I have an enemy. You probably do, too. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Jesus and the apostles had enemies. I’ve been dissecting the example of Jesus’ godly response to his enemies. Earlier this week, I blogged about his model described in 1 Peter 2:20-25.
When we’re persecuted, we are to walk in his steps, not retaliating or threatening, but entrusting ourselves to the just Judge.
Anytime a lesson is learned, there must be a test.
Every year we poll the users of the bible-study material I produce for the church. Based on feedback, I make adjustments. From the poll we took this week, I’m happy to find that a large majority are pleased with things just as they are. I’ve reworked the material for eight years, attempting to get to this place.
I also gained some great ideas for simplifying and streamlining, because several people mentioned their desire for a built-in strategy for when their time is limited. Their words sparked an idea. Based on their needs, some revisions now bubble in my head.
It’s affirming to hear what’s working, but the ideas for improvement are even more valuable. Every year, I use the criticism to guide my reworking, hoping to produce even better material.
But this year, I encountered something I’ve never experienced in all my years of writing material for the church. In this anonymous polling, I learned I have an enemy. On the feedback sheet someone told me they never look at the material or use it, because I write it. No helpful input was given, no reasons, just me.
Satan loves this sort of thing. He uses personal attack to steal our joy. Attempting to discourage and destroy, he whispers accusations about our lack of worth. But, in inspiring this sort of attack, he gets two for the price of one. Not only does he harm me, but he harms the one who attacks me. Something eating away at them festers, rather than being dealt with properly.
I don’t know why anyone would be upset with me personally. I don’t know if they object to my writing because I am a woman or because I am myself. Have I offended them in some way? I’m a sinner, so it’s possible. But I have no way of knowing. Though 90% of the feedback was positive, this one comment robbed me of sleep and brought tears to my eyes.
This makes Jesus’ response to his attackers acutely personal. As he fulfilled his earthly mission, his critics sneered at him, mocking and belittling. He didn’t retort, retaliate, or threaten. He entrusted himself to the just Judge. In his ministry, he felt the sting of personal attack. They didn’t want a Messiah like him, with his virgin birth and suffering-servant mission.
Jesus said we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This is hard to do when we feel the blush of shame upon our cheeks and the sting of personal attack. Can we walk into the room, smiling and interacting warmly when there is a watching enemy? Can we love and cherish each audience, knowing the group contains a person who prefers to spell out their dislike?
This is a tough assignment, a test. Can I follow in the footsteps of the Savior, loving even an enemy?
I was a straying sheep, one who wandered away from God, but now I have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of my soul. Jesus died for my sins, so I could be transformed. So, yes, with his help I can. Like a little lamb, I’m sticking close to the heels of the Master, believing what he says of me, entrusting myself to the just Judge, and praying for his intervention. For me, this is the remedy.
How has the Lord taught you this lesson? How are you following him in loving your enemies?
Except for crucifixion picture, all images: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
We know the church is full of unbelievers. This person cannot love Christ and hate his brother according to 1 John. So they must be an unbeliever or someone in need of serious conselling. Your material is fantastic and this person’s opinion is poorly given and meant for discouragement. Don’t let it.
The church is full of sinners. Sinners sin, even redeemed ones. The just Judge will sort it out. The outcome is his. If there’s some offense on my part, I hope I’ll discover what it is, so I can make it right. Christians forgive and reconcile.
I agree with Tim, even though I have a tendency to obsess over criticism instead of taking it to the Lord and letting Him be the judge of my actions and attitudes and letting Him be their just judge as well. In as much as it has to do with me I am to be at peace with all men, so often it is not in my hands to reconcile more than I have by going to Him and offering to mend what is not right, praying the Lord does a work in the other person for the sake of His name. This the reason Peter keeps telling us to wage war against our flesh, love our fellow brothers in the Lord, be holy as He is holy, set your mind on His return, look to Christ for the example to follow in loving your enemies – we live in a fallen world and even redeemed persons are in the process of sanctification until He returns. We love them because He loved us first and called us out of the world to look different and be different – be like Him in our attitudes, actions and words. Seek the truth of the accusation before the Lord, act on what He shows and trust Him to work through you as you use the gifts He has given you for His glory.
Thank you, Kripsie Anne. This response by the anonymous critic seems completely out of sync with what we’ve been learning in 1 Peter. Love for one another and holy living are the guiding principles of Christian life. Since his/her only criticism of the material is that I write it, and I don’t know who he or she is, there’s no way to reconcile or seek a solution. This definitely isn’t how Matthew 18 shapes reconciliation, where we go to one another to work out differences. Unless this person reveals himself, I have to let it go. It’s a relief to know the just Judge sees.
Do you only poll people in the local church? Or is this nation or global users?
This is the polling of my “beta group”—my local church. I poll and improve every year. A publisher is considering the material. But I’m still moving ahead with plans to self-publish by this summer, in case they pass on it. Once I’m selling material, I’ll poll customers also. I’ll be updating my samples with the new improvements inspired by this polling.
P.S. The verbal polling we’ve done concerning the use of the material in India has been positive. So, we have a bunch of material boxed up to go to Jeffin in India next time someone goes.
This response to your polling tells me far more about the respondent than it tells me about you! This is not really your problem but theirs. The word says that if we say that we love God, we must also love the brothers. As God’s children, we are commanded to love each other. This person has a heart problem with God. If he says he loves God but hates his brother, he is a liar. Those words are found in I John 4. I am praying for that person and for you to model Christ’s behavior! How convenient that you just wrote that last time!! Blessings, hugs, love, and prayer.
The just Judge sees all hearts. That’s the important fact for my heart and for anyone else’s. I’m resting in him and moving forward with the great ideas the polling inspired—streamlining to make the material easier for parents of young children with busy lives.
That sounds like a great plan! You have been very humble, open to correction, and desiring to develop the study to meet the needs of the family of God where you worship. I would say that you are loving God and loving His children in obedience to His Word.
Well, that is by the grace of God alone.