Contributed by a B4T worker in the Arab world
I’ve often reflected on how much more lonely I am on the field. I used to have a great deal of close friends (in a sense, I still do – I just only see them once every year or two). “Life on life” is not a 100% money-back guarantee on the field. In fact, one of the hardest things I’ve had to give up is being understood.
What We Give Up
My local friends don’t fully understand me. Missionaries don’t understand me. Many B4Ters don’t understand me. Because of this, it struck me in fresh light as I recently studied Paul’s relationship with God how misunderstood he was. Take Acts 21, for example. Paul had prophets warn him not to go to Jerusalem in Acts 20 and he ignored their warnings. When he finally made it to Jerusalem, he gave a report of how God had used him among the Gentiles.
“And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.” (Acts 21:20-21)
What Paul Gave Up
Paul was a Pharisee who gave his life to Jesus and never looked back. He became a very misunderstood Pharisee. Verses 27-36 describe a rather large crowd of Jews angrily shouting accusations that he no longer values the law of Moses and he had been preaching this or that (some of which wasn’t true and some of which wasn’t in context). It must have been particularly painful that he wasn’t hauled off because of his love for Jesus but because of misunderstandings on perceived positions of various Mosaic laws.
In the end, Paul was never understood. Pharisees thought he was a traitor. Jews thought he was a traitor. Followers of Jesus often thought he had gone rogue.
The Better Path
Following God’s path for you is not a good way to be understood. It’s better to settle with ourselves that we will often be misunderstood for the sake of His Name. I believe in trying to state our case so as to be understood by those close to us, but only insofar as we seek to bring reconciliation and move forward the kingdom of God in this world.
Being misunderstood contributes to a great sense of loneliness that many of us feel on the field. Let us have faith that His grace will be sufficient for our psyches.
OPEN USA supports workers in the 10/40 Window, who are doing Business for Transformation. This author’s identifying information has been withheld due to security reasons. To learn more about OPEN USA and B4T, visit Find Yourself in B4T.