Stand Your Ground
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If I had a dime for every Christian that analyzes me with being angry and deceived, I would be rich. However, the things that people say negatively about those of us who live by grace are understandable. Remember, I was one of them too, so I am no stranger to their frustrated false assumptions and accusations. The moment I went against the grain of all that organized religion and Evangelical Christianity stands for, that's when I found out what real persecution was.

I've been told that I am now of a different spirit. I've been told that I am now possessed of the devil. I've been told that I am a backslider. I've been told that I am out of God's will. I've been told that I need deliverance. I've been told that I need spiritual counseling. I've been told that I am angry, confused and that I am out to pay back all that I suffered at the hands of religion. Anyway, the list goes on and on.

However, a good and strong indication of someone being on the right track of the Gospel, is when heavy and malicious persecutions begin to come from people who called themselves Christians. I have had so called Christians used profanity towards me. They have sent me dirty e-mail messages with all kinds of threats and rebukes. They have fabricated and said things to other ministry's about me that aren't true.

Well, I guess I am in good company. It was the religious, and self-righteous, holier than thou, thought they were right, 'Far-you-see's" and "Sad-you-see's" that constantly accused Jesus of being angry, deceived, full of the devil, lying, wrong, controversial, radical, one who stood up for the abused, the poor, the unholy, the ungodly and one who did not fear man but stood right up and spoke the truth whether people like it or not. A defender of the prostitutes and sinners.

I always wondered why Paul went through so much persecution while the others 'Peter, James and John' were often embraced by those of the circumcision? I think it all boils down to non-compromising. Preaching this great Gospel of the Grace and Peace of God does not come without resistance. I do admit that when I first became a thorn on the side of organized religion, their attacks and false jealous accusations were hard and difficult to deal with. But the more the grace of God became established in my heart, the more peace developed in me. Now I know and better understand the meaning of perseverance.

The Gospel of God's grace has led me to a more confident life. Some may see it as being cocky, but I will not return to the vomit of a self-righteous living like everybody else, thinking the same. acting the same, doing the same, boring, religious two face life. Let people call it anger and deception. But I rather call it righteous indignation. I don't hate those who are still under the religious bondage of self-righteous religion. If there be any anger, it is towards their false doctrines.

However, I don't expect your friend or anyone to understand why I preach the very opposite of what they are falsely teaching. I know what it feels like to have your religious bubble burst. Truth has a way of bringing out the most deadly and defensive mechanism in religious people. It drives a sword right to the heart. I know because I've been in their shoes. The fact is that I now love more people under grace than I ever did under self-righteous works.

The men that I once feared and thought that they had a hold on God's skirt, no longer bring me to put my tail between my legs. I respect them and every human being that has a different view of the Gospel. But when it comes to their intimidation's, and they attempt to use manipulating fear words and put on a scary face to try to get me to bow my knee once again to their dominating, controlling religious ways, I stand up to them with confidence, and usually find out how insecure and fearful they really are. They are afraid of truth because my teachings hurts their pocketbook.

Enough said. Do your best to stand your ground. It was the apostle Paul who said: "Do not be shaken in mind nor in spirit."

Grace N Peace

Eddie