Recently, a friend of mine who is a Pastor in New York state, was attacked by an unknown person on a blog. This is over a Series of Sermons he has posted on the Internet. I wanted not to write a defense of Pastor T. Bartolucci, as none is needed, but I instead wanted to write a message of encouragement for him, and all the brothers who are also being attacked.
I would say to you in the words of our gracious Savior, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
(John 15:18-19)" I would ask you to consider it nothing but Joy that you are counted worthy in some what to suffer for the name of Christ. Bartolucci, I think that you are really striking at the heart of the people, and there natural response is Ad Hom. attack on you (in this case), because they have nothing better to go after you with. Somehow, they believe that if they call you a bigot, and say you don't know what you are talking about, they are excused from listening and ligitamantly respond to you.
This is Very similar to the attack of Dr. White, on the issue of there being Lutherans and Catholics in the body of the Nazi concentration camp forces ( if you are unclear about this, I would suggest the July 2nd Dividing Line). He wasn't making even an argument yet, it is for this, not his true arguments he is attacked. Why? I think that the conclusion must be that there is nothing else to go after, as the real arguments can not be addressed.
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, let us rejoice when we are slandered, mocked, hated, mistreated, maligned, abused, cursed and disdained for the sake of Christ. Let us Remember the attitude of the Sister described in Tortured for Christ when she was arrested on her wedding day; "She looked toward her beloved, then kissed the chains and said, 'I thank my heavenly Bridegroom for this jewel He has presented to me on my marriage day. I thank Him that I am worthy to suffer for Him.'"
It is my prayer that this would be our attitude. That we may look at this evil as a blessing.
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1 comment:
Thanks, Ken, for your kind words. Our attitude in these things should be like that of Charles Spurgeon who once said: To be laughed at is not great hardship to me. I can delight in scoffs and jeers. Caricatures, lampoons, and slanders are my glory. But that you should turn away from your mercy, this is my sorrow. Spit on me, but, oh, repent! Laugh at me, but, oh, believe in my Master! Make my body as the dirt of the streets, but damn not your own souls!
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