The Truthful Will Be Vindicated!
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!’ (Isaiah 50:8)
Though the tide recently has turned in terms of social acceptance, I still am aware that, as the author of the Word-of-the-Day posts – while I know almost everyone who reads them daily (all four or five of you) are accepting of them, there can be others who do not agree with what I post. A subset of that group may decide, in the future, that I may need to be the target of an attack geared to shutting down my comments.
It may be a physical altercation, or it may be a form of character assassination, or a form of harassment. While I don’t want any of this to happen (between the solicitors who ‘door-knock’ to sell solar panels or a new roof, and those who call to either buy our properties unsolicited or sell some other gadget is enough harassment), it is possible it can happen to anyone who puts their comments out in public – even pro-Christian ones.
It doesn’t worry me or cause me to lose sleep, as it hasn’t happened (yet), and I believe I am sufficiently protected, both in Spiritual and secular means. It is more important to me to provide the postings so others can be encouraged or be provided a perspective in Scriptural terms from an average ‘Joe’ like myself. If I am ever accused or attacked for what I believe in, I have Faith God will protect and His Truth will supersede any lies tossed out.
In Isaiah 50, the prophet provides that Israel, a nation of sin and false accusations, is enslaved in its sin. It then provides a ‘double prophecy’ or meaning, one that speaks to Isaiah being the target of ridicule and physical harassment but also of the coming Messiah, Jesus, who will also suffer in the same way. But then, in Isaiah 50:8, Isaiah provides God and His Truth has his back, and the backs of those who believe. The latter portion of the chapter states those who bring baseless charges (in essence, lying) will be consumed by His unquenchable fire.
We still see some charges brought against those who done nothing wrong, yet their persecution continues. We see it happening in terms of ‘lawfare’, or using the legal system to lock up or bankrupt individuals or groups who are either innocent or those who did wrong but their punishments far exceed the crimes committed. Some who entered the Capitol on 6 January 2021, for example, were waved into open doors by uniformed police; others were at the rally that turned chaotic and raucous but never went in. Many of those individuals were arrested and charged with crimes that far exceeded their actions, and many were jailed and never given their rights to an attorney, to face their accusers, or to have a fair and speedy trial.
Another example of lawfare is through civil lawsuits, requesting excessive financial penalties to be assessed on frivolous and baseless accusations. Even when found innocent, such cases often go through costly and time-consuming proceedings, sometimes over several layers of the justice system. ‘The process is the punishment’; as those found innocent often exhaust much of their savings and assets. Those who don’t have such wealth may unfortunately be forced to plea to a charge, one they did not commit but are forced to take due to their lack of resources.
The second item is a term that continues is ‘doxing’, where individuals who give an opposing opinion on today’s events in public, often on social media are ‘investigated’ by ‘offended’ persons. These offended people track down the individual’s address, employer, church, friends, etc., and begin a campaign against them to get them ostracized in their social groups by releasing their personal data, or meet in front of the homes who are targeted to directly harass them, and contact their employer to get them fired for simply sharing an opposing viewpoint. The accusers often remain anonymous, or hidden from the accused.
For example, a police chief, who had a made a video in front of his house with a ‘Thin Blue Line’ flag (showing support for police) flying in his yard. Students from a nearby college began a campaign to have him fired for flying such a flag. He has since removed the flag and apologized for his ‘insensitivity’ but the campaign continued, with crowds gathering in front of his home to harass him, even in the evening when it should be silent. To such protestors, you have the right to freely express your opinion, as long as it agrees with theirs.
These are two examples of the world turning what used to be ‘right’ is now ‘wrong’. We can’t defend ourselves from being who we are from this type of attack – I can’t deny nor can I apologize away I’m a Christian, though some believe these traits are ‘wrong’, nor can the police chief deny he’s pro-police (he wouldn’t make a good chief if he was anti-police, in my opinion).
But God can and will defend us; and He will certainly vindicate us. Those who falsely accuse us will one day face God, prayerfully here on Earth should they repent and realize their sins of being false witnesses twisting ‘right’ until it is ‘wrong’. If not on Earth, they will face God in Judgement, and without Earthly repentance the penalty is eternity in Hell. This should be even more of a reason to go and carry out the Great Commission, to bring Christ to those who need Him.
We may carry opinions that others will shout down, but our Lord encountered the same as He went to the cross. Those who shout down righteousness are the same as those who shouted for the release of ‘Barabbas’. Stand firm; as the police chief found out, he could not apologize away the fact he is pro-police. I would rather face the crowds, as my Lord did, than deny the Truth, as unfortunately many in the ‘cancel culture’ will do. I will not apologize for who I am, as I cannot deny who I am – a disciple of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
