Tag Archive for: intimidation

On Saturday, April 4, 2015, white police officer Michael Slager shot and killed an unarmed black man, Walter Scott. Officer Slager claimed Scott had grabbed his Taser and he had shot in self-defense. The story may have ended there except for one thing.

Feidin Santana, a barber walking to work, saw the officer “controlling” Scott and heard the Taser, so he recorded the unfolding events with his cellphone camera. When Santana later read the officer’s version of what happened, he turned the video over to the victim’s family.

Every cover-up to be revealed at the Judgment

On Judgment Day the Light will shine and every cover-up will be revealed

In the video, as the two men struggled, the Taser apparently drops to the ground, Scott breaks away from Slager and runs. Slager pulls his gun and fires at the fleeing man without warning. Scott falls to the ground some thirty feet away. Slager walks over, handcuffs him, returns to retrieve the Taser, and drops it next to Scott, in an apparent cover-up to make it appear that Scott had taken the Taser.

The family’s lawyer turned the footage over to the NY Times. Immediately after the video was made public, Slager was fired and charged with murder.

What Slager concealed the video revealed. If there’d been no video, Officer Slager’s story might have held.

On earth, that is.

Because here’s the promise that every person who’s been wrongly accused can hold to:

There is nothing concealed
that will not be revealed,
nor hidden
that will not be made known.
Matthew 10:26; Luke 12:2

Jesus said this is why his disciples needn’t fear those who can falsely malign and can kill the body but can’t kill the soul.

There’s a heavenly recording of everything. There’s a final judgment coming.

It’s a promise.

But it’s also a warning: “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” (Luke 12:5). We need to walk in the light by shunning hypocrisy, banishing lies, searching our hearts, and keeping our motives pure.

“The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.” 1 Timothy 5:24-25

Four resources for those just getting started in Christian apologetics–giving reasons for faith

First Peter 3:15 tells us to always be “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” But when you first start answering seekers and skeptics, preparing can seem overwhelming because of the mountain of material out there. Here are four resources for anyone just starting out in giving reasons for faith. They won’t overwhelm you, and they’ll give you a solid foundation upon which you can build.

Bible for giving reasons for faith

NIV Study Bible

Bible: NIV Study Bible

Having a good study Bible is an essential for knowing your Bible well, and knowing your Bible is the first step towards effectively sharing your faith. A study Bible will explain cultural and historical details, and will answer questions about apparent discrepancies. The NIV Study Bible is my favorite because it presents multiple views for passages about which evangelical scholars have different opinions (for instance, both Calvinist and Arminian interpretations). Being familiar with multiple views can help keep us from majoring in the minors; it also promotes unity—an essential since Jesus said people will know we’re his disciples by our love for each other.

Book for giving reasons for faith

The Reason for God

Book: The Reason for God

This book, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, is worth its weight in diamonds just for how it demonstrates respectful engagement with skeptics. Dr. Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City, gathered the seven main objections that NY twenty-somethings had against Christianity. In Part 1, he clearly presents the objections and answers them with understanding and respect. In Part 2 he argues for belief in Jesus as Savior. This book is excellent both for learning how to give reasons for faith and for handing out to seekers.

Software for giving reasons for Faith

Prepared Defense

Software: Prepared Defense

Load this software on your PC, Mac, iPad, or iPhone. When you’re asked a tough question, select the question in the hierarchical list and quick answers pop up on the screen. Dr. Clay Jones first developed Prepared Defense for use on his live call-in, talk radio program. It’s great for those times when you need a quick answer, when you need your memory jogged, or when you want an exact quote. It lists plenty of resources for studying a topic more deeply. Get it from Biola University as a stand-alone product ($12), from WORDsearch as an add-on for their other software products ($29.95), or from LifeWay as a digital eBook ($29.99).

Book for giving reasons for faith

The Fallacy Detective

Book: The Fallacy Detective

Hans Bluedorn and Nathaniel Bluedorn wrote this delightful book on fallacies (errors in reasoning). It’s important to know fallacies so that you not only avoid using them, but recognize them when you hear them.The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning is sprinkled with witticisms and comics that keep the tone light. Each short chapter ends with a quiz to help you practice and hone your budding skills.

These four resources will give you a solid foundation for answering basic questions about your faith.


Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What can we learn from Jesus about making people feel valued, especially in small groups? Plenty—especially from the way he treated a woman too shy to speak to him.

