ENDURING FALSE ACCUSATIONS

Samaritans Purse set up a tent hospital in Central Park in New York City to help with the overflow of patients from the hospitals there during the corona virus pandemic. I read an article at that time stating that New York’s mayor De Blasio expressed concern that Samaritan’s purse is operated by Franklin Graham who is accused of having a “virulent hatred of homosexuals and is Islamophobic” and that Samaritan’s Purse will discriminate against homosexuals and anyone who “disagrees with their fundamentalist beliefs.” Some had even expressed concern that the Christian organization would deliberately refuse to aid those who disagree with the organization’s beliefs, or that they would intentionally spread the disease.

How foolish and erroneous are such charges! You and I know the sincerity and love that motivates this organization. But we are living in a culture where this type of false accusation and unwarranted hate and prejudice will be directed at those who have the testimony of Jesus and the Word of God. False witnesses were tools used against Jesus and the Apostle Paul. We may experience the same assaults.
“These things I have spoken to you that you, that you should not be made to stumble…The time is coming that whoever kills you will think he offers God service.” John 16:1-2
When Rome burned, the emperor Nero falsely placed the guilt on Christians in order to divert attention away from the rumor that he had ordered the conflagration himself. It was easy to propagate this lie because of the false accusations that were rife throughout the city against Christians. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote that Christianity was “a most mischievous superstition” and that Christians were “hated for their abominations.” He also stated that followers of Christ were called “haters of mankind,” a charge arising from their disapproval of and refusal to participate in cultural immoralities that were prevalent at the time.
This sounds remarkably familiar. We are facing those same spirits working in unbelievers today. And we must arm ourselves with a mind to suffer and to do so graciously as did those early Christians in the book of Acts. They did not lose their peace, and they did not grow angry. They obeyed the words of Jesus. “Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12. They rejoiced and sang praises when persecuted, falsely charged, and imprisoned. They did not respond with hostility. They exhibited love, forgiveness, and kindness, along with their determination to stand strong and be faithful to Jesus Christ and to their testimony. The apostle Peter has exhorted us to “not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try us.” The angrier the world becomes, the more we must prove ourselves to be children of God by walking in wisdom and love. The devil’s strategy will be to falsely accuse and to raise up false witnesses. But we must proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, maintain a godly attitude, and stand firm on the Bible.
“Do not keep silent, O God of my praise!
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me. They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They have surrounded me with words of hatred and fought against me without a cause. In return for my love, they are my accusers. But I give myself to prayer. Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.” Psalm 109: 1-5
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29

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