Shot in the Foot

I heard a comedian once say, "Something about owning a gun makes you start to suspect your feet. Perhaps you think they are plotting against you. But most people only shoot one foot. Perhaps you are teaching the other one a lesson. 'see what happened to your buddy.'" Metaphorically speaking, a lot of Christians are limping around because they have shot themselves in the foot. They are victims, they tell you, of the sins of others. Mistreatment at the hands of other Christians. They may have tales of woe about the things they have been put through by others. They have full accounts of how others have wronged them. What they don't realize is that the gaping wound in their foot came from the smoking gun in their hand. When things started to go wrong, they promptly got out their gun, took aim, and fired...right into their sneaker. People mistreat other people. It is human nature. Much of the time it is unintentional, just the result of everyone's innate selfishness. Even when it is intentional, the real fun comes in how people react. The old saying is, "when life gives you lemons, make lemon-aid." The reaction most people have is more along the lines of, "when life gives you lemons, squeeze them into your eyes, rub them on your wounds, and then suck on them." Fun stuff. So often, no matter how we have been treated, the real wounds come from our reactions, not from others actions. This is especially tragic, and all too common, for the Christian. The Bible is full of teaching on reacting well. "Be angry, but don't sin and don't let the sun go down on your anger." (Eph. 4:26) "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either." (Luke 6:27-29) "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."(Romans 12:14) A lot of Christians forget these verses when things start going wrong. They get angry, they lash out, they react poorly, they contribute to the conflict, they shoot themselves in the foot. I have heard people say that the Christian army is the only army that shoots its wounded. While I know there are times when that is true, often times the wounded shoot themselves. In Christ, there is forgiveness and victory. If God is for us, who can be against us? Joseph suffers terrible unjust treatment at the hands of his brothers and sees God's hand guiding his life. Jesus hangs unjustly on the cross and utters, "Father, forgive them." The next time you feel you are under attack, put down the gun. Respond well. Shooting back will most likely buy you a nice foot wound. Claim the promise that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) And the next time you encounter a wounded one who wants to tell you their tale of mistreatment, offer treatment instead, and point them to the forgiveness and victory of Christ.