Blog 5.16.2022
Bless, Endure and Pray
Anyone married for more than 30 seconds knows that result of two independent people sharing any space together will cause momentary disputes. It is the nature of people; disagreements arise, and it is crucial to work through those conversations in loving and beneficial ways. A fork in the road, which way should you turn? An adjusted couple will discuss the plausibility of each outcome until they can agree upon the direction they will take. It is a process of hearing and listening, giving and taking, and at times compromise. This entire process is sometimes lost on my children. They hear their parents having discussions and perceive them to be outright conflicts. They don’t understand that when ideas are counter to each other, it requires dialogue and understanding. However, children operate on an all or none principle. You are either entirely in agreeance or at insurmountable odds with the other person. This is why kids fight so much; they cannot see an arrangement for compromise or dialogue. If one has a toy and the other wants it, they cannot see the benefit of sharing or taking turns with the toy; it is an all-or-nothing situation.
I see the same childish mentality widespread throughout our culture. Not only are very few people willing to compromise, but very few people will also even come to the table to have a discussion. I believe it is because many of our significant viewpoints are bound too tightly to our sense of identity. If someone disagrees with our statements or beliefs, we feel rejected and despised in their eyes; and we think it must be an all or nothing proposition. We must be approved of, loved, and lauded by all. However, many ideas will be forever unreconcilable, and there is no possibility of compromise. No one will ever fully agree on every point of contention. So, what are we to do when our discussions move in these directions? When two people disagree on significant differences? What happens when things turn ugly and malicious?
As Christians, we have two scriptural passages to guide us in these situations. The first comes as Paul appeals for his readers to listen to the message as he pleads to the church in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 4:10-13
“We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.”
Paul wanted the church in Corinth and us to know that we approach everything in regard to Christ no matter what. Whether you are foolish/wise, weak/strong, or honored/dishonored, ensure it is with Christ as our focus and the end to our means. Everything that happens, even in discussions where we are disagreed with, we are to ensure that it is with Jesus as our goal. Even if we are right in our discussions, we maintain the Christ-like behavior of “when reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat.” We don’t really use words like “entreat” anymore; however, the Greek word is παρακαλέω parakaléō, meaning to call near, invite, (be of good) comfort, and finally to pray. The thought is that when we are slandered, we turn around and pray for them; when we are cursed before men, we take our case before God and pray for our enemies. This is the mark of a disciple of Jesus, who “when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23 ESV).
The second comes from Jesus as he declares the Beatitudes.
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Even though the world may become angry and upset when they are disagreed with or when we conflict with ideologies. Those disputes should not bother us as long as we are standing in fellowship with Jesus. If we are rejected or even persecuted, for Christ’s sake, it is a blessing and a moment of rejoicing. The most important thing is not winning an argument but standing with and in Christ. This does not mean we seek out conflict to receive this blessing; however, these passages give us the strength to stand up to pressures when we stand opposed to the culture around us. This doesn’t mean we remain silent or satisfy the world’s ideas; we should stand up for our beliefs because it is not about us but Christ. The best way to do this is to Bless, Endure and Pray for those who disagree with us.