“Sooner or later, if you hold the line for Jesus, you will discover that you are not liked.” – Alistair Begg, The Christian Manifesto
Over the years I’ve been called a Jesus Freak, a Holy Roller, and a Bible Thumper. And there was a period in my life when I would be offended by those words. But as the Holy Spirit opened my eyes over time and I began to see Jesus as my Savior and realizing just how sinful and corrupt the world truly is, I stopped perceiving those labels as derogatory. In fact, I actually started appreciating them (Although honestly I have never once thumped someone over the head with my Bible). So when someone labels me as any of those words today, I wear them like a badge of honor.
It stands to reason that a culture that hates Jesus is naturally going to hate his followers, especially those who aren’t afraid to speak the truth about how evil and broken the world is (his Freaks, Rollers, and Thumpers).
As Alistair Begg writes in his new book entitled, “Christian Manifesto,” “Being mocked for our faith will not remove our blessing if our sense of joy does not come from our reputation in the first place.”
Nothing will put a follower of Christ in the crosshairs quicker than taking a stand for him. But he will stand out. It won’t make him popular, it won’t win him any worldly awards, nor will it buy him a single ounce of credibility in the culture which he lives.
But he does it anyway. Because the prize that he’s looking at will never devalue or decay. His reward will be eternal treasure in Heaven.
Former Blackout Artist 