We have many sayings for it…
- Getting your toes stepped on.
- Hitting the nail on the head.
- If the shoe fits, wear it.
When confronted with Truth – be it in a sermon, in a book or on a blog – you have only three possible responses: Repent, Retaliate or Run.
Repentance is the only acceptable response. It means that Truth, when shown, is more important to you than your being right. It means that Truth is more important than your comfort. It means that Truth is so important to you that you’d be willing to change your beliefs, change your mind, change your behaviors, even change your life in order to align yourself with that Truth. No matter what it costs you in money, time, status, relationships, or beliefs, aligning with Truth is more important.
Retaliation is most often in the form of name calling, angry comments or even, referring to a story I heard from a friend of mine last weekend who was actually sued by his church for preaching the Truth, litigation.
Running, however, is the strangest of all reactions. It is akin to putting your fingers in your ears and singing, “La la la la la,” at the top of your lungs. When he is nervous, my cousin’s son, who is 18 months old, closes his eyes and pretends you’re not there. Post-modernists wave it off saying, “Well, what’s true for you may not be true for everyone else.”
But Christians play a different game. Oh, it is still running, but what they do is play it pious. They say, “Christians shouldn’t torment each other with things like this,” or “It is just a minor topic, I don’t have time for this,” or even, “I don’t feel like God is edified in this.” The real reason these comments are made, however, is because they should be repenting instead of running.
If I have said anything in these blog entries that you disagree with, that’s fine. I’m aware that some things may be confrontational at times. They’re written that way on purpose. But before you retaliate or run, you should first go back and look at each comment, research each verse, and then comment on those. Don’t just throw out an opinion without specifically addressing the assertions.
I may not have grasped the Truth perfectly in all of my blog entries, but one thing I know: When you throw a brick into a herd of pigs, the one that squeals the loudest is the one that got hit!
Hmmm…let me see if I’ve got this list of things I’ve been called right:
Sinner (current, not past tense)
Cursed
A Pig
Not sure if it’s getting better or worse??
So if I disagree does that mean I’m “running/squealing” or trying to stand up for Truth? Maybe the brick just got thrown back at you??
Dave,
This post wasn’t directed at you specifically, but I’m glad it got your attention. And, as I said in the post, it isn’t disagreement that bothers me so much. It is the retaliation or the running. Disagree as much as you like, but confront the disagreement head on. Dig into scripture, debate with me (and others) using that scripture and your logic, prove your case and don’t give up until either you or I repent. That’s how iron sharpens iron.
I too am a sinner (currently) but thankful that Christ’s death paid the price for my sins – past, present and future.
I too fall under a curse when I fail to keep God’s commands.
I too squeal like a pig for a while when I find out something new in scripture that I don’t like, but find is true.
At least you’re in good company!
I appreciate your friendship, Dave.