Public Humiliation Article 7 - July 2012
Jesus was the receiver of the ultimate humiliation.
I saw a public display recently that has troubled me. When it was happening, I could not believe what I saw or what I was hearing, especially since this was in a Christian setting. I will not divulge the exact event because I would not want others to be put on public display as these persons were. I felt so sorry for the ones who were being publicly humiliated. It’s like a deep sadness came over me. The Holy Ghost let me know immediately it was wrong. I think of the scripture that Jesus spoke when he said, Father forgive them for they know not what they do (paraphrasing – Luke 23:34).
Let me say at the outset, that living for the Lord is not just about how we dress, how we look, divorce, remarriage, and etc.; although, as you know,
those things are important. It is also about how we treat others and having respect for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. It’s about loving the
sinner, just as Christ does. It is about compassion, wisdom and love.
Now, I do understand that Christians do not like being chastised. If you do, then you are probably in the minority. However, we are chastised because God loves us. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6). When we do things that are evil or wrong, He wants to get us back to where we should be and that is righteous. We are either righteous or we are unrighteous. We cannot have it both ways. (Please read my article on “Are You Righteous?”) Yes, sometimes, His word hurts and it is sharp. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
I will ask the following questions: If a Christian or Christians are put to public shame, public humiliation, and/or mockery, by other Christians, is
this what Christ would do? Wasn’t even our Lord done the same way? Wasn’t the woman taken in adultery put to public shame? But how did Christ handle it? Oh, if we were but humble and had compassion as Christ did. Christians, where is our love and compassion? We must be wise in our Christian walk with the Lord. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). If it wasn’t important for us to have Godly wisdom, then why is it in scriptures? It is vital to our spiritual being. “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit” (Proverbs 14:8). If we do not have wisdom, then we must ask and pray for it. It is most important to our salvation and others’ salvation. Why is that so? Because we must have enough wisdom about us to know that without love, everything we do is as having done nothing. It is of no importance. “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). Now, think about that scripture. It is profound and we should take its meaning very seriously. There are many other scriptures I could insert here, but for the sake of time, I will move on.
Was Jesus mocked and humiliated and made a public example of? Should we have love one for another? Should we parade other Christians in
front of others to be made examples? Should we not have enough wisdom about us to know that when someone is made a public example of, there could be serious ramifications? Consider the bullies, and etc. Read the news. As Christians, it should be our desire and intent never to hurt someone
deliberately. Let’s work to make sure the following never happens: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).
Please let us not put our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to open shame. These are precious souls, but can fall just as you and I can. If David fell into deep sin, couldn’t you and I do the same? Let’s not push our fellow Christians over the edge or back into sin because of a hurt we have caused.
Some may not be as strong as others. We must gently work with people. These are precious souls made in the image of God and that makes all of humanity special. It’s just that the world doesn’t understand that concept. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy
of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2).
It is one thing when we are ridiculed, humiliated and mocked by the world, but when Christians do it to each other?
Fay Bouknight
Let me say at the outset, that living for the Lord is not just about how we dress, how we look, divorce, remarriage, and etc.; although, as you know,
those things are important. It is also about how we treat others and having respect for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. It’s about loving the
sinner, just as Christ does. It is about compassion, wisdom and love.
Now, I do understand that Christians do not like being chastised. If you do, then you are probably in the minority. However, we are chastised because God loves us. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6). When we do things that are evil or wrong, He wants to get us back to where we should be and that is righteous. We are either righteous or we are unrighteous. We cannot have it both ways. (Please read my article on “Are You Righteous?”) Yes, sometimes, His word hurts and it is sharp. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
I will ask the following questions: If a Christian or Christians are put to public shame, public humiliation, and/or mockery, by other Christians, is
this what Christ would do? Wasn’t even our Lord done the same way? Wasn’t the woman taken in adultery put to public shame? But how did Christ handle it? Oh, if we were but humble and had compassion as Christ did. Christians, where is our love and compassion? We must be wise in our Christian walk with the Lord. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). If it wasn’t important for us to have Godly wisdom, then why is it in scriptures? It is vital to our spiritual being. “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit” (Proverbs 14:8). If we do not have wisdom, then we must ask and pray for it. It is most important to our salvation and others’ salvation. Why is that so? Because we must have enough wisdom about us to know that without love, everything we do is as having done nothing. It is of no importance. “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). Now, think about that scripture. It is profound and we should take its meaning very seriously. There are many other scriptures I could insert here, but for the sake of time, I will move on.
Was Jesus mocked and humiliated and made a public example of? Should we have love one for another? Should we parade other Christians in
front of others to be made examples? Should we not have enough wisdom about us to know that when someone is made a public example of, there could be serious ramifications? Consider the bullies, and etc. Read the news. As Christians, it should be our desire and intent never to hurt someone
deliberately. Let’s work to make sure the following never happens: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).
Please let us not put our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to open shame. These are precious souls, but can fall just as you and I can. If David fell into deep sin, couldn’t you and I do the same? Let’s not push our fellow Christians over the edge or back into sin because of a hurt we have caused.
Some may not be as strong as others. We must gently work with people. These are precious souls made in the image of God and that makes all of humanity special. It’s just that the world doesn’t understand that concept. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy
of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2).
It is one thing when we are ridiculed, humiliated and mocked by the world, but when Christians do it to each other?
Fay Bouknight
