Strong Convictions - Gentle Hearts #1 Hard Hearted
In our last section of "Wisdom for Every Day life" we come to a delicate balance.We live in a world where values are being eroded and right and wrong are being reduced to what is good for me. This leaves Christ-followers in a bind: On the one hand we want to present the gospel attractively, but we don't want to compromise on the moral and ethical standards of holiness, justice, and righteousness. We don't want to present a laissez-faire faith but we also don't want to be legalistic and prescriptive.
There are not easy answers to this conundrum.
I believe that part of the solution lies in understanding God's heart for the lost.
We'll start with the example of someone who missed this completely.
Jonah the prophet was called by God to preach the gospel to Nineveh.
He didn't want to. We don't know if he had history with the Assyrians or if he just saw them as "unwashed heathens." But he didn't want to bring God's word to them. So he ran in the opposite direction and God sent a fishy submarine to bring him back. Even his sermon reflects his disconnection, he doesn't urge them to repent, he simply pronounces judgement. The Ninevites respond and repent in a way that Jerusalem never did and God relents.
Jonah loses it. He had suspected that forgiveness was on God's agenda and when it happens, he is angry and embarrassed and he pouts. God provides a vine that grows over him to shade him. Then He provides a worm which eats the vine and it withers. Jonah is furious about the loss of the vine even though it was an undeserved privilege.
And so God speaks to him:
| But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left - and also many animals?" (Jonah4:10-11) |
The account of Jonah is a masterful presentation of a heart that has become privileged and superior.
Jonah's heart is hard.
He is entitled.
He is exclusive.
He is arrogant.
The hardness and pride of his heart is not only seen in his lack of compassion for the Ninevites but in the self-centeredness of his prayer in the belly of the fish. It's striking that immediately after his prayer, the fish vomits him onto the beach. (I can't help but think of Jesus who warns the lukewarm Laodiceans that He will vomit them from His mouth.)
When it comes to sharing our faith, having the right doctrine isn't enough. Accuracy of presentation isn't enough. Our convictions must be carried by a heart that cares about the people we are speaking to.
God numbers the people and even thinks about the animals.
Jonah is fuming about God being merciful and about a plant that shouldn't even have been there.
And the book ends on this note, leaving us to wonder if Jonah ever softened his heart...