She wasn’t ready to open up

Jesus was on his way to heal the daughter of an important man, Jairus. Jairus was a synagogue ruler, while this woman hiding in the crowd hadn’t been to synagogue in twelve years. She couldn’t—not with this bleeding problem that made her “unclean.” Any place she sat became unclean too, so she didn’t get out much.

She couldn’t get up the nerve to talk to Jesus. After all, who would be interested in a penniless woman who wasn’t the daughter of anyone special?

The crowd pressed all around him. She really shouldn’t have been there in her state, but she longed for healing. She’d been ostracized for so long. She needn’t bother him, after all: she’d just slip in from behind, touch his cloak—that’s all it would take, she was sure—and then disappear among the multitude. No one would notice.

But someone did.

Jesus felt power going out of him and knew someone had touched him and been healed, someone who wouldn’t venture to ask for healing. But healing her physically wasn’t enough. He turned and called out, “Who touched my clothes?”

She didn’t answer. Perhaps she froze in confusion, thoughts racing through her mind. Will he be angry I touched him when I’m unclean? Jairus and all the important people must be furious at this delay! What will everyone think if I speak up?

Talkative people exuberantly move from one subject to another

Not hearing an immediate answer, Jesus’ disciples wanted to move on. But Jesus didn’t. He kept looking around.

She finally spoke up, shaking with fear. She may have stumbled over her words, felt the warmth of a blush on her face, winced as it turned to red-hot burning.

Jesus listened to the whole story: she had bled for twelve long years and spent all her money on doctors, but only gotten worse. When she heard Jesus was near, she thought if she could just touch his clothes, she could be free without bothering him. She had touched his cloak and felt healed immediately.

Jesus gave her his full attention, as if he thought her words important. This made the crowds acknowledge her and give her their full attention too. Everyone is looking at me! She glanced up and saw gentle eyes, eyes that bade her talk. And a kind smile that told her all was well. She locked her eyes on his.

People blossom when they feel valued & accepted

After Jesus listened, he called her “daughter”! Yes, “daughter.” She who hadn’t been the daughter of someone important like a synagogue ruler, was now being called daughter by this great man. What did it mean?

He said her faith had healed her and to go in peace. So he wasn’t mad. No, he was pleased she had approached him. She, a woman of no consequence who dared but touch his garment unnoticed, had been noticed, healed, and freed.

She smiled shyly and looked around. She saw compassion in the faces of tenderhearted people. She hadn’t expected this.

“Be freed from your suffering,” he said. Yes, she was free. She knew it!  Free not just from sickness, but from feeling alone, forgotten, and inconsequential.

***

If you’re not shy:

  • You can look around—like Jesus did—to find that man standing alone at church and the woman sitting quietly at a gathering.
  • Draw others out and listen to their stories.
  • Let others know they’re family and they’re valued.

If you’re shy:

  • Take heart from Jesus’ tenderness towards the timid woman.
  • The thoughtful statements of the more quiet are often insightful, so go ahead, take courage, and speak.
  • Know that shyness makes you no less valuable: a family needs members with all kinds of gifts, including the quiet gifts.
  • Go in peace, for you matter greatly to Jesus.

If you’re a small group leader:

  • You can imitate Jesus by looking around for the quiet people who take a little longer to speak up and encouraging them with a smile.
  • Help the talkative people not rush ahead when there’s a pause; show you’re not afraid of silence so they won’t be either.
  • Give those sharing your full attention—that shows you value both them and what they have to say; it also encourages others to do the same.
  • Treat all like family—after all, that’s what they are.
  • When people share something self-disclosing, let them know later privately how appreciative you are and how their courage will help others—it will give them peace and free them from the second guessing that all but the most self-assured feel.

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’“ But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” ~Mark 5:30-34 

Have you ever excitedly started a new project and halfway in wondered, Whatever made me think I could do this anyway? This is beyond my abilities! I’ll never get done. The halfway point can be hard. The initial excitement disappears, the project looms larger than anticipated, unpredicted problems pile on, fatigue weighs in, and persevering seems impossible.

Laying Slate

Replacing the entire downstairs floor after a slab leak took several months. I cut the tiles and Clay laid them!

And for kingdom-building projects, at the halfway point our enemy steps up attacks.

This is what happened in the Old Testament book Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s arrival in Jerusalem to help the Israelites annoyed their enemies. When he rallied the people together to begin rebuilding protective walls, these enemies mocked and ridiculed them. But Nehemiah was convinced God would give them success so they kept working.

