During a preaching class at Trevecca Nazarene University, there was a discussion about Triumphalism. Triumphalism is a belief that he who does right always wins. The teacher warned us against trying to make a Bible text say what the world says and believes.
For example, the Lord says in His Word to please our neighbor for their good. Build them up! This is what He did. But then, He laments because those who hate him are more than the hairs on his head. Why would a good neighbor be insulted and hated?
I liken this situation to Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts are often hated while ice cream, cakes and cookies are greatly beloved. Neighbors who care for the spiritual well-being of those around them are often treated like Brussels sprouts. They are not about pleasing themselves. They are about doing what is best for people.
Jesus Christ gave His best for the people of Jerusalem, but they hated Him, bruised Him, shredded His flesh, insulted Him, and nailed Him in naked fashion to a tree. Did He fail? No, He was a very good neighbor. So, why didn’t He triumph?
After His death on the cross, two of His disciples went walking towards Emmaus. They were sad. Jesus had told them beforehand that He would resurrect from the dead, but they did not believe Him. It seemed to them that goodness had failed.
However, after Jesus revealed to them that He was alive, they were excited. Jesus did conquer sin, Satan, and death. He did win, but only after a seeming defeat.
After His victory, Jesus told us to go and preach His Gospel to the whole world. He told us that we too would experience setbacks, but that He would be with us. Jesus helps us to forgive and love those who mistreat us. This kind of love tastes bad to the self-serving people around us, but it is good for them.
What did Jesus say to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus? After Saul fell off his high horse, Jesus said to him, “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of Me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” [2]
Jesus gave Saul the mission of rescuing neighbors from darkness and from the power of Satan and turning them to Christ. And guess what? Darkness and Satan do not give up people without a fight.
God’s faithful servants have been misunderstood and mistreated throughout the ages. Take the prophets! They are often portrayed as poorly dressed cranky men, but they were bright and selfless people. They were good neighbors to duped people. Despite having few friends, they kindly told others how to enjoy a good relationship with God. They refused to play the part of neighbors who acted as though nothing was wrong when in fact very much was horribly wrong.
Perhaps, some non-Christians agree that we should be good neighbors, but what about the second part? The part about responding to insults as Jesus did? Are we ready for that?
If our neighbors are under Satan’s power, they will throw our proverbial Brussels sprouts back at us. They will demand from us chocolate. They will hurt our feelings. We made ourselves vulnerable to them. We did our best for them. They gave us hatred in return for our love.
To love our neighbor as Jesus does requires prayer, commitment, and of course His Spirit of love fueling us. Despite our best efforts to love them and do them good, they may still reject Christ and us. Should we change our flavor? Should we stop being Brussels sprouts for Jesus and join the dark side of candy and cakes?
I can’t answer for you, but as for me, I never want to go back to the dark side. I want to be the kind of neighbor Jesus has been for me. He loved me in spite of my unfair treatment of Him. He never gave up on me.
“Heavenly Father, please forgive me for failing to love my neighbors as I should. Please help me to love them even as Your Son showed me to do. Please fill me afresh with love for You and my neighbor. For the glory and honor of You God, in the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!”
[1] Romans 15:2-3
[2] Acts 26:16-18
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