We should not be afraid of being criticized by church people.

We should not be afraid of being criticized by church people.

 

 

When considering the criticism that Peter faced from the circumcised believers

for going to the uncircumcised Gentiles' house and eating with them,

rather than the news that even the Gentiles had received the word of God

(Acts 11:1-3),

it was because for those circumcised believers,

Peter's association and closeness with Gentiles as a Jew

was considered a violation of the law (10:28), hence the criticism.

However, despite the fact that Jesus himself did not associate with Samaritans and Jews,

he engaged in conversation with a Samaritan woman

who came to draw water at Jacob's well in the Samaritan town of Sychar.

As a result, not only did the Samaritan woman believe in Jesus,

but also many Samaritans from that town believed in him upon hearing her words

(John 4:5-9, 39).

 

We should not fear the criticism from believers who prioritize legalistic laws,

as we still violate such legalistic laws that remain within us.

For example, if we seek to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with homosexual individuals

and approach them to dine together in fellowship, aiming for the salvation of their souls,

we should not fear being murmured against and criticized by church members due to it.

We should not fear the criticism from believers who condemn us for dining together with others,

focusing on that news rather than the news that they have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ

and come to believe in Him.

The reason is that hypocrites honor God with their lips but their hearts are far from Him.

They teach human-made laws as if they were God's teachings,

worshiping God in vain, and nullifying His word because of their traditions

(Matthew 15:1-9).

Additionally, the reason is that the Lord has appointed us

to be a light to all people, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth

(Acts 13:47).