Leader, Teacher, keep on speaking!

An acquaintance, a global expert in missiology, culture, leadership, theology, a man of God who has spent decades in unreached nations and equipping people to do so recently made a public comment about the behaviour of the US Present and Vice President, Donald Trump and J.D Vance in their recent public confrontation with Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine.

His post was expressing regret in terms of the behaviour, words and attitude toward Zelensky and the plight of Ukraine by Trump and Vance. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the exact words, it was entirely fair, polite and informed. Later he chose to delete his comments because the comments rapidly became aggressively defensive of Trump and Vance and one could argue unbecoming of Christians in particular. Quick tip: You can turn off comments on social media if you wish. I probably should do so occasionally. Unfortunately, I think many nuanced thinkers, leaders in their fields are essentially bullied into stepping back from speaking out on matters of truth against powers and those who devote themselves to them for fear of the consequence.

The fear of embarrassment it brings when people speak like children and the evident division it illustrates and seems to highlight in those who call themselves Christian. I get it, despite speaking quite publicly on many matters over the years, I often don’t speak and when I do, I often regret it. Not because I was wrong but because speak truth to the mob is an invitation into a scrap fight. Yes, I know that may surprise you but feel free to look on my facebook wall. My posts come in flows around certain times or topics. King Solomon illustrated this in Proverbs 26:5

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.” Prov 26:5

How I how I have found myself in situations dragged down into the mire, wondering what I have got myself into but King Solomons wisdom continues in the next verse.

“Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” Prov 26:5

Just a second? Isn’t that a contradiction? Do I answer or not? Here is the simply reality of speaking truth to the mob. You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. If you speak, someone, is going to drag you into the mud, however, if you don’t they are going to continue to live in the lies and deceit of their own ignorance and arrogance. So how do I speak when I decide? What biblical advice is there? (and evidently I don't always get it right, I am always preaching to myself) 1. You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t Yep, I just said it above. If you think you are going to get out of this cleaning smelling, without any bruises, mistakes or regrets think again. However, you must speak at some point otherwise deception is the only voice people will hear. Sometimes speaking truth gets you dirty, you do look a little foolish. The person on the side line absolutely looks cleaner but they have also made absolutely no difference in the reality of the world we live in. 2. Stay in your lane. However don’t use this as an excuse to be quiet in this space, use this as a focus to speak louder and more confidently. If I speak, I intend on being informed. a) I speak loud on theology, but not all theology, normally pastoral and missional theology I believe that dynamic robust Jesus focused theology unsurpringly informs dynamic robust Jesus focused lives. That said, some stuff is largely speculative. I like speculation, but I am not going to speak authoritatively about such, if I do I try to speak with an open posture. b) I speak on matters to do with intercultural contexts. Even so, I normally stay within my direct experience and knowledge.

c) I speak on Church leadership and community.  d) I speak on family, particularly family on mission. e) I speak about Rugby League It is the best sport on the face of the planet and the reality is if a sport like Rugby Union was the game they played in heaven Jesus would’ve had 14 disciples but he had twelve. OK, fair enough a quick descent for a passionate person. You may disagree with me on any of these subjects, but overall I am confident in both my knowledge and my credibility in practice in them. The next point is important. 3. Stay on course.  A person unwilling to submit to truth will quickly move to ‘whataboutism’, move the posts of the discussion to something not centrally important, or move to an entirely different topic where they think they can score cheap points. Don’t let them. Don’t follow them down the rabbit hole, lead them (or atleast those watching) to the inevitable conclusion, they actual 'want' to be ignorant. Seek out whether someone you are speaking to wants truth or just the sound of their own opinion.

In a confrontation with a non-believer I will often use a tactic I was taught to try and discern this.

If I could show you that A is true would you consider changing your mind about this matter.

For instance, “If I could show you that the Bible is reliable would you consider reading it with me to dig deeper?

I use this regularly where I am. Most people actually decline to hear the first.

They have actively chosen ignorance. That is a deeply dangerous position for them, they are wilfully ignorant but I can't change their heart.

4. Listen to wise counsel yourself.

Proverbs 12:15 says “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”

Believe me, I read vastly more than I speak.

That may surprise some people but I seek out voices that speak wisely, that have genuine experience in the areas I want to grow in.

I have nearly hunted down some people to sit across a table and get the chance to connect with them, to hear beyond the superficial thoughts.

Nearly always, in my case, you don’t even know them, but these people have changed my life and helped form my thoughts.

Who are you listening to in the area? 

Don’t listen to those that have no skin in the game directly.

Opinions are like… everyone has one. Unfortunately, listening to and spruiking ideas is easy but rarely impactful.

Many are like those in Athen’s “ who lived there (and) spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.” Acts 17:21 (ps. This in my experience is often the problem in academia but that is another discussion to be had)

Paul knew this, statistically, he left with little impact, but he did leave with an impact that would ultimately change a people group entirely. He still chose to speak. He used worldly knowledge to connect them to the eternal judge. (You really should read over Acts 17)

5. Focus your emotions.

I am not going to lie, this is hard for me at times. I can be both brutally calculating and passionately emotional.

