We are Like Everyone’s Garbage

Society aims to treat us like garbage—they look at us as scum. We are nothing. We are nobodies.

“when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the scum of the earth, like everyone’s garbage.” (1Corinthians‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭CSB‬)

The world hates Christians—it’s not hard to see. Yes, there are some who are indifferent to us, the ones who say, “I don’t mind you being a Christian as long as it doesn’t interfere with others.” And yet, those are the same people who, when rubber meets the road, will revile us, slander us, and persecute us.

You see, for Christians to be Christians, we must “interfere” with people’s lives. Not in the sense of forcing a person to become a Christian—that’s not biblical (see John 3:3). And we don’t interfere in the sense of allowing that person to believe what he or she wants to believe. We do “interfere,” however, in the sense of our witness. We evangelize. We speak up about Christ. We proclaim the gospel.

And the gospel will always interfere with people’s lives.

Because of this, society aims to treat us like garbage—they look at us as scum. We are nothing. We are nobodies.

But this doesn’t mean we back down. It doesn’t mean we wither away in fear. As Scripture tells us, we are to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves (Matt. 10:16). The world is going to mock us, revile us, and slander us. Unbelievers will do everything in their power to marginalize us.

And that’s okay. Be vigilant; be loving. Be compassionate; be bold. Be courageous; be gentle. Remember the truths of the gospel and always know that those truths are worth the revilement, the slander, the persecution.

The world may disagree, but we are on the right side of history. We are on God’s side, in His family. And what a wonderful privilege that is. When words of hatred come our way, let us remember to whom we belong—God—and shrug it off.

God’s got us.