Jump Start # 761

Galatians 4:16 “So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

These words of the apostle Paul to the Galatian church is something that many have experienced and understood. The brethren were moving away from Paul and back toward the Jewish faith. Many were resisting what Paul was telling them. Just a few verses before, Paul reminded them that there was a time that they would have plucked out their eyes and given them to Paul. But not now. Now, it seems, Paul was not treated not as a dear brother in Christ, but the enemy.

How is the enemy treated? We are careful around the enemy. There is an air of suspicion when the enemy is near. We do not share much with the enemy. Our talk is guarded. Our plans are kept secret. We keep our distance with the enemy. The enemy is not trusted. What the enemy says is questioned and doubted. We don’t include the enemy. We don’t like the enemy. Paul felt like he was being treated like the enemy. And for what reason? Because he told them the truth. The truth about their choices. The truth about where they were headed. The truth about their mixed up faith.

Parents can understand what Paul felt. No one loves the kids more than the parents do. They want their kids to excel in all areas, especially morally and spiritually. There are days when Mom and Dad must clamp down on things and be the tough guy. There are days when the answer must be “no.” It is then that they suddenly become the “enemy” in the eyes of the children. Teenage years, especially can bring many battles between parents and the kids. The choice of friends, clothing, music, movies are the battles that many parents fight. Teenagers who do not understand the big picture, view their parents as being out of touch and simply wanting to ruin their lives. Mean things are often said. Words that hurt the soul of the parent are uttered. The tension and stress is enough for some parents to want to resign, but they can’t.

Similar things are experienced by shepherds and preachers in the church. They simply want to teach the truth of the Gospel. They want everyone to do right and go to Heaven. Sounds great. It is until, some have different ideas. Some want to live like the lost. They don’t want to have to attend church services. They want to party on the wild side of things. They want to date others while they are married and they don’t want to pay their bills. Poor choices, a lack of responsibility and an abandonment of faith is something that leaders often must deal with. There is only one answer to these things and that is a call back to the Gospel way. When that happens, ugliness comes out. Mean words are spoken. The church is blamed. Accusations are uttered. All this towards those who simply want to help someone stay the course with Jesus.

It’s hard being treated like the enemy. Some can handle it. Others don’t do well with it. The tension and pressures mount and some want to compromise or back down on what they said. They don’t like being treated like the enemy so they cave in to the pressures of those who are in the wrong. In the home, parents, against their own wisdom and advice, allow the teenager to do things. They do this, thinking it will improve their relationship at home and make things better. It doesn’t. They lost a battle and the next one will be harder to win. Lost ground is hard to retake especially when one has given it away. The battles will continue. The parents are viewed as weak. The teenager knows that there will be threats that mean nothing. There will be a lot of smoke but no fire. There will be tough talk, but zero action. The teenager has won. He got his way. He has learned that screaming at his parents and threatening to run away will get him what he wants. The weak parents want the child to like them, so they continue to allow him to treat them that way. All respect, authority and order has broken down in that home. And, worse of all, he still views his parents as the enemy.

The same happens in the church. Weak members threaten to leave, complain about everything and the leaders fearing all this, look the other way. The church becomes weak, the message diluted, and Satan smiles.

Well, what’s the answer to all these things? What does a person do when someone treats them like the enemy? It sure is an uncomfortable feeling.

First, stand with the truth of God’s word. A stake must be placed in the ground. There is no giving in on what God said. That’s final. Battles will be fought, but that stake cannot be moved. Love for souls compels a person to continue teaching what God said. That’s what Paul did. He did not find a way to compromise, not with the truth. Parents and leaders must be kind yet firm. If you refuse, here is what happens. Tears will flow. Prayers will be offered. Those bent on doing wrong may walk down the path of the prodigal. Those are hard, hard days. Remain constant in your love for them and your desire to stand with what is right.

Second, do not tolerate nor accept disrespect nor ugly words. If people are not grown up enough to discuss things, end of conversation. I have seen too many times when people have been allowed to say things in hurtful and mean ways that should not have been tolerated. If a person wants to talk that way, walk away. When they can discuss things in a civil tone and hold their sharp tongue, the conversation can continue. Attitudes are important in all of this.

Third, even though they may treat you as the enemy, you have done no wrong. They have become an enemy of wisdom, right and truth. You should not feel bad, even though you do, for holding the line on what is right and good.

Remember, the father of the prodigal never went to the pig pen. He never mailed checks to the wayward son. He never bailed him out. The celebration took place not in the pig pen but back home when he returned. How different this story would have been had the prodigal’s mama taken a basket of food out to the pig pen for him. That wasn’t done. Sometimes a person has to get in a real mess before they will come to their senses. If we keep that from happening, they will never come to their senses.

Have I become your enemy…if you stand with God long enough, you’ll experience this. Take lessons from Paul. Take lessons from the Lord. Hold to God’s unchanging hand!

Roger