Is that a Target on your Back?

Are persons who incite ill feelings in other members toward their pastor enemies of the pastor? That is, are they enemies in the sense David, Jesus and Paul use the term? Among David’s enemies was his own son. Among Jesus’ enemies were some of his closest students. Paul’s enemies were among those who studied Judaism with him and even those who responded to his preaching of the Gospel. Did David view his son as his enemy? Did Jesus view Judas as his enemy? Did Jesus view those who jeered him at the foot of the cross with ill will? Did Paul view these critics as enemies? I know that some of these can be answered in the affirmative, yet, these enemies were also viewed with deep affection and caring. 

Are all critics enemies? I don’t think so. An enemy, motivated by malice, strives to harm you. Some critics might be doing so to destroy you. Not all negative assessments are untruthful. Some critics sincerely believe they are trying to help you become a better person.

We learn that Jesus’ “own” people received him not. It was some of these, who cried out for his death. It was his family, including his mother, who thought him to have gone insane. Paul could have avoided the wrath of his enemies if he just denied the Gospel or compromised it. Some even said of Paul, "He writes well, but he's not very impressive in person." Speaking the truth attracts enemies. David's persecution by his king is a case of being caught between Saul and God. When God chose David to replace Saul as king, God put a target on David's back. David was certainly complicit in Absolum’s rebellion when he failed to administer the appropriate punish against him. After all, he did rape David’s daughter.

I have made some enemies because I have expressed my dismay concerning the decisions made by the leadership of my denomination. Others in the congregation shared my dismay. They read my criticism as supportive of their own. My intention was not to provoke that response in them. I am not certain how much my published words influenced them. They were offended by the actions of the denominations for decades before they ever met me.

Still others in the congregation I serve, stand against me because they believe me to be the chief cause of discord among the membership. They reason that if I remained silent about my opposition to homosexual ordination and other doctrinal errors in the PC(USA) those who are now disturbed would have been at peace. It is without doubt that my writings fanned the flames of discontent among certain persons in the membership. In that respect, my critics are right. 

However, there is a difference between those who oppose your expressed views and those who try to get you fired because they opposed your views. If an enemy is one who desires you harm, then I have enemies among the members of the congregation I serve.

I found these biblical teachings on our subject:

This Psalm Acknowledges the Existence of Enemies

Psalm 59:1-4 (RSV)
¹ Deliver me from my enemies, O my God, protect me from those who rise up against me,
² deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
³ For, lo, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men band themselves against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
⁴ for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Rouse thyself, come to my help, and see!

We are obligated to give necessary service to even our enemies

Exodus 23:5 (RSV)
⁵ If you see the ass of one who hates you lying under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it, you shall help him to lift it up.

We ought not to place the interests of our enemies over the interests and protection of our friends.

Joab is speaking to David shortly after the death of his rebellious son Absolum,

2 Samuel 19:4-6 (RSV) ⁴ The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my son Ab'salom, O Ab'salom, my son, my son!" ⁵ Then Jo'ab came into the house to the king, and said, "You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and your concubines, ⁶ because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you; for today I perceive that if Ab'salom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.

The New Testament Example of how the godly ought to think of their enemies

Jesus and Stephen, while being killed, pray for those who were killing them.

Jesus further teaches that brothers in Christ ought to settle these disputes peacefully and orderly. He also commends the use of Church discipline to give a judgment in matters under dispute. If one party refuses to restore peace, it is the obligation of the church to cast them out of their fellowship. For some of his enemies, however, he says of them that they make convert “twice as fit for hell as they are themselves.” He even calls the converts of his enemies “sons of hell.”

Paul keeps that same teaching but adds God’s vengeance to it.

Romans 12:14-21 (RSV) ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." ²⁰ No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

To apply these principles, in a given situation, takes a great deal of wisdom. The first thing it acknowledges is the existence of enemies in the life of Christians. If we wanted to romanticize the message of Jesus, and thereby distort it, we could say – Jesus had no enemies. His placement on the cross gives unquestionable evidence that Jesus had enemies. Jesus speaks of them as “persecutors” and warns his followers that if they strike the shepherd, they will not hesitate to strike the sheep.

In keeping with Jesus’ sober counsel against passing judgment on another, we ought to first carefully consider what roll we play in the condition of hostility between our self and another. Maybe we are not completely innocent of any wrong doing that might have even contributed to this conflict. When a pastor is the target of some malicious persons in the congregation it is likely that he or she has some part to play in this conflict.The ugly truth is that a Christian congregation, including its pastor, is a community of flawed persons.

I am under the attack of others. A set of men/women has even spread a falsehood about me. One man especially  has convinced some others that I am stirring up trouble in the congregation by my expressed opposition to the decisions made by the larger Presbyterian Church (USA) in their allowance of homosexual pastors. He is carrying out a campaign of personal insults and finding every reason to criticize the way I do my job. Some of what he brings against me are true, while much more is not.

It is possible, but not certain, that some families will disaffiliate with this congregation if it votes to remain in the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is possible that some families will leave if we vote to change denominations. It is also certain that some will leave if we fail to bring the question to a vote. It is very unlikely that no one will leave. My goal has always been that the membership remains in unity and in peace. That is, clearly, an unrealistic goal.