Tag Archives: Self-Esteem

Sheltered by Truth in a Storm of Lies

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“For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin,
and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.”
Nehemiah 6:13 (ESV)

Normally the books of Ezra and Nehemiah aren’t high on my priority of Scripture reading.  I don’t know why that is, and perhaps to compensate, I should plan to preach through them sometime, but I wouldn’t have been reading them if it weren’t for M’Cheyne’s daily reading plan.  For that plan, and for the way in which God continues to speak as I study His word, I am grateful.

For those of you unfamiliar with the book of Nehemiah I think a little background is due.  The city of Jerusalem sat in ruins, the nation of Judah had been conquered by the Babylonians (who were subsequently conquered by the Persians), and the people deported as strangers in a strange land for 70 years.  Nehemiah served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, and when he had heard report from the remnant of Jews in Jerusalem, and of their trouble and shame, Nehemiah wept and prayed that the Lord would show mercy on His people.

God answered His prayer.  Through Artaxerxes, Nehemiah is returned to Jerusalem to oversee the rebuilding of the wall, and is given letters from the King that all the supplies and provisions necessary for the restoration of Jerusalem should be supplied.  Nehemiah governs Jerusalem, rebuking the city officials for over-taxing the people and gouging their prices, and maintaining peace in the city during the period of reconstruction.  If ever you need to read about the power of prayer and faithfulness in the midst of trials, the book of Nehemiah is second to none.

Still, Nehemiah’s work did not go unopposed.  There were other regional governors who were rather put out over the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.  Neh 4:7-8 tells us, “When Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites hear that the repairing of the walls in Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were being closed, they were very angry.  And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.”

The behavior of these tribal leaders reminds me of that of Junior High Girls.  I’m sorry, that’s unfair to the girls.  Listen to what they did.  They assembled their armies, surrounded Jerusalem, and while the people were rebuilding the walls, they taunted them and ridiculed them.  They invited Nehemiah to come out and meet with them, hoping to kill him if he left the city, and spreading lies about him.

Notice, though, how Nehemiah responds.  He does not lower himself and deride his accusers, neither does he give up his work in despair.  Rather, what we see from Nehemiah is great faith in the midst of great persecution.  He prays that God would remember their guilt and vindicate His people (Neh 4:5); that God would be his protection (Neh 4:9); he encourages the people by reminding them that the Lord is great and awesome and they had no need to fear their accusers (Neh 4:14), and he found his strength of character and resolve in the strength of God (Neh 6:9).

Much is being said today about the problem of bullying in our schools, and hopefully the conversation will make have a positive impact, but what we are dealing with is nothing new.  Bullying started as soon as we left the Garden, when one brother was jealous of the other, and decided he could take what he wanted by force.  We find this kind of intimidation in our schools, the workplace, the government, and even, sadly, in the church.  While we should work to overcome it, we must recognize that as long as we are dealing with broken and sinful people, we will deal with broken and sinful behavior.  It is how we deal with it that matters.

Let Nehemiah be an example.  When being bullied, it is very easy to respond in kind, bullying back, or intimidating others weaker than ourselves.  That is not the way of Nehemiah, nor it is not the way of Christ, neither can it be the way of those who would follow Him.  When you are slandered, falsely accused, and outright bullied, consider this:

Pray that God would remember their guilt and vindicate His people (Neh 4:5).  Our God is a God of justice, so leave the justice to God.  The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 12, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Pray that God would be your protection (Neh 4:9), them that the Lord is great and awesome and they had no need to fear their accusers (Neh 4:14).  Remember that the God who loves you is the God who has created the world, the God who set the stars in motion, and who holds all things in His hands.  He has the power over every situation, and “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Rom 8:28).  It is sometimes very difficult to see when in the midst of the trials how God could possibly work things for your good, but as Jesus said, “what is impossible for man is possible for God” (Luke 18:47).

