BULLET-PROOF MENTALITY

The Lord Jesus said; John 15:18-22 (BBE) 18 If you are hated by the world, keep in mind that I was hated by the world before you. 19 If you were of the world, you would be loved by the world: but because you are not of the world, but I have taken you out of the world, you are hated by the world. 20 Keep in mind the words I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they were cruel to me, they will be cruel to you; if they kept my words, they will keep yours. 21 They will do all this to you because of my name--because they have no knowledge of him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and been their teacher they would have had no sin: but now they have no reason to give for their sin.

It is not easy hearing the atrocities confronting our Christian Brothers and Sisters in war torn areas and conflict regions around the globe; in Iraq, in Syria, in Egypt, in Sudan, in Nigeria, in Niger, in the Americas, and in many other countries on the News almost on a daily basis. My normal reaction, as well as for many of you, including those in these “hot spot” zones is to pray God to alleviate the situation and allow our Christian brothers and sisters to live normal lives without maltreatment and oppression imposed by their governments of the day and by those of other religions. During his departure preparatory period, Jesus told his disciples “If you are hated by the world, keep in mind that I was hated by the world before you…” Strong tone…, I say this was his pre-persecution training for his disciples. But why is this “hatred” so hazardous?

There was a lot of “hate” existing already among the people of the world at the time. Why than is Jesus separating this ‘hate’ from the one ones already existing in the world? Jesus words in John 15:18-21 as stated above is interesting because it holds fundamental truth to the propagation of a Bullet Proof Mentality. I have decided to use the term “Bullet Proof Mentality” because it bring in the idea of absorbing the force and full brunt the persecution without retaliation, toward a hatred that is 1) unsubstantiated, 2) unremitting, 3) annihilating, 4) comprehensive, 5) unenlightened, and 6) ignorant. When a missionary is sent out, he or she must go out with the expectation that there will be persecutions. This is bound to happen because the world does not know the Lord Jesus. The world, and its system, is in enmity with The Lord Jesus and His Kingdom. The Lord Jesus had clearly detailed this in the verses above. He must go out with the expectation of the worst scenario and yet with the clear and firm understanding that the war has already been won.

As Christians we’re supposed to be surrounded by the world yet not influenced by it or live in fear of its ever changing and challenging system. That is our terrain, our setting, our atmosphere and we thrive in it. Of course we have to take time to withdraw to the mountain and recuperate and just as we are convinced that it’s better off to stay on the mountain and build our dwellings, we need to remember that we’ve got work to do. The risk is high and the church is the only institution that looks for risk and thrives in the risk, but the return is great.

Lavinia during one of her empowerment sessions in one of our villages