Filed under: Personal, Theology, Worldwide madness | Tags: Bible, bloody, Britain, Christ, church, intimidation, Matthew, persecution
I sometimes wonder just how intimidating I come across. I feel like I often seem like one of those know-it-all people and I’m not particularly fond of that perception of me.
Question: Should I, as an American, uphold the speech patterns of my British counterparts in order to avoid offending some? For example, I think the adjective “bloody” is just rather useful…but, in Britain, it means a word that I would never, ever say. And, my brother occasionally says, “oh, bugger!” Is this wrong? Should it be prohibited? I mean, I’m American, so “bloody” doesn’t hold the weight here that it does in Britain; it’s not even considered offensive in movies. So, should it matter?
Yes, I really did waste blogspace asking that question. I really do want to know.
I’ve been reading in Matthew a lot, and I keep reading chapter ten which, amoung other things, contains this bit ((verses 16-26)):
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
Can I just say, no matter how basic this is, I think I’ve just started to let this sink it. As Christians, we’re warned of persecutions…actually, we’re guaranteed persecution…and, yet we whine about it. I whine about it. And, honestly, I’m a little scared of true persecution. Right now, I don’t really know how I would handle it. I doubt if I’d be the most shining example.
