You're probably familiar with the story of the Emperor's New Clothes. The emperor is given clothes that can supposedly only be seen by the wise. In actuality, there are no clothes, but nobody wants to be considered a fool, so they all praise the king's nonexistent garments. It is only a very wise child who is not afraid of repercussions who eventually says, "The king is naked!"
Sometimes, I feel it is easy to be like the peer-pressured adults in this story. Maybe you do too. Go along with the consensus. Don't make waves. Most of us don't like controversy. I know I hate going against the grain. But, sometimes God calls us to that.
When I was 22, I was in a college/career Bible study. There were group leaders, but mainly, the older students (like myself), facilitated the discussions in small groups. We would read the passage together and answer questions. I really enjoyed being a table leader. I liked everyone from the group. At first.
That fall, a new batch of high school graduates came to our class. One was an 18-year-old boy I'll call James. James was antagonistic to everyone, and made challenging statements on every subject we covered in the Bible study. I don't mean he was truly seeking out the claims of scripture and asking honest questions. I mean he was mean and rude for the sake of being mean and rude.
One day, we were studying the Promises of God. James piped up by saying that God sometimes lies to us to test us. There were new believers in the group, and could see confusion on their faces. As the leader, I felt responsible for what was said in this study. I wanted everyone to leave knowing God better than before, not being confused. So I looked at James and said, "Chapter and verse, please?"
He stammered. "Well, it's not something that's in the Bible."
"Then," I replied, "it's not something that's true."
He continued to insist that God was capable of lying.
I brought up Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man, that He should repent..."
James looked disgusted. "I hate it when Christians use the Bible against me!"
"If you didn't make heretical statements, you wouldn't need to worry about it," I told him.
"Ding, ding, ding! End of round one!" One of the humorous girls in our group chimed in, bringing a little laughter to the group.
I left that day really hoping that the truth about God's character had gone out, and that no one had left with the wrong ideas about God.
Imagine my surprise the next week when several of the more mature believers in the group were mad at me! And why? Because I hadn't said enough to refute James? No. It was because they felt I had been argumentative!
Wait a minute here. James came in swinging. He was angry and unkind to everyone. And most importantly, James had said untrue statements about God. Yet they chose to be mad at me for refuting what he said! In their mind, the right thing to do was cower, and the problem would magically go away. They used the verse with me about being peacemakers. I guess to them, peace meant ignoring what is wrong, rather than resolving it.
I tried talking with the couple who was ultimately in charge of us (in their late 20's or early 30's), and they really didn't want to touch it. They just said, "Well, he's a weak Christian, and you probably handled it the right way..." but they wouldn't back me up or help me.
After we finished that study and moved to the next, the groups were mixed, and James became someone else's problem (actually, he ended up in the same group as my brother, and started an argument with him about whether Mary and Joseph ever spanked Jesus).
I went away from that experience very confused. Yet this is not the only time I have seen this. Many believers are terrified of conflict. They're afraid to say, "The king is naked." They are terrified of rocking the boat. And they look down on those who do feel called upon to speak out. I don't know why, but they often vilify the one who declares the truth, and turn the one who was wrong into the victim. The one who is trying to address it is said to be judging.
Judging is, in my opinion, the most misused idea in American culture, especially in Christianity. I don't know how many times I have been accused of "judging" simply because I disagreed with someone or had a different opinion. This is not judging. Let me tell you what I believe judging really is (the kind that Jesus warned us not to do). Let's say I'm out for a walk late at night. I walk by a pastor's house. In his driveway is the car of a single woman in town. I ask myself, "why would she be at his house at this hour? I bet his wife isn't home. I'll bet they have an affair going..." and go on from there. That is judging, because I don't have the facts at all and am making really bad assumptions. This is what judging is. But to see something I disagree with and say that I disagree...that isn't judging at all. I'm not making a statement about the person's motives. I have no idea what their motives are. I just know I disagree with what has been said. Like with James. I never guessed at his motives or tried to ascribe values to him one way or the other. I simply had problems with his statements.
I don't like arguing with people. It terrifies me too. But when truth is at stake, or when something wrong has been done, I have to do it. I pray. I try to do it in a right way. Sometimes I let fear hold me back, or sometimes I am too quick to speak without letting God temper my response. It is a hard balance to achieve. I'm still working on it.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would give us power to be His witnesses. This is the power to preach the gospel. It is also the power to discern what is right or wrong, and when to speak out. I want to encourage my brave friends who speak out about truth to keep doing it, tempered with the Holy Spirit's love. And to my reserved friends, I want to encourage you to support those who speak out, instead of looking down on them. They are not causing the conflict; they are trying to resolve it. They are not getting any enjoyment or pleasure by confronting a situation. They're responding to something God has given them to do. Sometimes, all it takes is someone to stand up and say "The King is Naked".
Sometimes, I feel it is easy to be like the peer-pressured adults in this story. Maybe you do too. Go along with the consensus. Don't make waves. Most of us don't like controversy. I know I hate going against the grain. But, sometimes God calls us to that.
