ACCUSATIONS

Just A Thought To Think About – ACCUSATIONS.

Very few would deny that politically, the United States has become a culture of accusation. Truth, facts or evidence no longer matter. It has become, as the hackneyed adage suggests, keep throwing Jell-O at the wall and see if anything sticks.  Accusation (an allegation that a person is guilty of some fault, offence, or crime; imputation. A formal charge brought against a person stating the crime that he is alleged to have committed), with the goal being to silence a person or movement by incarceration or death.

This occurred in the life of Jesus Christ. The Sanhedrin portrayed itself as a court in Jerusalem and maintaining strict guidelines on how they would function. Accusations superseded anything else. Their target – Jesus Christ. Their charges and accusations – His violation of the Sabbath Law by healing on the Sabbath Day; His apparent threat to destroy the Jewish Temple; His exorcising people who were under the power of demons; His claim to being Messiah and the Son of God.

When Luke wrote The Book of Acts, it contains historical data on the opposition to the Gospel and the Apostles. False accusations would be brought against them. The punishment was flogging; or imprisonment; or an order to no longer mention the name – Jesus Christ. Peter was an early spokesman and central figure in those early chapters. He and others felt the full force of accusations and imprisonment. As they continued in doing ministry, they did so under threats by their opposition.

How did Peter respond and react? How did he instruct others to live and minister?  First Peter 3:13-16 (NLT), “Who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats…But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. In the AMP NT – Verse 16, “See to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].

Anyone can be harshly accused, with or without evidence. If one is “liked”, the accusations are more hushed; if one is “not liked”, the accusations (criticisms) are generally more frontal.

How should one react or respond? First Peter 3:15 (NKJV) instructs: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”

Accusations and not being liked are painful times in one’s life. Even when there is no credibility to the false accusation, some people will gossip as though the accusations or criticisms are true and one’s reputation and effectiveness is diminished. How is one to deal with false accusations and criticisms? Based upon false accusations, Jesus Christ suffered and died for us so that we might have abundant life in Him. How does Jesus Christ desire His followers to respond to opposition and false accusations?  Jesus stated, Matthew 5:11-13, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Prayerfully – Consider These Things With Me.