I am sure most have heard variations of these phrases:
“Don’t judge me; only God knows my heart.”
“Ignore the haters; they don’t know your life.”
“People that judge you are not worth your time and attention.”
The world has given much focus to encouraging people, especially young women, to live their lives “authentically” without the fear of criticism from others. In my Bible reading recently, I came across a verse that caused me to ponder a different perspective to these popular mantras.
The verse was I Timothy 5:14, I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Mentally, I checked off the boxes:
Marriage? Done.
Bearing children? Done.
Guiding the house? A work in progress.
These were commands I had often seen throughout the scriptures. The last phrase was what arrested my attention: …give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Who is our adversary? Verse 15 explains further, For some are already turned aside after Satan. We know from scripture also that our sworn enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil. I wondered how often my decisions as a young Christian woman have given occasion for those adversaries to speak reproachfully of me?
I believe that we all would do well to consider our actions more carefully. If they give even the appearance of evil, or if they could be misconstrued by a judging world, are they even worth doing? Do they give an excuse for others to turn away from the things of God? Do our own thoughtless words give fuel to the fire of those who would criticize Christians?
Like it or not, our lives are being displayed in a public way to the world, whether in person or increasingly through social media. As Christians, our actions will always be judged and criticized by a world diametrically opposed to our beliefs. We should strive, though, to avoid bringing that suffering upon ourselves. I Peter 3:16-17 tells us, Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Other verses in the Bible give us additional motivation. II Corinthians 6:3 admonishes us to give …no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: I Corinthians 10:32-33 commands us, Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God…not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. These verses show us that by giving offense to others, within the church or outside of it, we can cause the ministry to bear unfair reproach and even dissuade others from being saved. What a contrast in perspective to a flippant “ignore the haters!”
The more I ponder these passages the more determined I am to try to live a more selfless, Christ-honoring, and ministry-honoring life, one that is a light to the world; not a stumbling block, an excuse for criticism, or a cause for offense.
Would you join me today in considering the “haters” as motivation to live a less offensive life?
by Abigail Medford