What to Do with Haters

'I gave My back to those who struck Me,
And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.'
Isaiah 50:6

When we think of success, what do we think of? When we think of living out of our calling, what images come to mind? In an increasingly perfectionist and analytical society, success and power are often dependant on the ability to create and maintain a slick reputation. There are companies whose sole job is to create and recreate the persona and public perspective of high power individuals: politicians, actors and businessmen. Attempting to control the thoughts of the masses is high on the priority list if you seek to be a public figure in a modern age. It takes a lot of work to structure your words and actions to avoid alienating yourself in any way from those around you. In fact, it could easily become a full time job: part performance and part damage control. And it's not just the high powered who embrace this tenuous work. We can all feel pressured to shape the opinions of those around us in our favour, whether it is through careful social media pruning or in the way we conduct ourselves verbally to those around us. It is very much a twentieth century, first world problem, but it is understandable. People are watching. And they are making judgement.

I know some people who are boldly themselves. They let the disapproval of others slide from them like water off a duck's back. They know who they are and they are comfortable in their own skin. For the rest of us, we can become so concerned with what other people think that it begins to break into who we are. Before long we find that we have sliced pieces of ourselves off to suit the expectations of others. Or added behaviours that we think those around us want us to have. All this cutting and modelling can leave us feeling pretty inauthentic, resentful and stressed out. Pretty soon we can even forget for ourselves who we actually are.

The reason I have chosen this unusual Bible verse to focus on today is because I feel there are some vital principles relating to personal calling. This passage is a Messianic, prophetic portion of Scripture. It was written from the perspective of the coming Christ, revealing something of His work, His calling and His attitude to a world who would ultimately reject Him. See, despite the fact that He would be crucified, ridiculed and rejected in the most barbaric ways, Christ was not daunted by his haters. He had a job to do. One commissioned by the Father and He set His face like flint to do so. If we start looking around at all those people who seek to pull us down, we will fast lose sight of what it is that we are called us to do. I believe there is a concept that can be gleaned from this verse. Christ gave His back to His persecutors and this is a very interesting stance to take. He did not fight His enemies. He simply shifted His position so that they were not in His line of sight anymore. We can spend our whole life trying to fight our opponents. Trying to reason and convince them that they are wrong, that they are misunderstanding us. Jesus knew this was a fast track to falling away from His calling and we need to understand this, too. There will always be a critic. Engaging with them will keep us from the work we are meant to be doing.

Constructive criticism from those who know us and are wise, trustworthy friends is a valuable tool. But some people just want to look for the negative or fill in the blanks of what they don't understand with their own opinions. While the people themselves are not necessarily our enemies, their attitudes are toxic and can become obstacles to us, if we are not bedded deeply and confidently in who we are in Christ. The answer is simple. Know who you are and get comfortable in your calling. God has put you in your skin for a reason. He has given you gifts and talents to bless those around you. Like Christ, refuse to hide. The truth is, you will face opposition. You will face conflict. It is not your job to try to prevent that. Nor is it your job to squeeze and shape yourself to popular opinion. Your job is simple. Be you. Bravely and boldly. The people who you are meant to influence, will be influenced. As for the rest? They are God's job.