Encouragement

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When Hatred And Gossip Seem To Prevail: Take Courage!
© 2008

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Megan Mansfield, though only 18 years old, came to her therapist with a very special request: “I need your professional guidance and prayers. I’ve been labeled a cheat, liar and home wrecker by a person I believed was my best of friends. What I have been accused of is not truthful at all and this person knows that. Please pray that I will be able to find a way to deal with this attack upon my good name and my character.”

Throughout the history of humankind, countless individuals rich and poor; young and old; the powerful and powerless have been attacked for no good or logical reason.

Though he now is considered one of the best, and for the most part, admired President in United States history and his words and writings quoted worldwide, Abraham Lincoln was, by every historical account, hated and reviled by the press, members of Congress and many citizens of the United States in his day. At the time, he was designated the worst President in American history and said to have been the most hated person who had ever lived according to the press. Whereas Presidents receive daily status reports about economic, military and domestic concerns, Lincoln received a daily montage of hate reports from his press secretary and wife, Mary Lincoln. Both persons are known to have made fun of the President as well as demean his personhood. On one occasion, President Lincoln, in response to the criticism, posed this question to his press secretary: “How many legs does a lamb have if you call its tail a leg:” Perplexed the press secretary stood before the President speechless and unable to respond. The President responded: “Four. Because calling a tail a leg does not make it one!”

When gossip, lies and mistruths about you come your way—and they will throughout everyone’s life at one time or another—a person’s best defense is the life one lives day in and day out. Those persons who are fair, just to those around them, honest and do things in their lives with integrity with those who know something about your character will speak on that said person’s behalf. What naysayers say will not matter when a person’s character is sorted out for personal attack in the public forum. Regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender or economic status, we are all children of God with immortal souls. Because God make us we are loved by Him perfectly and unconditionally. Eleanor Roosevelt once said concerning this very issue: “No one can make you be or feel inferior without YOUR permission.”

Therefore, do not let others damage who you are—your personality, your life if there are charges without foundation. Jesus, by any conservative account, was the MOST hated person of all time! Even to day, Jesus Christ is the most revered and the most reviled person on planet earth! The lies, mistruths and ill documented legends about Him and His life could circumvent the earth many, many times over. Yet, when the truth is known about Him and revealed, a person’s life is changed forever.

General Lew Wallace, the author of the novel “Ben Hur” was an atheist who hated the name, history and story of Jesus Christ. He originally set out to write a story to damn Christ. But after years of research, he learned like many before him that this Jesus of Nazareth was more than a man—he was compassionate, merciful, forgiving and the most loving person who had ever lived. And before General Lew Wallace died, he completed His story. However, it was not a story that damned Christ but worshipped him.

So when hatred is expressed towards you, do not strike back! Call on the name of Jesus Christ and His grace to strengthen you. Then go forward in the valley of the shadow of death, hatred and disdain because He is with you and NO ONE and NO THING can harm you when He is at your side! In fact, you are in the majority with an unfair advantage!

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