Christian

How to Handle Backlash for Your Beliefs

Cindy Dawson

(Previously titled Speaking the Truth Might Be Met With Anger)

It was a rough week! I was unprepared for the backlash I would receive when I shared with a fellow Christian my belief that a certain teaching was unBiblical. Instead of engaging in a dialogue, she attacked my character. I wasn’t expecting that.

Stating your beliefs can cause a torrent of judgment to rain down on your head when someone doesn’t like your view. It can feel traumatic, even when you know the accusations aren’t true. A vicious attack on your character can quickly cause you to grow weary and lose heart.

If this happens to you, the first thing you must do is PRAY. Next, read your Bible to see what God says about it. These are some verses the Lord brought to mind:

Paul said, “I care very little if I am judged by you or any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 NIV

“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” Romans 14:4 NIV

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 NIV

The Bible says we are to “speak the truth in love”. (Ephesians 4:15)

This means that we must speak the truth with gentleness because we love one another.

Some of you are standing against false beliefs that will bring attacks against you, too. Subjects like abortion, transgender ideology, and even doctrinal differences can elicit a strong response. Be strong! The fight for Truth is a spiritual battle.

If you are being judged unfairly, you’re in good company. Jesus was falsely accused of many things including blasphemy, inciting rebellion, violating the Sabbath law (by healing on the Sabbath); threatening to destroy the Jewish Temple; practicing sorcery, and exorcising people by the power of demons.

To the Galatians the Apostle Paul said,

“Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16 NIV

Be strong and courageous! You are not alone!

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV (emphasis mine)

Comment from Bereancrossroads:

“Ad hominem and even abusive ad hominem fallacious attacks are used by people who have no logical arguments. Quite common these days. The Bible says for us to come and reason together and we can do that from the Scripture especially among brethren. If the person does not want to, then we pray for that individual.

Our worth is not what people say or do to us but who we are in Christ Jesus! 😀✝️✝️✝️📖🙏”

(An ad hominem attack is an argument that attacks the person making a statement instead of the statement itself.) 

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

RealChristianWomen.blog  

34 thoughts on “How to Handle Backlash for Your Beliefs”

  1. Ad hominem and even abusive ad hominem fallacious attacks are used by people who have no logical arguments. Quite common these days. The Bible says for us to come and reason together and we can do that from the Scripture especially among brethren. If the person does not want to, then we pray for that individual.

    Our worth is not what people say or do to us but who we are in Christ Jesus! 😀✝️✝️✝️📖🙏

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    2. Wise words! Coincidentally, yesterday my family was having a discussion about “ad hominem” and how it is often used in politics instead of debating issues. My son said it was the only thing he remembered from a philosophy class he took back when he was a college student.

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      1. I’m 72 years old and I didn’t realize this was a tactic used to divert the discussion! If this happens again, it will not have the same power. I’ll be prepared. Thanks for sharing that. Blessings, Nancy!

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  2. Thank you ever so much for this post. It is my prayer that I never do that to anyone, yet having a sin nature may cause me to do this without thinking. Sometimes our emotions get the best of us, that to is our sin nature and a matter of maturity in the Lord. Sometimes that paint is far to wet and it shows.

    Cindy you are a true watchwoman on the wall and that unfortunately makes you a target. It is my prayer that God puts on the armor over your heart.

    After years of writing for magazines, being in various venues, the battle worn me out. Then I realize the Bible does say for those of us who are over 60 + we are allowed to pull back. So I have slowed down in my ventures. It sometimes makes me “feel” less useful but everyone gets old(er) and have to re-access how much to get involved in the battles for souls.

    Dear Beloved of the Lord, again thank you for what you do. Often when I like your post, it is my prayer that you feel the love sent from my heart, with that like, In Him

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    1. Yes, I do! And thank you ever so much for all your encouragement! It means more than you know, especially when the enemy is whispering in my ear not to publish something (like today’s post). My prayer is that I will write what the Lord wants me to write to encourage others. God bless you today, Eileen! 🤗

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    2. I don’t remember a verse about being over 60, but we can certainly have different assignments as we get older. Being in an atmosphere of vitriol can be emotionally exhausting. On the other hand, prayer is every bit as much of a battlefield as the internet – maybe more – and there’s no age limit for “warriors” there. I’m in a group of women in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s (!) who gather to pray regularly for our country. When we pray, I can sense the power of God moving. “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint on his knees.”

