The Critic The Gossip And Me

"Oh look it's the Jesus freak," One smirks, as the others laugh. "Why is it she thinks she is so much better than everyone else?" she asks her giggling companions.

"That's the thing with her kind. They think they are so much better so they have to fix the rest of us when they are the ones with the problem," a second girl responds. The others nod their agreement.

"Have you heard what her mother was and why they had to move here?" The last girl said just loud enough for everyone near to hear what she was saying. A tear slipped down her cheek as she listened to the girls behind her, another bit of her heart shattered.

"She'll never be anything," the words spoken so many people over the years stung like a whip.

"Have you ever seen a monument erected to a critic? When the critic throws stones, the visionary should take them and build a wall. Then if the critic wants to see what you have built charge him admission to get through the gate." - Courageous Teens

I'll bet you have run into your share of critics. I know I have, some of them meaning well some not so much. I'll bet you can remember what they said am I right? Funny how we can remember the bad things and let them hurt us long after they have left our lives isn't it? Why is it that even after years we can still hear them?

 Trust me I have had my share of in encounters with gossips and critics and both are extremely painful. The gossip fears what you are and what you will become and so they attempt to take you down with their lies. The Critic is the person who has never done anything and wants to keep you from doing something.


Nehemiah faced a lot of criticism. But he didn't listen to them and he and the people of Israel were able to rebuild the walls of their city. (Nehemiah 4:4-6)When the critics wanted to meet with Nehemiah he replied “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

I don't know about you but I would say that is a pretty good answer. (Now just to remember it for later use *wink*) Nehemiah didn't just have a good answer for them though he was prepared to meet them if they attacked but he kept working on the walls not allowing them to distract him from the end goal. (now I'm not talking about those people who are offering us good and Godly advice we need to listen to them)

We to can not allow our Critics to get us off track. We can not let them distract us from the end goal. We have to look at them and say (or in his case send them a message)"I am Carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" Or in today's terms, Sorry God and I have a plan, and I don't have time to worry about what you think of who I am or where God is leading me.

The critic and the gossip are too big of a coward to do anything great, so when they see your potential they will do everything they can to take you down and keep you from completing your Godly goals.

Don't let them stop you.

Choose

Then Elijah  approached all the people and said, 'How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him. 1 King 18:21

In this day and age, we have a lot coming at us, from how to dress to having friends. We have to meet the status quo. We have to look and be like everyone else.  But where are the teenagers who will stand against the tide of popular opinion to speak about their faith, the same faith that people have died for?

These days call for a faith that can NOT be compartmentalized. You can not be a Christian around your church friends. you have to be godly around those popular kids in school.  You have to act like a Christian while playing your sport or hobby. When your friends -and classmates- see you they need to know where you stand.

You cannot sit on the fence, it doesn't work - well it does if you want to live like everyone else- the answer is yes or no, there is no in-between. Jesus said either you are for me or against me. It's a simple thing. Either you're going to live your life differently -and take it from me people are going to stare. It's not going to be easy. People will mock you. You'll be hurt. There will be days when you're going to want to say " I quit God! I can't do this anymore" trust me I've  been there. But no matter what it's been worth it- or you can live like the world just another breathing human being with no greater calling.  If Yahweh is God, follow Him.

It's that simple. Let me ask you a painful question: which is more important to you, texting, shopping, and video games or, spending time in God's word? Be honest with yourself, I was when I asked myself that question -albeit a little differently- I read somewhere that where your mind is there your heart is. You will worship what takes up your time.

I'll be the first one to say it if I spent as much time studying the bible as I do - talking to my cousins and friends on Facebook or raising my chickens I would be very different. And that is why we need another Elijah. We need someone because we've listened to the celebrities, and they've failed. We've listened to the "youth group leaders" and they have let us down.

Our so called leaders have dropped the ball. SO it's time we pick it up. And let's face it, it's been dropped for several generations. We need an Elijah because like in his age the godless are ruling our society and most people just don't seem to care. And the faith that once motivated us doesn't anymore. Pretty sad huh?

Well, there is a way to stop it, to turn back but it will take sacrifice. You will not be cool. People may not like you. It will be painful and you may lose some of the stuff you hold dear but since when has the right choice been easy and pain-free?

Christianity to borrow the phrase from "Courageous Teens" is not the cafeteria line where we pick what we want. As for me, I want to walk into a room and people be uncomfortable by the crude joke they just told. When people look at me I want them to see who I serve. I want them to see who my God is. I don't want to jump off the proverbial bridge with everyone else. I don't want to be the Christian straddling the fence or dangling my feet in the water on the other side.

We've tried the compromise and this is where we are. And it's just getting worse. We can no longer compromise our morals or our beliefs.  We need a new Elijah to break through this age of pooling ignorance and call us to desperate prayer. We need leaders who will stand up and risk the peace of status quo. Who will not care if they are labeled an outcast? D.L. Moody once heard someone say that God was waiting to show the world what He could do through one wholly surrendered man, and Moody responded; "By the grace of God, I will be that man," Well by the grace of God I will be that woman.  You see, the Elijah that we need today is us.  We can and should stand up and be counted as a leader and not a follower.  The world needs to hear from us.  They need to know the hope that is within us.  Just stand up and speak, tell them what the Lord means to you and what he has done in your life.  Really what do you have to lose?  Nothing that is eternal, nothing that is important, nothing that is lasting.  Ok all of you Elijah's our there, will you stand with me?  Will you say, "By the Grace of God I will be that man or woman?  We need you!  You can do this!

Write to us and we will pray for you.


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