Scum of the Earth

[mycrucifiedlife]

1 Cor. 4:13
when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Those who want to follow Jesus Christ are the scum of the earth; they are insane; they are detested. Jesus said that we must lose everything to become a disciple. You will lose your wealth and your health, your family and your friends, you will lose everything. Most Christian meeting halls are filled with the message of “Victory in Jesus” but unaware that defeat is what awaits us in this present world. Those who persevere will get the triumph in the end but for now we will be met with a cross and nailed to it by those God has appointed to crucify us. It is really God who arranges all the actors and allows us to be flogged in this life to become like Christ. When Paul became a Christian he lost all but gained everything that counts. He was called insane, and if we live like Jesus we too will be called crazy. I’m tired of all the “Christians” wanting to be accepted by the world, with their fancy buildings and three point lessons. With their funny stories and watered down messages to attract people to Jesus. Jesus didn’t do that, He spoke the truth in love and never begged people into the Kingdom. Do people consider you insane the way they considered Paul insane? Paul tells us to follow him as he follows Christ. What would it mean to follow Paul? To be a Paul is to be rubbish. If you want to be a Christian than you want to be trash. Paul was considered insane, he was in prison, flogged, exposed to death again and again, he received the forty lashes minus one, he was beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from his own countrymen, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers, he labored and toiled and went without sleep, he was hungry and thirsty and went without food, he was cold and naked, and faced death daily. He was the scum of the earth. Most churches in American do not teach these things, instead they teach a message of victory, of blessing here and now for all who come to Jesus. Traveling over land and sea to win a single covert so they can make him twice the son of hell they are. They talk about how “our Father owns this world” and every blessing should be ours. In the meantime the devil is licking his chops because he has duped everyone into thinking that the only cross in the Christian life is the one Jesus was on and let’s be grateful that we don’t have to do such a thing.

 

[TimRout]

It is important that we maintain a balanced view of discipleship. Yes, people must count the cost before coming to Christ [Luke 14:25-35], and yes, as believers we must be mindful that all who seek to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted [2 Timothy 3:12]. That said, Christians most certainly DO live in victory on account of Christ's finished work on the cross [1 John 5:4], and there is nothing wrong with saying as much. We do injustice to the Lord and His Bible if we preach only half a gospel. The lost must be made aware of the whole picture -- the profound draw of the blessings, and the profound responsibility of the denigrations.

 

[RSD]

I was just reading this earlier this week. And we truly are looked down on by the main stream and most of society in general. If you are speaking to a person and lets say they ask you "so what is your number priority in life? and you say "to please the the Lord and live according to the teachings". They will more then likely look at you and laugh or ask why would that be important. I mean come on, don't we all know that the big house and the new beamer is what makes life real special.

We are the scum of the earth, so be it.

 

[CShephard53]

1 Cor. 4:13
when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Those who want to follow Jesus Christ are the scum of the earth; they are insane; they are detested. Jesus said that we must lose everything to become a disciple. You will lose your wealth and your health, your family and your friends, you will lose everything. Most Christian meeting halls are filled with the message of “Victory in Jesus” but unaware that defeat is what awaits us in this present world. Those who persevere will get the triumph in the end but for now we will be met with a cross and nailed to it by those God has appointed to crucify us. It is really God who arranges all the actors and allows us to be flogged in this life to become like Christ. When Paul became a Christian he lost all but gained everything that counts. He was called insane, and if we live like Jesus we too will be called crazy. I’m tired of all the “Christians” wanting to be accepted by the world, with their fancy buildings and three point lessons. With their funny stories and watered down messages to attract people to Jesus. Jesus didn’t do that, He spoke the truth in love and never begged people into the Kingdom. Do people consider you insane the way they considered Paul insane? Paul tells us to follow him as he follows Christ. What would it mean to follow Paul? To be a Paul is to be rubbish. If you want to be a Christian than you want to be trash. Paul was considered insane, he was in prison, flogged, exposed to death again and again, he received the forty lashes minus one, he was beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from his own countrymen, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers, he labored and toiled and went without sleep, he was hungry and thirsty and went without food, he was cold and naked, and faced death daily. He was the scum of the earth. Most churches in American do not teach these things, instead they teach a message of victory, of blessing here and now for all who come to Jesus. Traveling over land and sea to win a single covert so they can make him twice the son of hell they are. They talk about how “our Father owns this world” and every blessing should be ours. In the meantime the devil is licking his chops because he has duped everyone into thinking that the only cross in the Christian life is the one Jesus was on and let’s be grateful that we don’t have to do such a thing.

When you have something edifying to say, please let us know. Not everyone needs a wakeup call, you know.

 

[ChaChynga]

Man loves the approval of man.

Many called and few chosen.

You will be known by your fruits.

Expect to hear all sorts of claims about being a legalist or a bigot or worst - that is if you follow HIM (Yahweah) .

 

[skylark1]

1 Cor. 4:13
when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Those who want to follow Jesus Christ are the scum of the earth; they are insane; they are detested. Jesus said that we must lose everything to become a disciple. You will lose your wealth and your health, your family and your friends, you will lose everything. Most Christian meeting halls are filled with the message of “Victory in Jesus” but unaware that defeat is what awaits us in this present world. Those who persevere will get the triumph in the end but for now we will be met with a cross and nailed to it by those God has appointed to crucify us. It is really God who arranges all the actors and allows us to be flogged in this life to become like Christ. When Paul became a Christian he lost all but gained everything that counts. He was called insane, and if we live like Jesus we too will be called crazy. I’m tired of all the “Christians” wanting to be accepted by the world, with their fancy buildings and three point lessons. With their funny stories and watered down messages to attract people to Jesus. Jesus didn’t do that, He spoke the truth in love and never begged people into the Kingdom. Do people consider you insane the way they considered Paul insane? Paul tells us to follow him as he follows Christ. What would it mean to follow Paul? To be a Paul is to be rubbish. If you want to be a Christian than you want to be trash. Paul was considered insane, he was in prison, flogged, exposed to death again and again, he received the forty lashes minus one, he was beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from his own countrymen, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers, he labored and toiled and went without sleep, he was hungry and thirsty and went without food, he was cold and naked, and faced death daily. He was the scum of the earth. Most churches in American do not teach these things, instead they teach a message of victory, of blessing here and now for all who come to Jesus. Traveling over land and sea to win a single covert so they can make him twice the son of hell they are. They talk about how “our Father owns this world” and every blessing should be ours. In the meantime the devil is licking his chops because he has duped everyone into thinking that the only cross in the Christian life is the one Jesus was on and let’s be grateful that we don’t have to do such a thing.

Actully, when Paul wrote these words, he was referring to the apostles, and how they were treated and viewed by the world.

1 Corinthians 4​

8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.​

I think that the point was to recognize that Paul and the other apostles were servants of Christ, and to respect them , not to become arrogant; that there should be no divisions among them. Paul did not want them to take pride in one manover against another.

God doesn't call us all to the same ministry. Not all of us are called to leave our homes. Sometimes we are to simply bloom where we are planted. James was called to remain in Jerusalem, while Paul was called to travel and be a missionary to the Gentiles. I think that what it important is a willingness to go where he sends us, and to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit.

However, I do agree that sometimes the message is focused so much on our victory, that we lose sight of the brokenhearted, the poor, the oppressed, the prisoners. May we always remember to serve God, and to seek out those who Jesus would have us serve. But we need not think of ourselves as scum, insane, or rubbish, in order to do so. We are to called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.