Dust Off Your Feet

I suppose another title for this blog would be, "Loving Your Enemy: Part II." It is certainly related. If you haven't read the blog "Loving Your Enemy" about Christian Nationalism, you may want to read that one first.

I visited a different church this morning. The pastor was talking about how to handle divisions within the Church. She used as her text a story in Acts regarding Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas were ministry partners, likely good friends as well, who had been through a lot together. They had preached together, seen miracles together, been persecuted together, even nearly died together. Then, one day, they had a "sharp disagreement."

We find the story in Acts 15:36-41. They were about to set out on another missionary journey together. Barnabas wanted to take young John Mark with them. Paul said no. Apparently, John Mark had been with them before but had abandoned them. Perhaps he had been afraid, or he got homesick, or whatnot, but for whatever reason, when the going got tough, he got going. Paul didn't believe they should take him. The agreement was so severe that the two parted ways.

The pastor pointed out that the passage doesn't define who was in the right. They both had valid points. Barnabas' point was about extending grace and second chances. Paul's point was about the importance of trustworthiness and steadfastness on a difficult task. However, since they couldn't see eye to eye, they ended up divided.

She related this to the divisions within the Church today. Sometimes, if we can't see eye to eye, we may need to have a Paul and Barnabas moment, and simply part ways.

This reminded me of Jesus sending out the 72 disciples in Luke 10. Jesus tells them to wish peace on the town they visit, and if the peace is returned, to stay and minister there. However, "Whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you.'"

Dust off your feet, and keep going.

When it comes to division in the Church, I think this is a lot harder than it sounds. Because we want others to have a saving faith, and we don't know if they do. Or because we want to be right and want them to admit they're wrong. 

Or maybe, because the people we disagree with are people we love. Family. Friends. Brothers and sisters in Christ. This makes the disagreement infinitely harder, because it's personal.

I believe Christian Nationalism is a false gospel. Or, as author Caleb Campbell says, a deceitful spirit. I don't want people I love to be caught up in it. I want them to see the way of Jesus.

Ultimately, however, confronting, debating, arguing, convincing... is generally in vain. Perhaps because we address them without humility or in anger. Perhaps because their hearts have been hardened or ours are too proud. Perhaps because we are coming from two entirely different worldviews and common ground is near impossible to find. Whatever the reason, these conversations often don't lead anywhere.

That is not to say that confronting false teaching when you hear it isn't important. It is. Just, one, be certain of your convictions and where they come from. Are you sure about what you believe? What evidence do you have for it? Where do those beliefs come from? It better be more than just a random TikTok video, as interesting and motivating as they can be. Know your Scripture. Know your Savior. Know what you believe and what is important enough to speak out about. Not every issue needs to be a big issue. But the big issues... the big issues cannot be ignored.

The aim should be for understanding and for reconciliation. Listen to their side. You might learn something new. You might even be persuaded to change your mind on some things. At the very least, you should walk away with a deeper understanding of their side of things and why it matters to them.

Remember, with Paul and Barnabas, it wasn't necessarily that one was right and the other wrong. They were simply looking at the same issue from two very different viewpoints. Try to find those connection points between the two positions that you can build upon.

But, if it doesn't work, well, sometimes, we might have to dust off our feet... and move on.

A boundary can be a healthy thing. We can love a toxic person in our family, but still hold a firm boundary between us and them. We can forgive an abusive spouse as Christ tells us to forgive, but that doesn't mean we have to stay in the abuse. Paul quotes in 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Bad company ruins good morals." If we do not have good boundaries, we run the risk of falling into the same false teaching.

You're not going to ever find a perfect friend, a perfect group, or a perfect church. But we do want to find friends and groups and church communities that build us up in truth and light. Not every person or every place that calls themselves Christian actually follows Christ. Consider Jesus' words in Matthew 7:15, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." 1 John 4:1 says we need to "test the spirits." Be discerning. Be critical thinkers. Don't accept things on face value. If something sounds off, check it out for yourself.

Know your convictions and know when it's time to walk away. Dust off your feet and keep moving in the direction God has called you. 

I know the words I speak have lost me friends. Facebook friends, yes, but real-life friends, too. I have left a couple of different churches now as they have slid into Christian Nationalism. That is not a path I am willing to follow.

My devotion to Jesus is higher than to a friendship or a pastor or a church. Certainly, higher than to a government or a White House. So, I keep on fighting the good fight...

And, hopefully, encouraging you to walk in yours.

WANT TO READ MORE...  subscribe to my blog through Substack. No membership required and free! Check it out, here: https://substack.com/@jadedevangelical. OR pick up my newly released book, "Letters to the Jaded Evangelical: Finding Jesus in the Shards of Religion." Available in e-book and paperback format; free to read for Amazon KU subscribers.