Tuesday, November 1, 2016

The Scarlet Letters




                In 1850, the New England novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote his most famous novel, The Scarlet Letter. It told the story of Hester Prynne, who in 17th century Boston was forced to wear a scarlet “A” on her dress at all times, branding her as an adulteress. Hester was shunned by her community and forced to eke out a meager existence with her daughter Pearl on the edge of town.

                Today, you and I have our own ‘scarlet letters’. And in some folks’ minds, these letters brand US as the enemy, too – in the secular 21st century that we live in, those red letters often merit the same “disrespect” Hester received. Our red letters… are the words in the New Testament…the words spoken by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

                Wear your Scarlet Letters with pride
                The crimson writing of our Savior’s Word.
                Red depicts the blood He shed when He was crucified,
                So share your Scarlet Letters!

                Now, that’s not the end of Hester’s story. She was dignified in her own defense, which made the other women in town hate her even more. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus too was always dignified in His own defense, which only made the Pharisees more determined to have Him killed.

                As we defend our Scarlet Letters, let us also be dignified and respectful – as Christ said, “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Yes, it may make our naysayers more determined to stand their ground, or even hate us… or, maybe not? After all, in the end of the novel, Hester came back to Boston and was a woman in whom most of the other ladies felt comfortable confiding in. And of course, millions of Christians confide in Jesus every day – in the Man whose Scarlet Letters we stand firmly on to this day…
               
Wear your Scarlet Letters with pride
                The crimson writing of our Savior’s Word.
                Red depicts the blood He shed when He was crucified,
                So share your Scarlet Letters!

                So, what about the sacrifices Hester made to protect her child, Pearl? About that red embroidered letter she was forced to wear because of Pearl’s very existence? Well, Pearl became so fascinated with that crimson letter that in the end it became a matter of pride to have it shown. Likewise, all of God’s children – us – we became fascinated with His red letters as well. We use the Lord’s word as the basis for our very lives, as Jesus Himself said to us: “If anyone loves me, he will obey My teaching.”

                So when you’re feeling depressed, rejected, even persecuted for your beliefs, know that for a Christian, every day is a red letter day – a day to celebrate the life of Christ, a day to love our fellow man, and to share those red letters with the whole world!

Wear your Scarlet Letters with pride
                The crimson writing of Jesus’s Word.
                Red depicts the blood He shed when He was crucified,
                So share your Scarlet Letters!

Wear your Scarlet Letters with pride
                The crimson writing of Jesus’s Word.
                Red depicts the blood He shed when He was crucified,
                So share your Scarlet Letters!
                Share your Scarlet Letters!

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