Whether domestic, ecclesiastical, political or financial—I sometimes feel like my job as pastor is to mediate conflicts. Maybe a striped shirt and a whistle should be issued along with the ordination papers. The problem with being a professional spiritual referee is that in close games that don’t turn out our way, we tend to blame, criticize and boo the ref.
Booing crowds notwithstanding, I wanna be like that scary dude (man, angel or whatever he was) who was standing in Joshua’s path with drawn sword in his hand (Joshua 5:13–15). Voice cracking and knees knocking, Josh spit out a question as if his life depended on the answer: “Um, whose side are you on—mine or my enemies?”
Swordman’s answer was simple and clear. “Neither. I am on God’s side.”
Like most of us, I’m sure Josh thought that his side and God’s side were one and the same. At least that’s my default setting. I generally assume my doctrine, my opinion, my position is God’s.
So, what’s the lesson here? Simple. Next time I’m in a conflict, I better not automatically assume my side is the same as God’s. Next time I’m mediating a conflict, I better be sure I am representing God’s side. Next time I come face to face with a scary man with a drawn sword, knife or gun—I better make sure I am on his side, because I might be seeing him face-to-face real soon.