shy away from writing about controversial subjects.  But why are they so controversial?  The topics God calls us to write about are directly from the Bible.  The reason why these subjects often become heated is because people have been taught wrong for so long.  Or not taught at all.  We speak out against things that make people angry and we have received backlash and have ultimately lost friends.  We have even had people among our own church, and even at a Christian tent revival meeting, turn their backs on us.

If you are a regular reader of either of our blogs, then you know our topics range anywhere from the dangers of so-called Christian entertainment, our belief in a post-tribulation rapture, dressing modestly, the evils of pornography, and the list goes on.  The last time Julie put a link on her Facebook page to her blog speaking out against Christians watching/reading anything with witchcraft in it, she received very negative feedback from a friend.  We have both lost likes off our Facebook pages whenever we have posted anything "controversial." 

Here is what we have been trying to remind ourselves:

1) Don't take it personally.  After all, our posts are never directed toward one specific person, they are a direct result of something God has placed on our hearts to write about.  Therefore, when someone gets angry, they are not angry at us.  It is their conscience at war within them that is being poked.  And they don't like it!  They take their confusion and guilt out on us. 

Also, we must remember that most people have been taught only one way their entire lives.  For example, we are both preacher's kids.  We were taught to believe in a pre-tribulation rapture.  That's nothing against our wonderful, Godly fathers because they were teaching what they had been taught as well.  We both love to study our bibles and came to the conclusion on our own (years apart) that Christ says He will return after the tribulation.  But speak about this issue with most people, and they get angry and walk away.  It is because they feel you are attacking them, but we are not attacking anyone - on this or any other subject.  And they are not directly angry with us.  They just don't like rethinking something they have been taught their whole lives.

The good news is that sometimes they may even come back with questions and we can point them to further scriptures to explain why we believe the way we do.

2) Don't stop preaching!  Whenever one of us loses a like on Facebook or gets a negative comment, it is tempting to shut it all down.  It is easy to feel discouraged.  That is exactly what Satan would love for us to do.  But don't stop being obedient to the ministry God has called you to.
 
3) We are not called to be men-pleasers, but God-pleasers.
 
Most people will judge a person by their appearance, intelligence, or personality, but that is not true with God. God looks upon the heart of the individual, and he chooses the humble ones to be vessels in which he may show forth his attributes. I Corinthians 1:26-29 states that God has chosen the foolish, weak, base, as well as despised ones for his work, so that no person may take glory in their flesh. The mighty of this world are normally very arrogant and will not give honor to their creator. Many of the Apostles that Christ chose were simple, uneducated fisherman, but they learned from Christ himself.  Acts 4:13 "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus." The Lord is looking for humble vessels that he may work through. The seminaries of man-made doctrines are producing pastors that are void of God's Spirit and quite often help to shut people out of the Kingdom of Heaven. Popularity with the world, and in some cases the church, is enmity with God. God is looking for selfless individuals who are willing to put the needs of others before their own. The apostles Paul, Luke, and Matthew were examples of educated, humble men, who gave up the riches of the world, and even endured torture, and imprisonment for the cause of Christ. But not many of the rich and powerful are like these men.

 Many people are looking for ways to find themselves. They feel the need to be important, or achieve goals that give them a sense of self worth. They will strive at sports, or for a university degree, or a certain career to find that self worth. But we need to find our self worth in Christ, and identify with him. Christ said, to deny ourselves daily and take up our cross and follow him. There is no greater work than that of the Kingdom of God, and we should pursue his work according to what we have been given. Christ said that if you want to be great in his kingdom, then you need to become a servant. Although Christ was God in the flesh, he became a servant and even washed the feet of his disciples as an example for us to follow. We are not above our master, since Christ was an example of humble servant hood, we should do likewise.
 
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I Corinthians 1:26  For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence.