A Better Way To Handle Opposition

As a rule, people do not handle opposition very well. After all, we are the "good guys" and anyone who does not see things our way, or even worse, anyone we think is working against us are automatically the "bad guys." So people feel justified in actively or passively working against their opponents real or imaginary. Even worse people feel right in denouncing, vilifying, and dehumanizing those "awful bad guys".

To see this you can look at propaganda pieces from any age or conflict. Look at the rhetoric emanating from world, national, state, local, or office politics. It comes from virtually any person or group with a strongly held belief, opinion, or agenda. It is a problem that is quite human and I shall be so blunt as to say sinful.

This is even true among Christians! Mike Straka is a columnist for Fox News; he also says he is a Christian. Partly because of that, his recent headline caught my attention. That headline includes, "Un-Christianlike Christians". He did a column giving his opinion about why the fuss about The Passion of the Christ not receiving more Oscar nominations was way overblown and probably not a big issue to God either.

Apparently, some Christians replied proving that we have a ways to go in handling opposing opinions too. To quote Mike Straka, Grrr! to all the hypocritical "Christians" whose knee-jerk reaction to my opinion about a piece of film called "The Passion of the Christ" a few weeks ago caused them to blow a gasket and presume to know what's in my heart and soul. . . . Classic Self-Righteons, that's what you are, and that's all I'm going to say about that subject.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,147606,00.html I have run into this kind of thing all too frequently.

Another article I read made the point that historically the Church was at its best when it lived and acted counter-culturally. You see that today in the healthy, growing churches in Asia, Africa, and South America. Those churches have many Christians who are totally surrendered to God and experiencing the transformation he brings. Asian Christians are still Asian, yet the way they act and think is different from the other Asians. They are living in a counter-cultural manner. Other Asians see a difference and many of them check out why and become Christians too. Similar scenarios happen throughout Africa ad South America.

In contrast, the Church in Europe and North America is comparatively weak spiritually. One reason is that rather than being counter-cultural we reflect our culture more than Jesus. Mike Straka's experience is just one example of this. He gets angry email from people who are from different political views and now from other Christians. It is the same kind of opposition.

The Bible gives us another way to handle opposition. Nehemiah illustrates it quite well.

In Nehemiah chapter 4, Nehemiah faces some powerful, determined, and resourceful opponents as he goes about the mission he knows God gave him. They mock, intimidate, threaten, and try to manipulate; all the normal things that go on in situations of opposition and intrigue. The interesting thing is that he does none of that instead Nehemiah acts in a counter-cultural manner.

First, he perceives who and what the opposition is. Identifying the opponents is an important step in dealing with them. In his case some were powerful and relentless external enemies who would go to great lengths to stop him. Others were within the camp pretending to be friends but actively helping the enemy instead. Last some were ideas entrenched in the minds of the Jewish people.

Second, he places his trust in his foundation - God. Throughout his story one fact remains constant and that is his deep faith and reliance on God. He habitually prays first, about whatever is going on. In fact, he prays a lot! He keeps a firm hold of his foundation in his relationship with and mission from God.

Third, he prepares for the opposition. This starts early on in Chapter 2 when he obtains letters from King Artaxerxes authorizing the work and providing materials. In Chapter 4 we see him posting guards and taking other precautions while pressing ahead with the work.

Fourth, he perseveres in the work God gave him. He does not let the opposition distract him from the important thing. He leads the people in persisting and completing the city wall. He perseveres in pursuing that task and does not let himself be deflected from it. Consequently he finishes rebuilding the wall and some necessary reforms.

Read and think on Nehemiah's story. It is similar to many other people in the Bible including Paul and Jesus Christ himself.

Repent for the ways you have thought and acted wrongly in the past. Stop and think before you react to opposition of whatever kind. Then proceed, as God would have you act not as your surrounding culture would.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker February 2005



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker