Overcoming Antagonism

“They hated me without reason.” [1] Jesus unveils an ugly and unfortunate bit of reality; you do not necessarily have to do anything wrong to be hated. Jesus experienced such hatred. What did He do?

“In the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death. He was heard because of His godly fear.” [2] Jesus committed those who sought to destroy Him to our Heavenly Father. He set forth an example for us.

“Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” [3] Commit your soul to God and keep on doing good. Those who should have your back may betray you, but God is faithful.

King David was once on the run from King Saul. Saul was obsessed with killing David. Yet David still managed to rescue the town of Keilah from the Philistines. His rescue efforts are a complete success, and the town is saved from certain annihilation. We would expect great expressions of gratitude for their survival. However, this is not the course of action they took. They sold him out.

David took the matter to God. He asked God two questions. First, is it true that King Saul is coming against Keilah? Second, will the people betray me over to him? God’s answer to David’s two questions are “yes” and “yes.” [4]

Why did the people that David helped betray him?

They resorted to typical survival instincts. Saul would destroy them. David would not. Saul is dangerous. David is safe. Better to appease the danger at the expense of the innocent. When fear and desperation takes hold of people, they tend to betray godly principles and godly people.

Guy Greenfield offers the following list:

1) Avoiding Conflict. Most people carry a significant fear of conflict and will resort to extreme measures to avoid it. Risking community status for someone in trouble is a difficult decision.

2) Intimidated by “Facts.” Antagonists will go to great lengths to build their case and confirmed facts are not necessary. They do not need to prove anything. False accusations are sufficient.

3) The Force of Personality. The obsessive drive of antagonists for control tends to overwhelm passive people. Misguided crusaders push an agenda of twisted “truths.” They assert their own self-will in how something should be or be believed.

4) Too Busy. Let us face reality, people lead busy lives. Between work, family obligations and personal time not much time remains for major tasks. Overcoming antagonists requires time and adds emotional stress to one’s life. If the antagonists happen to be retired (which is often the case), the reinforcements will not be coming. [5]

So, David set a good example for us. Do not spend too much time lamenting over those who betrayed you. Seek the Lord! Be guided by the Lord! Be grateful that God does have your back.

When a problem besieges our mind, the normal human tendency is to magnify its power and create within our own mind a giant. Allow your mind to dwell on a given problem and the more energy you permit to flow to it. Under prolonged stress one’s functional IQ will lose its affect and decrease. One’s IQ can drop by as much as forty points! [6]

“Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you yourself will be just like them. Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.” [7] These statements contradict one another, but consider this, when a contrary “fool” crosses your path, your choices become terribly reduced to poor consequences or even worse consequences.

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” [8] Jesus promises that people who have used words to hurt others will be held accountable. “If anyone digs a pit, they themselves will fall into it; if anyone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.” [9] We all eventually reap what we sow. So, let us refrain from empty and hurtful words, and from digging pits, and focus on doing good and serving the Lord.

[1] John 15:25
[2] Hebrews 5:7
[3] 1 Peter 4:19
[4] 1 Samuel 23
[5] Guy Greenfield, The Wounded Minister, Baker Publishing Group (January 1, 2001)
[6] Dr. Steven G. Minor, Antagonism, Churchpolitics.org
[7] Proverbs 26:4-5
[8] Matthew 12:36-37
[9] Proverbs 26:27