You’ve confronted someone when things didn’t look right, right? And I know you have been confronted as well. Humans rarely enjoy conflict and those that do need therapy.
In Galatians 2, Paul tells of a moment when he confronted Peter about his church leadership, reminding him he was not living up to how Jesus called us to follow him. Both Paul and Peter, leaders in the first century church, had come to realize that the Gospel of Jesus was for everyone, not just the Jews. So, in Jerusalem, Peter had begun eating with Gentiles, sitting at their table and living life with them.
But other Jewish Christians called Judaizers believed not only did you need Jesus for salvation, you also had to keep following the Jewish Law (Torah). So these guys put a lot of pressure on Peter and Peter pulled away from the Gentile believers. Peter’s move away created chaos and confusion in the early church. So, Paul called him on it, reminding him that the Gospel was for everyone and the Law no longer controlled the lives of people following Jesus. Peter recognized his mistake and made the necessary corrections to quell the confusion.
This interaction leads us to a question: How do you respond as a follower of Jesus when someone calls you out on something? I mean, whether we are in the wrong or not, we are called to be different than the world. Our response to people who have questions about our actions is a clear indicator of what we believe about Jesus and our discipleship.
Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:1-3, “I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” And then he says in Romans 12:16, “Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!” So, even when it’s hurtful, always respond as Jesus would.
My wife is a public school teacher. She was questioning a 4th grade boy about his activity and he shut down. All he would say is, “If you have any questions, ask my mom.” He just repeated this script taught to him by his single mother. So, my wife reached out for a parent meeting. The young mom came into the meeting with condescending looks and words that were mean-spirited. My wife, ever professional, sat just listening. About 4-5 minutes into the meeting, the angry helicopter mom was not getting the same indignant reaction from my wife so she asked, “Why are you acting like that?” Meaning, why are you smiling and listening and not coming back at me.
Well, it’s because my wife is a follower of Jesus. She has listened well to how we are called to act, even when the world is angry and mean. Her response is a clear indication of what she believes. And it should be that way for us as well. Sometimes, it’s exhausting living in a self-centered world while trying to follow the Savior. But it will be worth it. Hang in there. The Spirit will energize you and hold you up. Let your light shine. Blessings on the journey.