Christ & Christians

John 15:19

But you don't have anything in common with the world. I have chosen you out of the world, which is why the world hates you.

       Martin Luther wrote, "Christ warns us about the world's opposition to Christians in general, so we must learn to despise the world's hatred and whatever else it tries to do to us. It's inevitable that the people of this world will hate God and Christ. Because they hate Christ, they will Christians too. Because of this ongoing opposition, we need to know how to overcome it. The more we let the world's arrogance bother us, the more Satan and the world likes it. When Satan makes us agonize and worry every day about the world's opposition to the Gospel, he is laughing up his sleeve and having great fun! But the people of this world rant and rave thinking that the problem is us, and they succeed because we complain and cry. But there is a better way to fight Satan, ignore him!  And ignore them as well, let them become angry and frustrated that their enemies mock them to their faces, even as their ranting and raving is at its very peak, continue to ignore them!  Look, the devil is arrogant but so is the world. There's nothing worse to him than being ignored and mocked. When he experiences this and can't do anything about it, he retreats. Otherwise, he won't stop until he makes you exhaust yourself with discouragement.  He will push so long and hard until you are overwhelmed by your grief. But when he sees you're determined to hold out against his hatred and continue to be cheerful - mocking him on top of it, he'll be the first one to grow tired. Because that's what pride does, you can't tolerate it when someone defies you."

       Pretty solid advice for anybody difficult. Listen carefully what Luther is saying: Satan gains power from those who worry about him too much, power is something we give to Satan when we are overly worried, defeated and anxious. Luther's advice is to have confidence in God, show joy in our lives, and ignore the devil! It makes me wonder if all of these congregations and denominations, who spend most of their time worrying about the power and impact of Satan, are listening to Luther. Because after all Luther derived this conviction from the teachings of Saint Paul. Satan might be a "lion seeking to devour those whom he will" but that happens only if we act like sheep, bleating piteously in corners, drawing attention to ourselves. Act less like a lamb and more like a longhorn , snorting and derisively mocking and daring Satan to come at you. You will discover that the real coward is not you, but Satan!