Walking with Christ can at times be a lonely walk. The world just doesn’t understand where Spirit-filled believers are coming from. We may as well be coming from Mars as far as they are concerned.
This was brought home to me three years ago after a routine check-up with the doctor, who I’ve known most of my life. I left there feeling so misunderstood. It was at the beginning of the world returning to normal after the scamdemic and he was clueless about the evil that had just transpired. But then again, he had much to gain from all of it. I was so disappointed that even well-educated people couldn’t see truth.
I went to noon Mass after that and and later wrote about how I felt in my journal.
I will include an excerpt of what I wrote, rather than edit it as I usually do, although the emotion I felt at the time cannot be conveyed in words:
“As I was walking into the noon Mass today, I was thinking about (almost in tears) how if you trust in God, that it’s very lonely, really. The world doesn’t understand. It wants you to be afraid because the evil has much to gain from it. We must resist! Fear was never “cool” before or the appropriate response to most things. People just don’t get it if you put your trust in God rather than men.”
It so happened the Gospel reading at church that day was Matthew 14:22-33 where Peter walks on the water but then becomes afraid and sinks crying out for Jesus to save him. It’s all about trust in Jesus and not being afraid!
The world doesn’t understand the things we see in the Spirit, they are not able to. It is impossible. To them good is evil and evil is good. (Isaiah 5:20) I was almost thrown out of a Protestant church for quoting that scripture. They told me it wasn’t in the Bible, which had caused me to doubt myself. The others in the group railed against me and said the leader ought to know since they were in seminary. Crazy. Well they didn’t know. Or didn’t want to know.
It was an excellent example of the blind leading the blind. Yes this can and does happen even in churches.
Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14)
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
I have been bullied on social media, and surprisingly some were so-called Christians. I have been scoffed at in person for my faith. It’s ok because that is an indication I am following the truth. I will not falter. I’ve been in this fight too long. In the end, only what God thinks matters.
Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. (Proverbs 9:7)
No kidding!
- Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. (Proverbs 9:8)
- They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, who will live according to their own godless desires.” (Jude 1:18)
- Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. (Psalm 1:1)
- What a way to start the book of Psalms!
As believers, we live in the world and not of it. We are not “like everybody else” nor should we strive to be. We are set apart. The things of this world do not satisfy. Wise is the person who knows this.
The saints didn’t have it easy either when sticking to their faith. Some were even martyred, not unlike Charlie Kirk in modern times. But we follow God not man. And our reward will be eternal.
As I get older, I am more discriminating about who I spend my time with. Life is too short. Sometimes I even feel a sense of evil in a place or group and need to get away and stay away. I don’t want any weird stuff rubbing off on me. The company you keep matters. The devil will suck you in if you are not careful. The Bible tells us to avoid certain types:
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (emphasis mine) 2 Timothy 3:1-5
All we can do is try to stay the course of our own salvation and pray that others will lay down their pride and open their minds and hearts to Christ Jesus so they, too, may be rewarded with eternal life. Like the song amazing grace proclaims, “I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.”
