The Insulters

The Church often takes a beating in the media, in the blogsphere, and in other places. Church institutions are attacked, Church leaders accused, Church members ridiculed, and Church teachings mocked – even by people who profess to be members of the Church.

The natural reaction of many Church members is often like the impulse voiced by Abishai son of Zeruiah, in today’s first reading (from 2 Samuel 15 & 16):

Let me go over, please,
and lop off his head.

Excommunicate, boycott, flame, outvote, or insult them back harder – do whatever you have to do to get them.

It is a natural reaction.

But it is rarely the appropriate Christian reaction.

To be sure, the Church, its teachings, and its people must be defended, but both charity and justice require us to avoid overreaction or disproportionate responses.

Indeed, even King David in today’s reading (who is the one being insulted, verbally abused, and physically assaulted) calls for restraint and perspective.

“What business is it of mine or of yours,
sons of Zeruiah, that he curses?
Suppose the LORD has told him to curse David;
who then will dare to say, ‘Why are you doing this?’”

Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants:
“If my own son, who came forth from my loins,
is seeking my life,
how much more might this Benjaminite do so?
Let him alone and let him curse,
for the LORD has told him to.
Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction
and make it up to me with benefits
for the curses he is uttering this day.”

David and his men continued on the road,
while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside,
all the while cursing
and throwing stones and dirt as he went.

Even though David would later slip back into “pay back” mode (1 Kings 2:8-9), the insights he expresses here are important for us to consider in our own situation – as members of the Church and even as individuals.

First, it is always most important that we remain focused on what the Lord wants us to do, not on what other people are doing. As followers of Christ, it is generally best that we be more proactive for the good than reactive to the bad.

Second, we must keep everything in perspective. Some criticism may have some truth in it and we should never close our minds to truth. However, while we must always accept truth and base our actions on truth, it must be the whole truth and nothing but the truth – not just isolated facts and “spin.”

Third, while we must defend what is of God, we must remember that the Lord often calls us –especially as individuals - to be afflicted and despised, as he was, so that we may someday share in his glory.

Blessed are you when they insult you
and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely)
because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
(Matthew 5:11-12)