“Whatever Our Circumstances, Christ Is in Control”

Psalm 4

Psalm 4:8: I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

[prayer]

In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus made it very clear that following him wasn’t always going to be a cakewalk. Let’s take a look at Matthew 5:11-12. Although his words are phrased in terms of a blessing – a Beatitude – Jesus is up front about what can happen to a faithful disciple.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who came before you.”

God’s faithful people have always had to deal with false accusations, snide remarks, and mean spirited jokes made at their expense. Today’s unknown psalmist is either singing or praying about the derision heaped upon him by those who are scornful of his faithfulness. His honor has suffered shame. His enemies love speaking vain words and lies about him.

How does that make him feel? How does he respond? He feels hurt and angry but does not respond in kind. Out of his own experience he lays out some good advice. As Eugene Peterson paraphrases it, “Complain if you must, but don’t lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking. Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.”

Feel what you feel. Don’t swallow it. Don’t suppress it. Don’t deny it. Be honest about it, both with God and yourself. The hurt and anger are real. They are appropriate. But, in a style of behavior that the Apostle Paul will later urge the Christians in Rome to adopt, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil… Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God… Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Trust God to deal with those who bedevil you. Trust God to vindicate you. And that’s exactly what this psalmist does. He puts his trust in the Lord, and not for the first time. He is a man who has developed a long-term, close relationship with the Lord. Trusting God’s goodness and grace comes naturally to him. He’s not afraid to ask God for help. At the end of the day he can go to sleep knowing that he is safe in God’s hands.

None of us can get through life without having to deal with nasty people. No Christian can live in this sinful world and not experience the disdain of unbelievers. Several years ago in Elkins, WV, there was a physician who openly and joyfully lived out his faith. Many loved and admired him, but there were those who snickered behind his back – maybe even to his face. This good Christian man became ill with a cancer that ultimately killed him. During his final days one of his medical colleagues was overheard saying rather scornfully, “I wonder if his Jesus is helping him now?”

That’s the kind of comment that upon hearing it I would want to respond with some catty remark about its speaker’s stupidity, ignorance, and lack of sensitivity. I might openly question his bedside manner – or lack thereof. I might even be a bit self-righteous and let the guy know that at least his Christian colleague wouldn’t be joining him in hell.

Those are the occasions that become what I call WWJD moments. What would Jesus do? What would today's psalmist do? What should any Christian do? Ignore the comment and move on? If you know that you will probably lose control, probably. Cool down and then rationally confront the guy about his nastiness? Only if you think you won’t truly be throwing pearls before swine. Or maybe simply ask God to give you the strength to forgive him? Or softly, lovingly, but firmly say something like this, “I’m sorry you feel that way. Please know that your colleague really is safe in the hands of Jesus.” That will, of course, make you the possible target of a nasty comment. Can you deal with that without losing your cool?

Whatever happens in a situation like that, the worst thing we can do is respond in kind. It is not only an unchristian way of behaving; it’s a major waste of breath. Ultimately it only serves to make us look bad. That’s true even from a totally secular perspective. Think about all those old common sense sayings about such situations. “Never get in a stinky contest with a skunk. If you wrestle with a pig you’ll both end up dirty. Never argue with a fool, onlookers often cannot tell the difference between you and the fool.”

Along with a very strong faith, that long-ago psalmist was obviously endowed with such common sense. He also knew that, if he and his enemies got into a battle of theological wits, he would be doing battle with unarmed opponents. These were people who were totally indifferent to God. They didn’t know God. They had no use for his Word or his will. They were completely caught up in their own vain pursuits.

These were people who didn’t have time for sincere worship, meaningful prayer, or any sort of deep spiritual reflection. Their days and nights were consumed in the pursuit of the things of this world: wealth, success, status, and pleasure. They lived their lives in a constant whirlwind of getting, having, and doing. They had neither the time nor the inclination to be still and know that God is God. They could not tolerate the kind of silent inactivity necessary if one is to hear that still small voice of God. They were the players, the movers and shakers of their day, chasing after delusions of happiness.

It is quite possible that they were neither atheists nor agnostics. Maybe they, like a lot of modern folks, dabbled in religion because it is the respectable thing to do. Maybe they thought of the weekly worship service as just one more opportunity to network, to see and be seen. If they were of the political ilk, maybe their feigned piety was just another way to get votes. Years ago as a young man working in a men’s clothing store I was very familiar with the old joke about, if the man wants a green suit, turn on the green light. If the voters want piety, simply wear a cloak of piety that’s long on glitter but short on substance.

Or maybe their worship, superficial though it might be, was a way to hedge their bets – just in case all this God stuff was true. Maybe their faith, if one can call it that, was of the “Gospel of Prosperity” variety. They saw all their success and possessions as signs of God’s blessings, never stopping to consider that their daily behavior belied their superficial Sabbath day piety. If this were the case, then odds are likely that they’d abandon God as soon as the goodies stopped coming. Superficial faith cannot withstand many of life's harsh realities.

Consider that West Virginia doctor dying of cancer. Did he renounce God once his cancer was diagnosed? Did he stop following Jesus just because doing so was no longer easy? Did his faith crumble in the face of a painful illness and a long, drawn out death? Did he stop tithing? Did he become immoral or unethical? No. He followed Jesus all the way, dying with the same faith with which he had lived. And if he was aware of his colleague’s attitude toward him, he didn’t allow himself to be overcome by a need for vindictiveness. If he heard that colleague’s nasty remarks, it is doubtful that he responded in kind. My hunch is that he prayed for him and for his salvation.

Real faith does not crumble in the face of adversity. A long-term, deep, and abiding trust in God doesn’t evaporate over night. A faithful follower of Jesus stays the course of discipleship through good times and bad. A committed Christian doesn’t expect, as Oral Roberts’ baby boy so crudely put it, God to be a Coke machine – put in your money and automatically get something back. A disciple of Jesus is honest, ethical, and moral, even when the costs of being so are high. A faithful congregation of God’s people knows that it is called to be faithful in the eyes of God not successful in the eyes of the world. Being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from trouble. Sometimes being a Christian brings trouble into our lives. Jesus did, after all, tell us that crosses come with the territory.

I find that my life in Christ goes better when I heed these two pieces of advice: As a wise and faithful recovering alcoholic once told me, “What other people think about you is none of your business.” And a piece of advice Sandy passed on to me that’s pasted into my Bible, “What God knows about us is more important than what people think about us.” It matters not that people despise us as long as God loves us. They can say or do whatever they wish, but like the psalmist, “[We] will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make [us] lie down in safety. Amen.