Reaction & Overreaction

Where are those God has chosen and made ready for the times we are now in? I realize that wording may seem a little like dated vernacular, but I think it’s a good question. I am a touch alarmed, as you may be, that we fail to realize the world we live in is not our home and we are in fact “behind enemy lines.” To be shocked and disgusted by the evil of evildoers is a fool’s errand. We must realize our need for “personal ballast”—weight of character that stabilizes us against the wind, adverse circumstances, and apparent opposition. This is put another way in Scripture, being called maturity. For sure, we are not sufficient on our own, but in and through Christ, we are more than overcomers. Our sufficiency is from and through Him, the maker of heaven and earth. There is a grace in maturity.

It would help us to realize that all around us the development/maturing of competing narratives (worldviews) is underway. Both the wheat and the tares will be at full maturity when the harvest time comes. But we are misunderstanding this. As Christians, it’s not our calling to reverse the times we are living in (i.e., remove the tares). For sure, we are not to be subject to the spirit of this age, but we must understand these realities so as to walk in victory over them, personally and as a body (see Matthew 13:24-30 for further study). As I once heard a friend say, when you are digging for gold, you can’t afford to get distracted by dirt. We can’t let the “tares” occupy our thoughts and minds.

The enemy’s Influence comes in three ways:

• influence by deception, 
• influence by temptation, and
• influence by reaction.

While these three ways may be self-explanatory, the control by reaction is perhaps the most stealthy. If you and I can’t observe without reacting, we aren’t ready to overcome the times. Take David vs. Goliath as an example.

As long as we are rattled by the threats and enticements of the enemy and/or the culture around us, the dominion of Christ (which we are called to join Him in) is not at work in us. We must realize that if the attempts to get us believing a lie (deception) and then to compromise (yielding to, or being tempted into, deception) are unsuccessful, the enemy will play the third card—filling our hearts and minds to the point of preoccupation with all the things that are “wrong” and “evil” and disrespectful to the Lord.

Mocking, or what we perceive to be mocking, and the reactions in the same spirit (even if from the opposite perspective) are all part of the same problem. Mocking is childishness, and a weak and immature way to attempt to reinforce our point of view as right. 

Recently we have observed what some have considered mocking in the Olympic opening ceremonies in France, and it kicked off a big reaction of counter-mocking and judging. We should know better than this. Few remember that in France’s history it is detailed that they regarded the French Revolution as their liberation from monarchy and from God. This does not mean that the derision is deserved, however. The whole world lies under the power of the evil one, and our job is to love the lost in such a way as to rescue them from their deception, whether individual or national. Even if someone is mocking you and things important to you—either directly or indirectly—reacting in the same spirit won’t do anything but strengthen deception and gratify darkness. As Dr. King told us, hate can’t cast out hate, only love can do that. While some have fallen to joining the mocking party, others were content in looking down on fellow believers for their apparent lack of maturity from an elevated position of “seeing things the way they are.” This is pride, plain and simple, and an equal failure.

Speaking evil of what we don’t understand entangles our hearts and corrupts/distorts our view of the world. This one thing is responsible for so much negativity in our lives and spheres of influence.

I remember thinking about the Scripture that says life and death are in the power of the tongue, and that those who love “it” will reap the outcome. I spent a good time thinking about that many years ago, but recently I read it in a different version that characterized the “it” as loving to talk. If you love to talk, don’t forget that the instrument you are using is very powerful, up to the point of life and death! Let’s be careful who we aim that thing at.