Now that really riled their enemies. They ridiculed the builders even more, telling them they were too feeble to work, their materials were crummy, they’d never finish, and even if they did, the wall was so shoddy it would tumble if a fox hopped on it.

Nehemiah responded with prayer: “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads” (Neh. 4:4). And he kept the workers persevering.

The Halfway Point

But at the halfway point, the builders became tired and discouraged because the rubble was so great they could hardly work. Meanwhile, their furious enemies threatened to kill them!

That’s how it is when we’re completing a work to build God’s kingdom. At the point of natural fatigue, the devil steps up spiritual attacks. He knows our weaknesses and that’s where he wages war.

Nehemiah knew the situation was grave so he slowed down the work. Half the people worked while the rest guarded the builders. He posted guards at vulnerable spots. Nehemiah arranged it that anyone who was attacked could sound a trumpet so the others could help fight. He posted guards at night and instructed everyone to sleep in their clothes with their weapons at hand. And he encouraged the people by telling them not to be afraid of the enemies, but remember the Lord and fight for each other.

Steps for Persevering

Personally, I’m at the halfway point on some projects, so I’ll keep persevering past halfway like Nehemiah by making sure I:

  1. Remember that thoughts such as, You’re inadequate, you’ll never get it done, and this isn’t really good enough to do the job anyway can be the enemy’s intimidation tactics
  2. Guard carefully areas in which I know I’m most vulnerable
  3. Ask friends to pray for me and thereby fight with me
  4. Listen to worship music before bedtime
  5. Arm myself with the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God
  6. Tell myself: 

Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.

Nehemiah 4:14

Related Posts on Persevering

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These are Amazon affiliate links, but are books which I highly recommend.

Edited 10/24/19. Originally published 12/20/11.

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Intimidation is a hummingbird's way

Hummingbird sticks out tongue

Have you ever embarked on what you thought might be a way to help others, but as soon as you told people about it, became intimidated? I have. In fact, just last year I joined a newly formed writers’ group and shared my plans for books to encourage Christians and strengthen faith. Though I’d published before, as soon as I heard about the others’ awards won, books published, and numerous articles written, I thought, Who am I fooling? I should quit now!

I didn’t quit, however, as I soon realized I was merely intimidated. A friend mentioned it’s not just fears of inadequacy that feed intimidation: it’s often a spiritual battle. Indeed, the Bible tells us we are battling “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12), so it makes sense there will be a spiritual battle when what’s at stake is spiritually strengthening others.

The Old Testament book of Nehemiah tells how the Israelites’ enemies tried to intimidate Nehemiah to stop him from helping others.

Nehemiah wanted to rebuild Jerusalem’s fallen walls so its people would be protected from plunderers. He discussed his plans with the king, who not only approved his plans but appointed him Judah’s governor. Nehemiah finished arranging everything that could be done before he headed out to his new post.

However, when he arrived at Jerusalem with army officers and letters from the king, he discovered right away that the Israelites’ enemies “were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites” (Neh. 2:10).

What did Nehemiah do? He didn’t try to win them over: these enemies opposed his goals. Neither did he ask the people he would govern what they thought he should do. Instead, under night’s cover, he examined the ruins with a few trusted men. He told no one there what he was up to until he knew exactly what needed to be done and how. That prevented naysayers from killing the project before it even started with “That’ll never work,” “You’ll never convince so-and-so,” and “You don’t know what we’re up against.”

Then Nehemiah called the people together and told them what he wanted to accomplish and why: “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” (Neh. 2:17). He rallied their hopes by sharing how God’s hand had been with him so far. They responded, “Let’s do it!”

But as soon as the work began, the enemies mocked and ridiculed Nehemiah and the workers, saying “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” (Neh. 2:19).

They were trying to intimidate the Israelites by claiming they were incompetent and threatening trouble if they kept going.

But Nehemiah recognized those words came from enemies who wanted to plunder Jerusalem. He stayed focused on the goal and replied, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem” (Neh. 2:20).

Like Nehemiah, I’d seen needs and I’d fasted, prayed, and planned. Doors opened. I made more detailed plans.

And when I got together with others so we could rally each other on, mocking thoughts besieged me.

Hmm. My situation sounded a lot like Nehemiah’s.

So I recognized the ridicule’s source, focused on the goal, told myself God would make successful whatever He wanted me to do, and got writing.

Which was the right thing to do.

 If you’ve become intimidated after telling others a goal, how have you battled it?

“But when [our enemies] heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked. ‘Are you rebelling against the king?’ I answered them by saying, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” ~Nehemiah 2:19-20