How many times have you seen a movie with military guys or some spy movie and when the combat gets heavy and they’re under fire, someone rattles off an “I didn’t sign up for this s***” kind of phrase?
It seems like it’s just something that you have to have in there.
What I’ve realized though is how ironic it is. That’s exactly what they did sign up for. Literally, their job is fighting.
Now let’s switch up some roles.
I often see this same kind of attitude from Christians. When Christians come under fire, whether from friends, the media, or our imagination, there seems to be this defense that goes up. A “I didn’t sign up for this” defense.
Like you’ve done everything right so why are you getting attacked.
The silliest thing I’ve ever heard.
Unless you’re a Joel Osteen or have no knowledge of the Bible, you know that the Bible talks about Christians and the suffering we will endure if we are living for him.
One of my favorite passages on this subject is in 1 Peter. And since I know if I just linked the reference, approx. 2% would actually go look it up, I’m going to paste the passage below. Now maybe at least 10 % will read it.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Why don’t we expect to be under attack as Christians? In fact, with as much as the Bible talks about the suffering of Christians, I really don’t face too many people that attack my faith.
Two things that stand out to me in the passage above.
- “Rejoice in suffering,” “you are blessed when people insult you”. These things seem crazy. How am I blessed when people insult me? We are blessed because we are able to share in the suffering our king suffered. Was Jesus perfect? Yes. Did Jesus have people who insulted him and persecuted him? Absolutely. An example that even if you live a perfect life, actually maybe especially if you did, you will go through persecution.
- Don’t suffer because you’re an idiot. So many Christian’s bring reproach to the gospel by doing things that are frowned upon even in the secular world. It is normal and to be expected to suffer as a Christian, just suffer because of Christ, not because of your own foolishness.
The last thing I’ll say is I believe it’s imperative to understand that as Christian’s, we will get taken advantage of. Certainly, you want to be wise about things other people are doing, but in the end, it’s better to be taken advantage and win someone to Christ than to make sure no one ever pulls one over on you.
It’s okay to suffer if we are doing it for Christ. In fact, it should be the norm, not the exception.