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      1. Numbers 8:25; 1 Timothy 5:9 – just to mention a couple, these can be taken in a variety of ways. Prayer is always a venue, I use to attend prayer groups until a fire took my health away, now I am forced into solitude due doctors orders to avoid public as much as possible, long before Covid. Our family has been blessed with matriarchs into their 100’s who still prayed, it is a habit they passed on, praise the Lord. I still remember my great-aunt in her black taffeta until the day she died at 101.

        Being raised in a large family, being a social creature, the change to solitude was a hard one, with ill health being in public often lead to ER visits so I was commended to reduce a lot of social activities as they often required more energy that I possessed and exposed me to things I had no control over, like the Bubble Boy David Vetter.

        It was this decline that was the hard adjustment. With 4 older brothers in love with composition, confrontations were not an issue, energy was. It was a matter of God teaching to be still and know He is God. Or like the fern in Annie Flint’s poem, God often brings some into hiding for a purpose that He does not often reveal until one yields.

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        2. What a special lady you are! I didn’t realize it before, but I pray for you almost every day, when I pray for Christians in solitary confinement: “If they are dejected, feeling they no longer have a ministry, remind them of the power of prayer. Guide them in their prayers, give them a sense of what they are accomplishing, and give them enough evidence of their effect to encourage them to persevere in what may well be the most powerful ministry of all “

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  3. I’m sorry you endured that this week, my friend. I find that when someone resorts to attacking our character, it is a sign that our words may have landed where Jesus was aiming. It is incredibly hurtful to be on the end of that character attack, and that is why the enemy uses it. May Jesus heal those wounds and encourage you as it seems He has been, given the great scriptures He’s given you to hold onto. Thank you for sharing them with us!

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    1. Thank you, ML. Oh yes, “our words may have landed where Jesus was aiming.” I have learned a lot from this experience. I will be less vulnerable in the future if this happens again. And I hope others will also be better prepared to withstand this kind of attack, too. God bless you, my friend! 🙏 💕

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  4. A Christian who responds in this way is not showing love and knowledge of God’s Word. One would hope this person was just having a bad day. I’m sorry you experienced an attack on your character, Cindy. You defended God’s Word and that’s what’s important. 🙂

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  6. Cindy, I am sorry you had to face that but I also want to applaud you from not shying away from speaking the truth. There are many who justify what they wrongly believe and when someone speaks differently they immediately lash out and have no room for sensible dialogue. Sounded like this person was just not open to listening. May this sort of thing not deter you to stand firm in stating what you believe is in alignment with scripture but may the Lord embolden you to speak the truth with love and respect.

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  7. I so admire your public stand for truth, Cindy. I often hear the argument that we shouldn’t talk about “politics.” People don’t seem to care that what they call “politics” is often moral and biblical truth that is being changed in order to appease woke and sinful lifestyles that are being legislated into our lives. Satan is very active in all this and we can’t be silent. Yet many people only want to hear happy news while they walk a path of destruction…destruction of their personal lives and also of the America we know and love.

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  9. I have been attacked for my beliefs, as well. I always use the Bible to securely state why what I believe is correct, and then I let it go. Jesus said we would suffer persecution. They hated Him. It is no wonder they will hate what we believe in His word. Their sins do not like God’s truth. Just let it go and pray for the Lord to take the blinders off of their eyes so that they can see. Some are wondering why they aren’t hearing from God when they not only do the sin, they applaud others for doing it also. Abortion equals murder. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for its wickedness. God will not be mocked. We will all reap what we sow. Just keep being your beautiful and loving self. God has you. It is He who we live to please, not any other. O got you in prayer. Sending love and air hugs to you, Cindy. ❤️

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