Defending Almighty God, or Protecting Me...

Did you read last week’s blog?  In it, I mentioned the struggle I have with wanting to defend God from people who just can’t accept him for who he is.  Fortunately, the Bible speaks to our personal struggles – it really is a great book!  I’ve been learning, how to handle these situations a little bit better, thanks to my morning conversations with the Holy Spirit in the book of Romans.  However...

Over the course of the last three years, I have met off and on with a gal who looks at everything about God (especially his character) through the lens of her own personal struggles.  She’ll argue to the n^th degree why he just can’t be the God we think he is.  Unfortunately, over time, her words sound much like a broken record (for those of you who’ve never listened to a broken record, those words are symbolic of a phrase that’s stuck on repeat).  The result of our conversations is that I’m either for her, or against her.  So, to present God’s perspective from the Word, in spite of all my good intentions...well, makes me into the bad guy.  However...

I don’t think I am.  I have a soft heart for this gal.  Undeniably, life has been hard.  Unquestionably, many of her desires have been unfulfilled.  Sadly, there isn’t a lot of hope glimmering up ahead in her future.  I understand why she could be angry with life’s hand, and God’s.  My want-to is to be a beacon of light that shines on some semblance of what-could-be on down the road of life.  I’ve wanted to be a friend, and one who would “stick close.”  However...

While I’m still in the book of Romans, I’ve gotten side-tracked by some other passages of Scripture, as I attempt to hear from the Lord on how to best respond in situations like this one.  Here are some of the verses I’ve been drawn to read (caution:  they sound pretty harsh) -

...reproof and discipline is a way of life (Prov. 6:23).

...a scoffer will not listen to reproof (Proverbs 13:1).  Side note:  a scoffer throughout the book of Proverbs is literally “one who makes a mouth at, refusing to seek knowledge and understanding” and is categorized as foolish.

...a fool does not delight in understanding; only in revealing what is in his own mind (Proverbs 18:2).

...leave the presence of a fool, or you will not discern words of knowledge (Proverbs 14:7).

...don’t make friends with an angry person...lest you entangle yourself in a snare (Proverbs 22:24-25).

I get it; this sounds like I’m looking for a way out. It has to appear as if I’m trying to justify walking away, and not continuing to meet.  It sounds more like I'm protecting me (well, yes, I guess I am, sort of, so read on). I’ve searched my heart, and labored over these verses.  However...

After seeking some godly counsel; after much reflection and realizing how “entangled” I’ve become in an unhealthy way (i.e. consuming mental energy trying to help her find TRUTH); after following Paul’s steps of honest reproof; and years of praying that the Spirit of the Lord would get through, I am making a decision to still be friendly, but no longer meet in an attempt to be a helper.  Sometimes, Scripture seems to say, wipe the dust off your feet, and move on.  Sometimes, Scripture seems to say, don’t keep giving wisdom where it isn’t received.  Sometimes, for our own healthy mind, Scripture says to do the hard thing, and let go.  However...

My heart aches.