According to Jesus. Those who others speak ill of. The slandered, the maligned, the publicly shamed. Especially—according to Jesus, it’s worth clarifying—those who are cursed for doing what it right.
We have a problem in our culture. It seems that one of our favorite national pass-times has become calling people out. Particularly anyone who might have any sort of public influence. There are few things we Americans love more than raising someone up on a pedestal only to cheer as we knock them back to the ground.
Beware the spotlight.
The world’s beatitudes says that we are blessed when people speak well of us. Yet in Luke’s gospel, Jesus warns that such people have already received their reward in full. And in our call-out culture, even such high praise from other people is likely to be short-lived.
But there is good news. The beatitudes of the Kingdom of Jesus run against the grain. So take heart if people speak ill of you. If you are ever slandered, maligned, or publicly shamed—especially because you are doing what is right. You are blessed.
Receive that blessing with humility and silence. It’s just as real (perhaps even more so) if you don’t share it on Facebook.
