What do you
say to someone you love when they’re about to venture out into the world? What,
for instance, does a parent say to a child as she prepares to leave the house?
Let’s listen in to what a mother is saying to her 3rd grader as he
goes out to play with his friends. “Now, Pete, be sure to stay away from
strangers. If someone tries to talk to you and you don’t know him, just walk
away. Be careful not to hurt yourself when you’re on the slide or the swing
set. And if a big kid comes over and starts to bother you, come home right
away.” “Be safe and take care of
yourself.” That’s what most people say to the ones they love when those
loved ones are getting ready to go out and meet the world. No matter if that
loved one is a third-grader, a middle-aged adult, or an elder citizen, that’s
what we tell them: “Be safe and take care
of yourself.”
When Jesus
sent his disciples out into ministry, though, that’s not what he told them at
all. No, instead, he said, “I’m sending you out into the midst of people who
are as dangerous as a bunch of hungry wolves. And you’re going to run into
trouble, because those people aren’t going to like what you say and do. So be
as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves.” He didn’t say, “Take care of yourself.” He didn’t say, “Be safe.” Instead he said, “When you run into trouble – and you will –
be like both snakes and doves.”
What did
Jesus mean by that? Well, being like a snake means having all kinds of savvy –
street smarts, if you will. In Jesus’ time, snakes were a symbol of wisdom.
Remember that a snake is the one who deceives Eve in the story of the Garden of
Eden. In that text, the snake is described as being “craftier than any of the
wild animals.” There are still reminders today of the snake’s reputation for
wisdom. The physician’s symbol is a caduceus, a staff entwined by two snakes.
Who is wiser than a doctor? That’s why those snakes are on the symbol’s staff.
But doves were the opposite. They were seen as being innocent, pure, and
harmless. We don’t think of someone innocent and pure as being wise! We talk
about “innocent children” who haven’t learned wisdom yet. Children have no
knowledge of the ways of the world. They are idealistic, always looking for the
good in people; and trusting, assuming that no one would wish them any harm.
Wisdom and innocence seem to be complete opposites. How can Jesus expect his
followers to be both at the same time?
The way out
of our dilemma lies in the kind of wisdom that we’re talking about. The wisdom
that Jesus wants us to have is the holy wisdom of God; and it is very different
from the wisdom that the world offers us. We all know what the world says: “Take care of yourself. Play it safe. Do
unto others before they can do unto you. And in situations that look hopeless,
you might as well not even try.” Jesus teaches us something very different.
He asks us to be vulnerable; to take risks in helping others; to go where the
Spirit leads us, even into situations that appear to be hopeless; to treat
others the way that we would want to be treated; and always, always, to trust
God to be working for good in every situation. If we have that kind of wisdom,
it’s easy to be wise and innocent at the same time. God’s holy wisdom
encourages us to behave just like that innocent child: to look for the good in
others, to trust the people that we meet, and to assume that everything will
come out all right in the end. Do we throw away our street savvy and our
knowledge of how the world usually works? Absolutely not! But we don’t let that
dictate how we behave! We follow Jesus’ leading wherever it takes us!
A wonderful
example of being both wise and innocent is a long-married couple that I know
well. During their lives together, they have spent quite a bit of time in
Brownsville, Texas volunteering with a local ministry there. They helped to
repair homes and pass out clothing to needy local residents; but they didn’t
stop at that. They regularly crossed the border into Matamoros, Mexico, and
helped folks who lived in the poorest sections of that town. Their friends were
horrified at their actions. They protested that Matamoros is full of drug
cartels, and that my friends were putting themselves in danger by crossing the
border. They crossed the border, anyway. But they were wise as snakes in the
way that they went about it. They drove an old, ratty van so that it wouldn’t
attract the attention of the drug cartels; and they dressed so that no one knew
they were Americans. But they were also as innocent as doves in believing that
their actions would make a difference to the people there. And they did make a difference! They distributed
clothing and blankets to people who had nothing; they built new homes and
repaired others; and every holiday season, they helped to throw a Christmas
party. Folks came from miles around to receive new clothing, a hot meal, and
toys for their children. That’s what it looks like when you are as wise as snakes
and as innocent as doves as you minister in Jesus’ name.
During this
Lenten season, Jesus may ask you to do something for him. He may send you
somewhere, and it might be somewhere risky. If that happens, don’t focus on the
wolves that are all around you. Trust in the wisdom that God gives you and
believe that you can make a difference; because, as you minister in Jesus’
name, you can make a difference. Be like
snakes and be like doves as you follow Jesus Christ.
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