Leave it alone

"As you enter a house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your worlds, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town." Matthew 10:12-14

The twelve disciples had been given "authority over unclean spirits ... and to cure every disease and every sickness" (vs 1) and were instructed on exactly how they must go about announcing the Good News that "the kingdom of heaven has come near". They were also specifically instructed to "go nowhere among the Gentiles".

What's more, Jesus also instructed them; "Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave".

I suppose we can turn this passage any way it suits us, but it is careless to suppose Jesus has sent these men out to confront social ills. What was the charge? "Announce that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near". And what is the instruction? "If they will not hear you, shake the dust from your feet" ... and move along.

Jesus has not asked His followers to get involved in useless arguments and shouting matches. Discipleship is dangerous enough without deliberately walking into a volatile situation and asking for trouble. In fact, He further says, "If you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next" (vs 23).

It's not always easy to know what to do in today's political climate in The Lord's Name, but stoking an already burning fire is not a good choice. Trouble is around every turn but Jesus seems pretty clear that if emotions are already stoked to the point of irrationality, it is best to move on. Irrational mobs cannot be reasoned with, and we should know this by now. People who come looking for trouble are not going to settle for less than the trouble they were seeking in the first place!

What can we do? Appeal to those who know The Lord (hence Jesus' call to "go nowhere among the Gentiles") and encourage them to remove themselves from the situation. If we can thin out the crowd, we can not only perhaps calm the situation, we can also prevent someone from getting hurt needlessly.

This is not about refusing to speak for Good in the face of evil; it is about creating an environment conducive to rational thought. There are some hate groups that will not hear us, no matter what we say. "Leave them alone", Jesus seems to say. And why must we "flee to the next town"? Because there is perhaps someone there who wants to hear the Good News! And we should not waste our time, breath, or energy trying to shout down those who will not hear us in the first place!!

The Good News is only for those willing to hear it. We must not waste our time getting into shouting matches with those who will not hear it under the best of circumstances. Proclaim the Good News; and if you are told to go jump in a lake, move along. "Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town" (vs 15).

Imagine what The Church might look like if we would actually heed Jesus' words and follow His instructions ... to ... the ... letter. Surely if the Word of The Lord is powerful enough to save us, it is good enough to guide us. Yes?

Blessings,
Michael