When I was 22, I was in a college/career Bible study. There were group leaders, but mainly, the older students (like myself), facilitated the discussions in small groups. We would read the passage together and answer questions. I really enjoyed being a table leader. I liked everyone from the group. At first.
That fall, a new batch of high school graduates came to our class. One was an 18-year-old boy I'll call James. James was antagonistic to everyone, and made challenging statements on every subject we covered in the Bible study. I don't mean he was truly seeking out the claims of scripture and asking honest questions. I mean he was mean and rude for the sake of being mean and rude.
One day, we were studying the Promises of God. James piped up by saying that God sometimes lies to us to test us. There were new believers in the group, and could see confusion on their faces. As the leader, I felt responsible for what was said in this study. I wanted everyone to leave knowing God better than before, not being confused. So I looked at James and said, "Chapter and verse, please?"
He stammered. "Well, it's not something that's in the Bible."
"Then," I replied, "it's not something that's true."
He continued to insist that God was capable of lying.
I brought up Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man, that He should repent..."
James looked disgusted. "I hate it when Christians use the Bible against me!"
"If you didn't make heretical statements, you wouldn't need to worry about it," I told him.
"Ding, ding, ding! End of round one!" One of the humorous girls in our group chimed in, bringing a little laughter to the group.
I left that day really hoping that the truth about God's character had gone out, and that no one had left with the wrong ideas about God.
Imagine my surprise the next week when several of the more mature believers in the group were mad at me! And why? Because I hadn't said enough to refute James? No. It was because they felt I had been argumentative!
Wait a minute here. James came in swinging. He was angry and unkind to everyone. And most importantly, James had said untrue statements about God. Yet they chose to be mad at me for refuting what he said! In their mind, the right thing to do was cower, and the problem would magically go away. They used the verse with me about being peacemakers. I guess to them, peace meant ignoring what is wrong, rather than resolving it.
I tried talking with the couple who was ultimately in charge of us (in their late 20's or early 30's), and they really didn't want to touch it. They just said, "Well, he's a weak Christian, and you probably handled it the right way..." but they wouldn't back me up or help me.
After we finished that study and moved to the next, the groups were mixed, and James became someone else's problem (actually, he ended up in the same group as my brother, and started an argument with him about whether Mary and Joseph ever spanked Jesus).
I went away from that experience very confused. Yet this is not the only time I have seen this. Many believers are terrified of conflict. They're afraid to say, "The king is naked." They are terrified of rocking the boat. And they look down on those who do feel called upon to speak out. I don't know why, but they often vilify the one who declares the truth, and turn the one who was wrong into the victim. The one who is trying to address it is said to be judging.
Judging is, in my opinion, the most misused idea in American culture, especially in Christianity. I don't know how many times I have been accused of "judging" simply because I disagreed with someone or had a different opinion. This is not judging. Let me tell you what I believe judging really is (the kind that Jesus warned us not to do). Let's say I'm out for a walk late at night. I walk by a pastor's house. In his driveway is the car of a single woman in town. I ask myself, "why would she be at his house at this hour? I bet his wife isn't home. I'll bet they have an affair going..." and go on from there. That is judging, because I don't have the facts at all and am making really bad assumptions. This is what judging is. But to see something I disagree with and say that I disagree...that isn't judging at all. I'm not making a statement about the person's motives. I have no idea what their motives are. I just know I disagree with what has been said. Like with James. I never guessed at his motives or tried to ascribe values to him one way or the other. I simply had problems with his statements.
I don't like arguing with people. It terrifies me too. But when truth is at stake, or when something wrong has been done, I have to do it. I pray. I try to do it in a right way. Sometimes I let fear hold me back, or sometimes I am too quick to speak without letting God temper my response. It is a hard balance to achieve. I'm still working on it.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would give us power to be His witnesses. This is the power to preach the gospel. It is also the power to discern what is right or wrong, and when to speak out. I want to encourage my brave friends who speak out about truth to keep doing it, tempered with the Holy Spirit's love. And to my reserved friends, I want to encourage you to support those who speak out, instead of looking down on them. They are not causing the conflict; they are trying to resolve it. They are not getting any enjoyment or pleasure by confronting a situation. They're responding to something God has given them to do. Sometimes, all it takes is someone to stand up and say "The King is Naked".
Hello Janelle. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, india. I am glad to visit your profile on the blogger and the blog post. Your post is a true revelation and it is very true what you have said. We need to defend the truth. I am truly blessed by your post not only that but truly blessed and feel privileged and honored to get connected with you as well as know you and about your wide experience in the field of missions as being missionary. What a blessings and honor to know such a Godly women, through your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I HAVE BEEN in the Pastoral ministry for last 38 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have young people from your contacts to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have a life changing experience. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends. God willing I will be coming to the States in coming year 2018 and will be so glad to visit you and get to know you and be encouraged, strengthened in my spirit. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede. looking forward to hear from you very soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging message! I will contact your email.
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