Remember that the foundation of you character and resolve is in the strength and love of God (Neh 6:9).  This is probably the most important thing to remember when others are trying to cut you down.  People, out of their own insecurity or jealousy, will say some of the meanest, hateful, and vile things you can imagine.  They will try to cut down everyone around them, they will turn on friends, they will betray confidences, and they will simply lie just to make themselves look good.  “The tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8).  But we must always remember, what they say, though it hurts, does not matter.  What matters, in the long run, is the truth.  The truth is, God loved you with such a love that He would send His Son to save you, that He might call you His beloved child.  No lie, no accusation, no flaming arrow can pierce the armor of God’s mighty love for you in Jesus Christ our Lord – you are fireproof.  You identity, your confidence, your self-esteem is not found in the words of man but in the Word of God.  If your life is found in His life, then nothing, “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

May God’s Word be your strength and your defense.  “Do not be afraid.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome!”

SDG

Requiem for the Fallen

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“How the mighty have fallen.”
(2 Samuel 1:19 ESV)

“How the mighty have fallen!”  What was originally written as a heartfelt lament by David after the death of Saul and Jonathon, has now become a joyous cry of the underdog.  When a powerhouse team loses unexpectedly, when the corrupt get their “comeuppance,” when the unjust get their due, when the oppressor is brought low, we hear it said with glee, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen!”

Today, I reclaim the phrase as a lament.  I received news last night that a Pastor, whom I consider a friend and mentor, has been asked by his session to resign after “numerous instances of intentional plagiarism, admitted dishonesty when confronted with the plagiarism… and numerous conflicts with staff.”  In his own letter, my friend confessed an overwhelming sense of failure, a crippling sense of inadequacy, and a “flawed belief system in that [his] sense of worth comes too much from what [he] does as well as the opinions that others have of [his] work performance.”

My heart is broken for my friend, the church, and all who are involved.  This Pastor has been a blessing to my family, to me personally, to the church, and to his community.  I cannot begin to imagine the pain that he and his family are feeling, and the turmoil and anguish of the session and congregation of his church.

I am not without sympathy for his crisis.  I think any honest pastor who catches a momentary glimpse of the tremendous privilege and responsibility that comes with the ministry can be easily overwhelmed.  To be told that “preaching the word of God is the word of God” (see the Scot’s confession), to have the eyes of the congregation turn to you as you work to turn them to Christ, to be entrusted with the responsibility of proclaiming the good news unto the salvation of all men, to be called a servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God – who else has such a position description. 

Pastor’s have a difficult time dealing finding their self-worth outside of their performance.  Our work lives are so intimately connected to our personal lives of discipleship and faith that difficulties in ministry cause us to doubt our faith, and successes in ministry lead to pride and spiritual superiority.  Without a constant reminder of God’s love and grace as the basis of our self-worth, every complaint can lead to a crisis of faith, every “Good sermon, Pastor” can lead to a swollen ego that trusts itself rather than trusting God.

If anything, this is a reminder (a self-serving one at that) to pray for your Pastor.  A few weeks ago I posted a longer essay by Gardiner Spring on my blog, here is a particularly relevant excerpt:

And who and what are ministers themselves? Frail men, fallible, sinning men, exposed to every snare, to temptation in every form; and, from the very post of observation they occupy, they are an easier target for the fiery darts of the foe. They are not trite victims the great Adversary is seeking, when he would wound and cripple Christ’s ministers. One such victim is worth more to the kingdom of darkness than a number of common men; and for this very reason their temptations are probably more subtle and severe than those encountered by ordinary Christians. If this subtle Deceiver fails to destroy them, he cunningly aims at neutralizing their influence by quenching the fervor of their piety, lulling them into negligence, and doing all in his power to render their work burdensome. How perilous is the condition of that minister then, whose heart is not encouraged, whose hands are not strengthened, and who is not upheld by the prayers of his people! It is not in his own closet and on his own knees alone, that he finds security and comfort, and ennobling, humbling, and purifying thoughts and joys; but it is when they also seek them in his behalf, that he becomes a better and happier man, and a more useful minister of the everlasting Gospel!

I know that Pastor Appreciation Month has come and gone, but please do not cease to pray for and encourage your Pastor.  The Spirit teaches us in Galatians 6:6, “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.”  Let your Pastor know what you’ve learned, how you’ve been blessed, how you pray for him, and how you will lend your support.  I am confident that through prayer, patience, and continued obedience to the word of God, my friend will be restored in ministry, and that even this crisis too will be redeemed.  Christ’s blood has atoned for every sin, and “everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world” (John 5:4).

Grace and peace,

SDG