When these come together it is not always good.

Our goal is truth, this informs people but rightly expressed emotion moves people.

Proverbs 29:11 says "A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back."

For every person that has seriously criticised me for my thoughts or positions, many more have been moved, many more have messaged me privately thanking me. I have had a direct conversation with a young man who made it clear that if I were living in his country, I would receive the death penalty for undermining the majority religion. He evidently did not want to listen but one of the young women listening in, horrified at such was reading the Bible at our home two weeks later.

I don’t speak for the sucker who wishes nothing more than to throw mud, I speak to the seeker who is usually quietly listening in.

I sat in a fairly boisterous conversation recently hearing attack after attack against the Gospel, against the scriptures, against the Christian church. A new friend to our nation described it as being like a boxing match.

We have made significant ground with that person I was directly conversing with, they have started reading the Bible occasionally with us.

On a fairly low level I offended them many times that night as I implied by contrast that these claims they made were in effect lies and the people that had taught them either ill-informed or worse still possibly liars.

That may sound harsh, but none of us move from ignorance to informed without a level of offence to our present position.

However, nearly more important, five others sat on the edge of that conversation, in large part I was speaking to them, not the person that was eager for the fight.

Each of those people continue to be in our lives listening and watching for truth and grace.

6. Be self aware Proverbs 14:8 says “The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, but the foolishness of fools is deceit.” I get it. I am passionate, I usually don’t back down from a fight. I have, more in the past found an immature satisfaction in ‘destroying’ someone rather than pulling down and exposing false thoughts. This is very much a journey I still work through because I tend to sway from pulling out the bazookas and feeling like it is all a waste of time and withdrawing entirely. However self awareness is not just an awareness of your own weakness, but as important, a Spirit directed and community affirmed awareness of your call and gifting. We may not all be forwards in the game but we are all called to play. Use your skill and experience to ‘get on the field’.

7. Speak sense. 

Proverbs 15:2 says “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.”

Remember, often you are not really speaking to the individual fool, you are speaking so the crowd listening in knows where acceptable knowledge can be found. People often want to cloud truth in obscurities. What is a woman? It is honestly a straight-forward answer. An adult female but those who want to obscure the matter will appeal to those things that can’t be quantified or qualified, they want it to be subjective. Did Russia invade Ukraine? It is honestly a straightforward answer. Yes, hundreds of tanks, hundreds of thousands of Russians crossed the border.

Those who wish to ‘justify’ such will however try to avoid the direct and claim it is more complex.

To answer this question, we do not need deep history, we do not need linguistic considerations, we do not need anything bar the reality of crossing a line recognised a sovereign under international law. You may differ as to whether it was a ‘justified invasion’ but it is indisputable that it was an invasion. It is exactly this that Jesus encountered with the ‘expert in the law’ in Luke 10.

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

Luke 10:25 – 28

This SHOULD have been the end of the conversation.

The gentlemen should have left and walked in the truth.

“But he wanted to justify himself,

so he asked Jesus, “

And who is my neighbour?”

All too often we are actually dealing with self justification in ourselves.

This unsurprisingly is happening in others. I am not saying everyone will accept it,

MOST of Jesus’ hearers would not ultimately hear (Matt 11:15)

8. Don’t speak less, speak more.

Proverbs 15:7 says “The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not so.”

This may surprise some who will be leaning toward speaking less, listening more or some silly excuse to run away from the cacophony however if you the leader, the mature Christian is not speaking about sex, about submission to God, about sacrifice, about justice, about truth, about love, about wonder, about the word, the world will hear those who step into the void. While you are being quiet, non offensive, the world is discipling your children, your friends and even your church.

Take a quick look into the world of so-called Christian influencers, there are some great teachers and people but so so many are unqualified and would not be allowed to teach in any Church community and should not speak, atleast with authority to an even bigger audience.  

In a world full of ignorant arrogance, influencers and reactive keyboard warrirors the world needs as many Teachers of the word and leaders in the kingdom to speak truth.

If you are an elder, if you are a recognised teacher, if what you say is biblical, speak up.

Read the whole of 2 Tim 3 and tell me that you are going to be quiet in a world where unbelievers, seekers, young Christians and old alike are being deceived from every angle.

Your voice should not just be pithy verses that glaze over the real battle but rather one that follows the purposes of the scriptures.

If you sound more like Anthony Robbins than Paul of Tarsus, I suspect you are not speaking like the Spiritual father or mother you are called to be.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16 – 17)

Teaching – what is true? Speak with conviction

Rebuking – what is actions and attitudes are not conforming to Christ.

Correcting – What is false? Give clarity not confusion.

Training in righteousness – What actions and attitudes conform to the image of Christ? Anyway, lets speak later but live for Jesus now.