“Sometimes a very important message can be missed because of the way it is communicated.””
“A riot is still a riot, even if you meant well in starting it.”
Would you yell the word “fire” in a crowded theater in order to make people aware of the fire exits?
Would you call in a bomb threat at a hospital in order to show a weakness in security?
Would you record a video of yourself using your .45 pistol to shoot your daughter’s laptop, then post the video to social media as a means of teaching her not to post bratty rants on Facebook?
All of those things have a valid message behind them. Know where the fire exits are in a public building. Be sure that vulnerable places like hospitals are secure. Don’t disrespect your parents.
But all of those things also have one other thing in common: Instead of calling attention to a valid issue, and raising legitimate concerns, they raise people’s blood pressure and may even incite a riot.
That’s why seeing a news story about a certain billboard on the South side of Paducah caused me to cringe. The billboard attributes itself to the church of Christ, but was the work of one man. The way in which it approached the issue of denominationalism brought more attention to the manner in which the message was communicated than it did to the message itself.
While the billboard does raise some valid spiritual questions that people need to ask themselves, the message itself was lost in the circus it created. It goes to show that sometimes a very important message can be missed because of the way it is communicated.
While we are to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3), there are some issues and people who need our mercy and compassion as we rescue them from error (consider Jude 22-23). You and I, as servants of God, need to be sure that we aren’t forgetting that.
A riot is still a riot, even if you meant well in starting it.
As Paul was nearing the end of his life (2 Tim. 4:6), he wrote to Timothy to remind him of this very thing.
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
Notice how Paul tells Timothy to deal with correcting and teaching people, as a “servant of the Lord”:
1) Don’t cause an argument. A servant can’t be someone who quarrels. He or she can’t be a person who likes to argue and debate with people. Yes, arguments may come from teaching others, and we shouldn’t withhold the truth from someone just because it may make them angry. But it’s foolish to do something in a way that you know will cause an argument. James writes that “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). We would all do well to keep that in mind.
2) Teach gently, and patiently. Teaching is the key here, and Paul’s emphasis is on being able to. If you aren’t able to teach someone, then leave them alone! This is true whether you lack time, or ability (cf. James 3:1). You can do much more harm than good. Don’t fall into the trap of “Bible potshots” or “drive-by evangelism.” Paul devoted much time and attention to teaching the church in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 2:5-8). He “cherished” them, and treated them as a nursing mother treats her newborn infant. Be gentle and patient with the precious souls you are trying to reach!
3) Keep pride out of correction. Pride means you care about being right, or winning your point. Humility means you care about the soul of the person you are teaching, and want them to be right and do right. While he doesn’t go into specifics, Paul must have been referring to pride among other things when he wrote to those who would restore a sinner, that they ought to be considering themselves lest they also be tempted (Galatians 6:1). Don’t make correcting others about you and your agenda.
4) Remember why. When you lose sight of the reason for evangelism (cf. 2 Cor. 5:9-11), you start to look at people as arguments to be won instead of souls to be won. There are many who have been “taken captive by the devil," and who need to "come to their senses" and know the truth. God wants them to repent (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). Approach them in such a way as to make them want to be what you are, a Christian, not stomp away angry. God doesn’t want them to be lost. Don’t let them be lost because of your pride, or short-sightedness.
When I’m wrong about something, I don’t want someone to put up a billboard to tell me I’m wrong. I want them to come, and sit down with me in person. I want to hear the love in their voice as they correct me. I want to see the look of care on their face. I want to know that they are concerned about me, and not just about winning an argument.
It can’t be that much different for anyone else, can it?
Remember: Knowledge can make someone harsh and arrogant, but love builds others up (1 Corinthians 8:1). What is your approach?
- Daniel
