Rejected for your faith

Illustration:

Have you every been rejected? Maybe a friend decided they didn’t want to be your friend anymore, or your high school sweetheart dumped you leaving you feeling rejected. Sometimes a relationship with a family member sours for whatever reason. In these situations we ultimately we find ourselves feel unwanted and alone.

Have you ever been rejected for your faith? Maybe you’ve been mistreated or harassed at work or in a social setting because of your belief God, or passed over for a promotion because your boss doesn't share or agree with your faith.

In 2015 High school football coach Joe Kennedy was fired for praying on the field. He had coached there since 2008 and prayed after each game for his players and the opportunity to coach. He never asked anyone to join him, this was about his relationship with God.

For 8 years coach Kennedy prayed win or lose after every game. It was never an issue before the 2015 season. What started as a compliment from neighboring school administrated became an order from the school board to stop praying after games where others could see him. Their reason? Students and fans could see him engaging in a religious expression.

Joe Kennedy was given an ultimatum, stop praying at center field or lose his job. He took a knee one last time knowing it would be his last game as a coach.

Introduction:

We all face rejection in our lives. Whether by a loved one or a stranger, we face rejection at some point. If we live as Christians, the secular coulter will reject us. Ignatius of Antioch said, “The unbelievers bear the stamp of this world, but the believers in love bear the stamp of God the Father through Jesus Christ”.

Rejection invalidates us and tells us we are not accepted. Secularists will make fun of what we believe and insult us for believing in a God they cannot see. They will try to invalidate our beliefs and in the processes invalidate us as Gods creation. Psalm 2:1-3 says, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” What does it mean that they “take counsel.. against the Lord and.. his Anointed”? They wanted His blood, they have the devils mind and only His death will suffice.