Humbleness in Persecution
In Athens, every free man was allowed to write the name of the person he desired to ostracize on a potsherd and drop it into an urn. An illiterate Athenian approached Aristides the Just, and asked him to write a name on the potsherd for him. Kindly, Aristides asked him what name he wanted written. The man, not recognizing Aristides, replied, "Aristides." When the startled Aristides asked the man why, he said, "I am sick and tired of hearing him called 'the Just.'" Silently, Aristides wrote his own name on the shard and returned it to the man.
Aristides is praised for his wisdom and justice in every situation. In the battle of the Marathon, he gave up control of the army to Miltiades, a man whom Aristides believed was a better general. When he attempted to get a bill passed in Athens, he heard good reasons to vote against it. This caused him to speak against his own bill.
This anecdote teaches us that whenever we are faced with foolish persecution, we are to be humble and truthful. Our first reaction is usually anger, but it is wiser to be humble when faced with absurd charges, for that is the example Christ has given us. Although we are sinful, we are to always follow the example Christ set for us.
In this anecdote, Aristides conveys the idea that humbleness in the face of foolish persecution is admirable.
If we are calm and humble when absurd charges are presented against us, many people will believe the charges to be bizarre and discount them.
On the other hand, if we lose our temper, others will suspect that we are angry
because the charges are true and join our prosecutor.
Just as it is with humility in persecution, so also was it with the early Church martyrs and their persecutors. When ordered to deny Christ and worship Caesar, the martyrs, although they were going to their deaths, were humble and stayed faithful to their Savior.
In the Old Testament of Scripture, Daniel was cast into the lion's den on account of an absurd law. Yet he was humble and the Lord delivered him from his oppression.
The famous German philosopher and political thinker, Ernest Moritz Arndt, said, "Only those who feel little in the eyes of God, can hope to be mighty in the eyes of man."
After benefiting from Aristide's teaching, we must be humble, no matter what happens, even in the face of foolish persecution so that we may glorify God.
Aristides is praised for his wisdom and justice in every situation. In the battle of the Marathon, he gave up control of the army to Miltiades, a man whom Aristides believed was a better general. When he attempted to get a bill passed in Athens, he heard good reasons to vote against it. This caused him to speak against his own bill.
This anecdote teaches us that whenever we are faced with foolish persecution, we are to be humble and truthful. Our first reaction is usually anger, but it is wiser to be humble when faced with absurd charges, for that is the example Christ has given us. Although we are sinful, we are to always follow the example Christ set for us.
In this anecdote, Aristides conveys the idea that humbleness in the face of foolish persecution is admirable.
If we are calm and humble when absurd charges are presented against us, many people will believe the charges to be bizarre and discount them.
On the other hand, if we lose our temper, others will suspect that we are angry
because the charges are true and join our prosecutor.
Just as it is with humility in persecution, so also was it with the early Church martyrs and their persecutors. When ordered to deny Christ and worship Caesar, the martyrs, although they were going to their deaths, were humble and stayed faithful to their Savior.
In the Old Testament of Scripture, Daniel was cast into the lion's den on account of an absurd law. Yet he was humble and the Lord delivered him from his oppression.
The famous German philosopher and political thinker, Ernest Moritz Arndt, said, "Only those who feel little in the eyes of God, can hope to be mighty in the eyes of man."
After benefiting from Aristide's teaching, we must be humble, no matter what happens, even in the face of foolish persecution so that we may glorify God.
posted by J. Hunter Quinn at 9:55 AM
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