Atheists are so limp-wristed because they have nothing to stand for! #ultimatecowards” “Atheists have no morality. They will hug a tree and murder a baby in its mother’s womb! #confused”
The nasty Twitter updates continued. Sadly, the person behind them was a pastor. As he was a brother in the faith, I decided to say something. “I’m really struggling with your tweets,” I replied. “I don’t think they show respect towards atheists.”
“You would!” he shot back. “That explains the state of the British church—because of your struggle!” He went on to accuse me of being “postmodern” and “soppy.” I pleaded with him to adhere to Scripture’s guidelines—to show gentleness and respect to unbelievers (1 Peter 3:15-17). “I tell you what,” the pastor concluded, “When you have as many ex-atheists in your church as I do in mine, you can come and show me a more excellent way.” Then he stopped following me on Twitter.
Ironically, the pastor had earlier tweeted this: “When your first response to correction is to kick back rather than think, you’re missing the opportunity for God to give you a big heart and a big life.” Sadly, he hadn’t lived by his own words.
What is your first response to correction—to kick back at someone or to think? Proverbs has much to say about the matter. God corrects us out of love (Proverbs 3:12). The wise accept this correction (Proverbs 15:5), mockers resent it (Proverbs 15:12), and pride stops us from hearing it (Proverbs 13:10), but if we accept it we grow wise (Proverbs 15:31-32).
As I discovered, sometimes correcting someone incurs insult (Proverbs 9:7). The lesson for us all is to be people whose first response to correction is to think, not kick, accepting it humbly as the path to wisdom (Proverbs 9:8-9), and so imitate our humble Savior (Matthew 11:29).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 22:1-19
More:
Read Proverbs 10:17 to see how ignoring correction can negatively affect us. Read Ephesians 4:1-3 for more on being humble and gentle.
Next:
What’s your first response to correction—to kick back at someone or to think? Why? For what correction in your past are you thankful?
tim gustafson on January 13, 2013 at 10:04 am
Thanks for this very important post! And thanks for having the courage to speak your convictions and endure the insults.
We gain nothing by speaking in condescending or hurtful tones to fellow human beings made in the image of a God they don’t believe in. In fact, we drive them further from God.
sheridan voysey on January 14, 2013 at 4:33 am
The irony is, Tim, that during this episode some atheists got involved in the Twitter conversation and told me in no uncertain terms that they didn’t need my ‘respect’.
Oh well, you try… 🙂
mike wittmer on January 14, 2013 at 9:56 am
Thank you for remaining calm and gracious through this interchange. I think it also speaks to the incivility that is so common on the Internet. Last week a self-described atheist commented on my blog. I responded with firmness and love, and a student emailed and thanked me for modeling how to interact with others who disagree with us. I say this only to remind us that whenever we are online the audience is far larger than the person we are interacting with. Many people are watching–both Christian and not–so what an opportunity to model the love and truth of Christ!
yemiks1 on January 14, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Thanks for the post Sheridan. In most cases, we prefer to blame than to correct and encourage in love. Let’s not fall into this.
daisymarygoldr on January 14, 2013 at 4:31 pm
It is certainly not cool to be told I am wrong. But when I see correction to be coming from God, it is in my best interests to accept it. He can even use our enemies to warn us. To be corrected by someone is anything but comfortable. Sometimes though, the rod and staff of His correction comfort me.
Correction is kindness. What loving person would not point out when someone is heading down the wrong road? It requires real humility to acknowledge I am wrong. Our response to correction that God offers through another—shows us to be His children.
It is important to remember, when you correct someone cut them some slack. Tell the truth, but don’t try to force them to agree. Allow room for the Holy Spirit to do His work in those who are in error. So Sheridan Voysey, give the brother some space for self-reflection 🙂 Continue to pray for him.
On another note, maybe the Pastor is not wrong and needs no correction. Consider these nasty words: “Look at them: mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers. Bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags! Stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded.” (Romans 1: 28-32 The Message). “All scripture is given… for correction”
sheridan voysey on January 15, 2013 at 4:24 am
The Scriptures can be very blunt about the truth of our sinful state, and yet it’s rare to see either Jesus or Paul treating (pagan) unbelievers harshly (both Jesus and Paul reserved their harshest words for religious people!). Not all atheists ‘hug trees while murdering babies’, as that pastor tweeted, so we should avoid generalisations. Again, we’re called to communicate in gentleness and respect, even when an appropriately critical word is called for.