The Trap of Misunderstanding
0 ratings
· 7 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Intro
Intro
Acts 21:10-13; 19-22; 26-30
So many misunderstood geniuses. Pythagoras, Socrates, Luther, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, in addition to their genius, have something else in common: they were misunderstood!
Even Paul was misunderstood and, in Acts 21, the apostle of the Gentiles is not understood on 3 occasions:
At Philip’s house (Acts 21:10-13);
In the Church of Jerusalem (Acts 21:19-22);
The Jews from Asia (Acts 21:26-30).
Some Reflections. These 3 moments of misunderstanding experienced by Paul allow us to make some reflections on the matter. First of all, such misunderstandings remind us that:
Misunderstandings can happen anywhere:
In society → Jews
In the church → Church of Jerusalem
At home → Philip’s house
Misunderstandings can happen with anyone:
Luke, a close friend of Paul (Acts 21: 12,1)
The Jews, unknown to Paul (Acts 21:27-28)
James and the elders, mature men (Acts 21:18).
The question we must therefore ask ourselves is: how should we deal with the experience of misunderstanding? To answer this question we will briefly consider:
Misunderstandings are inevitable;
The reasons for misunderstanding are unpredictable,
Our reaction to misunderstandings is decisive.
N.1 - Misunderstandings are inevitable
N.1 - Misunderstandings are inevitable
Leaving a mark costs. If we decide to impact the lives of those around us and be a blessing, just as Paul was for the Jews, then we must accept the fact that we will be misunderstood.
Only a life lived in anonymity will prevent us from being misunderstood by others, but that would not be life.
To be great is to be misunderstood. —Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays, “Self-Reliance”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Essayist)
Many misundertsood. The Bible is full of people who decided to influence others for the good and because of this they were misunderstood: Noah, Moses, Joseph, the Prophets, John the baptist, the Reforming Fathers, the Pioneers of the Faith, etc..
Illustration. There was a small town where a new church was being built. As the congregation gathered for the first service, the pastor noticed the sign that read 'Welcome to the First United Church of the Misunderstood.' Turns out they had hired a painter who misheard 'Methodist' as 'misunderstood.'
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
N.2 - The reasons for misunderstanding are unpredictable
N.2 - The reasons for misunderstanding are unpredictable
Many reasons. In the chapter in question, Paul is misunderstood for Luke’s excessive love, but also for the burning hatred of the Jews of Asia:
When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,
We can be misunderstood for:
Prejudice
Pride
Terror
Petty
Hatred
Love
Ambition
When misunderstandings occur, we can do very little if the other side is not listened to.
Eliab and David. David’s older brother had a completely wrong idea about David’s motives for going to the battlefield: David was there to bring his father supplies of bread.
Yet Eliab misunderstood David:
When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
9145 If spiritual pastors are to refrain from saying anything that might ever, by any possibility, be misunderstood by anybody, they will end—as in fact many of them do—by never saying anything worth hearing.
Dorothy L. Sayers
N.3 - 3 reactions to misunderstandings
N.3 - 3 reactions to misunderstandings
3 Reactions. Here are the 3 typical behaviors that occur when we are misunderstood:
Frantic attitude of convincing with tears, shouts, anger, those who have misunderstood us;
Isolate ourselves, and letting the poison of disappointment consume the rest of our days;
Accepting the reality that we are without strength and in prayer ask God to create the conditions to have opportunities for clarification and reconciliation.
1244 Being a Christian means taking risks: risking that our love will be rejected, misunderstood, or even ignored.
Rebecca Manley Pippert
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Jesus. Even Jesus was often misunderstood.
Don’t be surprised if you are too.
