There seem to be two typical ways to avoid conversion or meaningful change, two diversionary tactics that we use to avoid having pain: fight and flight.
“Fight” is what I’ll call the way of Simon the Zealot. It describes people who want to change, fix, control, and reform other people and events. The zealot always looks for the political sinner, the unjust one, the oppressor, the bad person over there. Zealots consider themselves righteous when attacking them (whoever they are at a given time), hating them, even killing them. When they do, they believe they are “doing a holy duty for God” (John 16:2).
Zealots often have good conclusions, but their tactics and motives can be filled with ego, power, control, and the same righteousness they hate in others.
As long as they [others] are the problem (whoever they are), and we keep our focus on changing them and correcting them, then we can sit in a reasonably comfortable position. But it is a false peace of avoidance, denial, and projection.
“Fight” is what I’ll call the way of Simon the Zealot. It describes people who want to change, fix, control, and reform other people and events. The zealot always looks for the political sinner, the unjust one, the oppressor, the bad person over there. Zealots consider themselves righteous when attacking them (whoever they are at a given time), hating them, even killing them. When they do, they believe they are “doing a holy duty for God” (John 16:2).
Zealots often have good conclusions, but their tactics and motives can be filled with ego, power, control, and the same righteousness they hate in others.
As long as they [others] are the problem (whoever they are), and we keep our focus on changing them and correcting them, then we can sit in a reasonably comfortable position. But it is a false peace of avoidance, denial, and projection.
This brings us to flight, the second diversionary tactic. This is the common path of the “Pharisee,” Such people deny pain altogether and refuse to carry the shadow side of anything in themselves or in their chosen groups. They refuse to see their own brokenness, and project their own wounded side somewhere else! They are perfect, they are righteous. Be like them and there will be no problems. It is a form of narcotic, and at times probably necessary to get some people through the day.
Both fight and flight people are subject to hypocrisy, projection, or just plain illusion: “We are right; you are wrong. The world is divided into black and white, and we alone know who is good and who is bad.”
But there is a third way...
“Resurrected” people are the ones who have found a better way by prayerfully bearing witness against injustice and evil— and working to fill the world with good. Imagine the energy that we would have to love others, if we stopped putting energy into judgment. Imagine moving past self protection and just bringing a loving self [you] to every person, every encounter, every time.
There is a third way to live.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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