by Jacob Ninan
We are called to go outside the camp and bear the reproach of Christ (He.13:13). It is comparatively easy to understand how reproach comes on the disciples of Jesus from the world (1Pe.4:3,4). But the greater reproach for Jesus was from the religious people of His day, who were supposedly following the true and living God. So it is for the disciples of today also. The majority of so-called Christians are satisfied with a form of godliness, without its power (2Ti.3:1-5). They do not permit the word to divide between soul and spirit (He.4:12), and they understand love, kindness, mercy, etc., in only a human manner (1Co.2:14).
The carnal understanding is characterised by a tolerance for sin. In this way, if one loves one's children, one ignores their folly and does not correct them; or if one loves one's neighbours, one joins in all their jesting and loose talking, rather than offend them by keeping away.
Sirach has said that wisdom is the mother of love; and wisdom hates sin. The soulish Christian also, not being spiritual, lacks wisdom and cannot understand the things of God. When he hears of Jesus telling His mother, "Woman, what do I have to do with you? (Jn.2:4)," or telling the crowd, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers..." (Mt.12:48), he would think that Jesus had no love for His mother and brothers and had no concern for their feelings. Or if he hears that Jesus waited for three days when He heard that His friend Lazarus was sick (Jn.11:6), he would accuse Jesus of hardness of heart. But Jesus was never without love even for a moment.
In the same way, when we do things in a spiritual way, we may be accused of lack of the very virtues we seek to have in those situations. There will be those who say, "These people talk of loving their enemies, but they don't even love their own relatives..." etc. If we want to be spiritual, we shall lose our reputation before carnal and soulish people, and our good will be called evil (Lk.6:22-26). But we can follow Jesus here making ourselves of no reputation (Php.2:7 KJV). If we are afraid of offending people, we will fall into a snare (Pr.29:25), and not make any progress. However, we can be free from the opinions of men and seek that inner glory which we receive when we walk before the face of God.