It has been my experience, in practical everyday life, and what I have learned from study; when anyone opposes the truth it usually because they have a vested interest in doing so. There are exceptions such as a genuine lack of information. When this is the case usually reason presented in a reasonable way will win them over. Often truth is opposed by those who will suffer public embarrassment if the truth is widely known. Along with loss of stature in the eye of the public there are financial repercussions. A lot of money can be made by promoting a falsehood and squelching the truth.
Two of the great principles Jesus taught His disciples are intricately connected. The first was to count the cost of discipleship before deciding to follow Him, and the second, is to realize the love of monetary gain is at the core of all evils. Mankind's lust for pleasure and ease can be satiated by acquiring wealth. People will go to extraordinary lengths and deny any truth to satisfy their hunger for money.
Christian discipleship is the result of repentance and acquiring The Spirit of Truth and then living and proclaiming that truth. Truth is not always compatible with other peoples financial and political aspirations. That is why Jesus said to His followers "If they have persecuted me they shall persecute you."
Christ warned Christians in the sermon on the mount; people will revile you, persecute and say all manner of evil against you falsely. For no other reason than you are a follower of mine. In the book of John, Jesus warned His followers. "The world will hate you because you are no longer one of them. The world will not listen to you, anymore than they listened to me. They will throw you out of, and exclude you from public places. Some of you they will beat, imprison and even kill. All because they know neither God nor Me."
The world cares very little what anyone believes about God. What antagonizes people is what you believe about Jesus. In most places in the world you are free to talk about God or pray to Him publicly if you like.
However, If you mention the name of His Son Jesus Christ in any manner other than a derogative one. You are likely to suffer some kind censure, or out right persecution. Jesus had warned us this would happen so when the time came we would not be offended and discouraged.
I have two grown sons ( both extremely successful I am happy to add ). When one of them was in elementary school he was sent to the office to be punished for saying in class that Santa Claus was a myth. However, a few years later he was insulted and mocked by a teacher in front of other students for saying the Bible was true. He became an object of ridicule for that teacher for the rest of the year. In both instances I chose not to intervene. As much as it broke my heart, I knew he was going to have to count the cost of following Jesus for himself.
When I was in my mid-twenty's and raising two children, the factory I worked at changed to a seven day operation. I had enough vacation I could use, I could avoid working Sundays. Everyone was allowed to choose how they scheduled their vacations with little or no restrictions. My choice angered a manager, I was soon fired. I could not find another job, I ended up loosing my home and had a nervous breakdown..Jesus did not require me to do what I did, He asked me to. He did not required my son to make the stand he made. It was his choice. God does not make us stand up for the Biblical Christ. It is something after counting the cost we must choose to do ourselves. I say all of this to drive home the point there is very often a cost for obeying what God has asked ( not demanded ) we do.
As a foot note I would like to add..I eventually got a new job. It was straight day shift with no Sunday work. I was able to coach and attend ballgames and spend evenings and weekends with my family and attend church. I also was also able to retire at the very young age of 46. The son who made the stand in school has since acquired fame and fortune beyond his wildest dreams. God is good and God is faithful.
After the ascension of Jesus to heaven and the day of Pentecost. The apostles begin to preach in public that there was no other salvation for mankind other than through Jesus Christ; the one who had been crucified and rose from the dead. This infuriated the political and/or religious leaders of the day. They could not have cared less about whether what the apostles were saying was true or not. All they knew is that they were the ones who had conspired to kill Jesus. Furthermore they made their living and gained their status from what was being taught before Jesus came along.
The book of Acts tells us these leaders gathered all the apostles and brought them in front of a national council. The high priest said to them " Did not we strictly warn you, that you can not teach in this (Jesus ) name." The apostle's reply was; " Shouldn't we obey God rather than men? " In the previous chapter of Acts . Peter and John had ask them when they were forbidden to mention Jesus." Is it better to obey God or man, you be the judge? "
Many would say there are very good and sophisticated constitutional reasons why Jesus is censored. I am sure the Sanhedrin and the high priest along with king Herod and Pilate had a litany of man made rules and regulations to back their persecution of Jesus and His followers. For the good of the nation was what they used most often to oppress and suppress the truth.
The Biblical Jesus is the most hated person who ever lived. The historical Jesus that liberal theologians and academics portray, is a harmless human not worthy of contempt or adulation, and can be mentioned anywhere. The culturally acceptable Jesus is no threat to even the cruelest most despotic rulers.Nor does he have the power to help the most wretched sufferer of injustice. The acceptable Jesus made no claims and has no power.
On the other hand the Biblical Jesus claimed to be the promised Messiah as well as the future King of all the earth. The Biblical Jesus claimed He would bring wicked rulers and tyrants to justice. Not only did the Biblical Jesus claim to know the truth, and the way to salvation. He claimed to be the truth and man's only hope for salvation. He claimed to occupy a position in heaven that no other being in the universe not even angels could occupy. The Biblical Jesus claimed to be the divine only begotten Son of God that sits at God's right hand.
People in high places who are doing cruel and unethical things hate Jesus Christ and his followers with a passion. Historically more Biblical Christians have been killed for their faith than all other religions combined. Sometimes they are even persecuted by non-biblical Christians .More Christians are imprisoned for their faith today than all other religions combined. World wide an estimated 5000 churches a year are purposely burnt to the ground. The Bible has been the # 1 best seller for centuries. At the same time it is the most often burned book in all of history. It is also the most censored and prohibited book, both now and in the past.
There are more laws on the books all over the world to stop Christian evangelism than there is to stop any other form of religion or political philosophy. For many people in power, darkness is preferred over light.
Jesus warned us in the Bible if they hate me they will hate you. I have come to believe the hatred and viciousness directed towards the Biblical Jesus and his followers is mostly due to Christ's promise to bring an end to sin and to promote justice in the world. Most of us do not want give up our power or our sin.
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