Methods
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 18
A few years ago, I noticed a pattern in the way a couple of young men interacted with others on social media. They both have leanings that are progressive and opposed to conservative, evangelical beliefs. When they responded to postings by conservative, Bible-believing Christians it would usually not be a direct refutation of what was said. Instead, one of them would reply with a statement that would attempt to shame the person they were responding to. It would be along the lines of, “I can’t believe that a (preacher, Sunday school teacher, or deacon…) would say something like that!” It was an attempt to silence by shaming.
One of these young men would use a different approach. He would put forth his military service as the basis for being an infallible arbiter of truth. That’s not exactly what he would say, but whenever anyone called him out he would tout those credentials and most people would cower, apologize, and say, “Thank you for your service.”
I bring this up because it is important to have some discernment about the methodologies of those who would seek to refute or attack biblical truth. While all of the prophets were attacked for their preaching to some degree, Jeremiah seemed to be the one who was under constant assault. The attacks on him and his preaching came in a variety of ways. It wasn’t always physical, though it did include that.
In Jeremiah 18:18 we hear from his enemies what their strategy was. First, they determined to “strike [Jeremiah] with the tongue.” They verbally assaulted him. That old saying we heard growing up, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me,” doesn’t hold water. Words can be used to strike us in painful ways.
Then, they made a pact to “not pay attention to any of his words.” Ignoring someone can be a “passive-aggressive” way of opposing them.
Both of these tactics were meant to discourage Jeremiah. The hoped-for effect was that he would be silenced, and his preaching stopped once and for all.
And this is the point I am making: Don’t allow others’ tactics of opposition to the truth to silence you. One of the ways you can fight against that happening is simple awareness. Seek the discernment that will allow you to say, “I see what you’re doing there,” and then keep on keeping on.
J. B. Phillips translates 2 Corinthians 2:11 this way: “We don’t want Satan to win any victory here, and well we know his methods.”
Know his methods so that he can’t win any victories here.
